Breakout Spotlight: Member of the Month, Robert Macias

Meet July’s Member of the Month, Robert Macias. Robert credits Diane’s workout and nutrition program with significantly improving his overall strength and helping him smash personal records in endurance running. Here’s Robert’s story, in his own words, along with pictures of his amazing transformation.

In 2004 I topped the scales at 198 lbs and was taking medication to control my cholesterol.  I am only 5’6” tall.  I made a decision that I did not want to take the cholesterol medicine anymore and did not want any more pills in the future to correct any health problems.  I decided to change my life and get into better shape. By 2005 I was able to drop around 30 lbs and I started to run more regularly and was able to complete a 10k.  I remember the 10K run seemed like I was running forever but I finished it.   I stayed at this level of fitness until around the end of 2007 when my wife and I decided to run the Chicago Marathon in 2008 after being inspired by the documentary “Spirit of the Marathon.”

I made a decision that I did not want to take the cholesterol medicine anymore and did not want any more pills in the future to correct any health problems.  I decided to change my life and get into better shape.

After completing the Chicago marathon, I continued running and I was also biking and going to the gym.  By this time I was off my cholesterol medication. I decided to get my body fat measured in 2009 and it was 25%.  I was surprised at the number and thought it would be lower since I run, bike and workout and I weighed around 175 lbs.  A work colleague who is a runner (he was a Western States 100 top finisher during his prime) was telling me about trails runs and ultra running.  He suggested that I run the Way Too Cool 50K (WTC 50k).  After running the CIM in 2009 and getting a PR, I was feeling confident so I signed up for the WTC 50k lottery and was chosen to run in the 2010 race.  In my head a 50k was only running 6 more miles than a Marathon.  The WTC 50K was my first time running on the trails and I realized I did not train for it properly; it took me over 8 hours to complete the course.

In 2011, I joined a local training group to train for WTC 50K and the American River 50 mile (AR 50). I successfully completed both runs and was able to improve my WTC 50k time by more than an hour than the previous year. I continued to run Ultras for the remaining of 2011 and was able to lower my body fat to 20 percent.  I wanted to become a stronger/faster runner and I knew I needed to strengthen my core as well as lowering my weight and body fat percentage. I had tried to accomplish this on my own but only had minimal results.

 I wanted to become a stronger/faster runner and I knew I needed to strengthen my core as well as lowering my weight and body fat percentage. I had tried to accomplish this on my own but only had minimal results.

In September 2011 my wife started working out at Breakout Fitness.  I had heard about Diane’s Breakout Fitnessand knew she was an ultra runner from the Folsom Trail Runner meet-up group, so I decided to start training with her in hopes of achieving my goals for my ultra running.  I wanted to improve my WTC 50K and AR50 times by 30 minutes for the 2012 races.  I started training at Breakout Fitness at the end of September 2011 and enrolled in Diane’s nutrition program. Diane’s nutrition plan provided me with the education and tools on how to eat (clean eating) properly.  I now understand why I was not able to lower my body fat in the past.  Diane’s TRX workouts immediately helped me realize how weak I was in my core. The workouts are challenging and rewarding. Every workout is different and she provides guidance on proper form and knows how to motivate you to get the most from the workouts.  I get more in her one hour class than I ever did when working on my own at a gym. 

Robert Macias running the Way Too Cool 50K. Check out those calves!

Diane provided guidance for my calorie intake prior to my long training runs, suggestions on how to fuel during my long runs, and the proper nutrition to aid in my recovery after a long run. Diane would check to see how my training runs went then made adjustments on my nutrition/workouts plans as required.

During my WTC 50K/AR 50 training I could tell I was becoming a stronger runner. I ran both up hills and down hills more efficiently which allowed me to run the flats stronger and faster. I was improving my time on the training runs by an hour and never had an issue with fueling or any injuries during my training.

This year was my 3^rd WTC 50K and my 2^nd AR 50 race.  I showed up at the start line for these races with 10 percent less body fat and almost 20 pounds lighter.  I was able to run both races stronger and faster than previous years, setting a new PR for both runs.  My WTC 50K time was faster by 90 minutes and my AR 50 time was faster by 2.5 hours from the 2011 races.  That averages to three minutes faster per mile!! 

I know the success of these races were due to incorporating Diane’s workouts/nutrition plan with my training.  It made me a stronger/faster runner and I was able to stay injury free.  I feel more in touch with my body now than I have ever felt before.  The following Mondays after theses race I was back at Diane’s Breakout Fitness continuing my workouts and getting ready for next goal.

I feel more in touch with my body now than I have ever felt before.

I have reached my body fat percent goal (single digit) and I am now in maintenance mode.  I was able to gain 3.6 lbs of muscles while maintaining my body fat percent during this maintenance mode.  I feel like I am still becoming a stronger runner.  Diane has been working with me on improving my running form.   I recently had the opportunity to put the forms changes into use at the Marin ultra Challenge 50k.

Since my improvements on my fitness, my goals have also changed.  In 2013 my goal is to complete a 100 mile endurance run.  I know by continuing to incorporate Diane’s workouts and her nutrition guidelines along with my training plans this is an attainable goal.  Just two years ago, a 100 mile endurance run never crossed my mind but seeing how my body, endurance and strength has changed in the last 9 months completing a 100 mile endurance run is set in my mind.