In the same city that John Godina earned an Olympic silver medal 24 years ago, he conquered an unexpected challenge—his first half marathon.
At the Atlanta Half Marathon on Sunday—the day after the Olympic Marathon Trials—the world champion shot putter finished in 2:02:03, averaging 9:19-minute mile pace for 13.1.
Prior to the half marathon training cycle, the farthest Godina, 47, had ever run was two and a half miles. For the athlete who had a shot put best of 22.20 meters (72.83 feet) in his prime, running always seemed “like punishment.” But in the process of embracing the half marathon challenge, Godina found a new source of inspiration.
“For me, it was a rediscovery of the confidence that you have as an athlete,” Godina told Runner’s World. “You just feel better about yourself as a person. You feel like you can do more and succeed where you try.”
Best Running Shoes, Godina was one of the best shot putters in the world. He earned a silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Four years later, he earned bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games. In between the Olympic years, he won gold at the 1995, 1997, and 2001 IAAF World Championships. In 2004, he made his third Olympic team and finished eighth in the Athens final.
Godina Minimalist Running Shoes Godina was one of the best shot putters Altis—an elite training business headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona—which caters to professional track and field athletes.
Two years ago, the retired thrower weighed 275 pounds and was ready for a change. “You get stuck on the hamster wheel of life and what you need is help stepping off,” he said.
Last year, Godina and his friend made a $500 bet on who could lose the most weight before Christmas. When he started exercising and eating healthier, his wife, Kristina, a distance runner who has completed five half marathons, suggested they run one together.
After Godina agreed, he called his longtime friend and former 800-meter specialist Rich Kenah for advice. Kenah and Godina were roommates while competing for Team USA in the 90s. Now the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club, Kenah suggested he work with Atlanta coach Amy Yoder Begley on a training plan.
Godina started training for his first half in October. With slow, steady progress and a few setbacks involving minor aches along the way, Godina eventually built up to 26-mile weeks. “I don’t want anybody to get a rosy picture that this process of getting ready and losing all this weight was always fun,” Godina said.
Despite the difficulty in adjusting to the demands of running long distances, Godina pressed forward. In January, he ran his first 10-miler and in February, he completed his longest run prior to race day—13 miles two weeks before Atlanta.
In the weeks leading up to the race, Godina shared his progress on social media, which helped keep him accountable and added pressure to the competition—something he was missing in retirement.
Throughout the cycle, Godina embraced a “student” approach to the training that Yoder Begley provided, and the effort paid off. “There’s no way I could have gone 2:02 without her,” Godina said.
Godina was not the only athlete to step outside of his comfort zone in Atlanta. Fellow UCLA alum and three-time Olympic gold medalist Gail Devers also completed her first half marathon on Sunday. The former sprinter finished in 1:54:54, averaging 8:41-minute mile pace.
Before he started training last fall, Godina weighed 250 pounds. Now he weighs 229 pounds and hopes to lose another 20 to 30 pounds this year. Eventually, Godina would like to lower his personal best to sub-2:00.
11 years into retirement as a thrower, Godina found that training as a runner provided a new perspective on fitness. And he wants to encourage others to embrace the exercise too.
“I see why people get hooked on this now because it’s more than just a sport,” he said. “It’s something you can do forever.”
