Dan Hyatt married his wife, Shelley, on April 15, 1994, and they had three children. He was always big, but she didn't think much of his weight until he ballooned to more 300 pounds. "I'm not ready to be a widow," she thought at the time.
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
Dan Hyatt married his wife, Shelley, on April 15, 1994, and they had three children. He was always big, but she didn't think much of his weight until he ballooned to more 300 pounds. "I'm not ready to be a widow," she thought at the time.
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
By 2011, Hyatt was morbidly obese. "I was so wrapped up in the fat me and my inability to see past it that I was cranky and a bear to live with. When you're convinced that you are always going to be fat, it's hard to see you any other way."
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
By 2011, Hyatt was morbidly obese. "I was so wrapped up in the fat me and my inability to see past it that I was cranky and a bear to live with. When you're convinced that you are always going to be fat, it's hard to see you any other way."
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
But Hyatt has never turned down a challenge. This photo was taken at the Penguin Plunge in Ottawa, Illinois, on January 7, 2012. "The guys I worked with said I would never jump in the freezing water. This should've been their first indication that I could do anything I set my mind to."
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
But Hyatt has never turned down a challenge. This photo was taken at the Penguin Plunge in Ottawa, Illinois, on January 7, 2012. "The guys I worked with said I would never jump in the freezing water. This should've been their first indication that I could do anything I set my mind to."
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
"The hardest part of this entire thing was dealing with the naysayers," he said. "People are naturally skeptical and negative, so until I lost a lot of weight, I was accused of lying about swimming 1 mile or running 6 miles or whatever. Now they can go look at the race websites, see my name and my time, and they can't argue with it anymore."
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
"The hardest part of this entire thing was dealing with the naysayers," he said. "People are naturally skeptical and negative, so until I lost a lot of weight, I was accused of lying about swimming 1 mile or running 6 miles or whatever. Now they can go look at the race websites, see my name and my time, and they can't argue with it anymore."
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
Completing a half Ironman in July was Hyatt's proudest accomplishment to date. "When you get to that finish line ... it brought tears to my eyes," he said. "At the same time, it was a stark reality that I'm only at half of where I need to be."
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
Completing a half Ironman in July was Hyatt's proudest accomplishment to date. "When you get to that finish line ... it brought tears to my eyes," he said. "At the same time, it was a stark reality that I'm only at half of where I need to be."
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
Hyatt ran his third marathon last month with his 9-year-old daughter Alora accompanying him for the last half mile. "She was proud to be able to run faster than her father. I told her that after running 25.5 miles, I was beat, but I kicked it in for the last 300 yards for the finish."
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
Hyatt ran his third marathon last month with his 9-year-old daughter Alora accompanying him for the last half mile. "She was proud to be able to run faster than her father. I told her that after running 25.5 miles, I was beat, but I kicked it in for the last 300 yards for the finish."
Courtesy Dan Hyatt
Hyatt sleeps better, feels more energized and is a much happier person now. He's even convinced his wife to take up running.
How a couch potato became a triathlete —
Hyatt sleeps better, feels more energized and is a much happier person now. He's even convinced his wife to take up running.
Courtesy Dan Hyatt