GET RUNNING
ONCE A HEAVY SMOKER , JD DOTSON IS NOW A SEASONED RUNNER . HERE ’ S HOW HE CHANGED HIS LIFE ONE STEP AT A TIME .
Story & Photos by JD Dotson
It is hard to believe that I spent most of my adult life as a heavy smoker . I smoked a pack and a half to two a day throughout my late twenties and thirties , trying and failing to quit many times . Applying patches to the back of my arm ( too itchy ), nicotine gum ( they didn ’ t last ), taking medication ( made me sick ), even hypnotism ( just fell asleep ) all failed to make me a nonsmoker .
I remember standing on the street with a friend watching the runners for the Ketucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and Marathon pass and saying , “ I would like to run a marathon someday .” My statement was met with laughter . “ You will never be able to run 26 miles ,” said my friend .
At that moment , something clicked in me . Being told I would never be able to do something lit a fire . It was then I realized all the tricks and remedies hadn ’ t failed me : I had failed myself by making constant excuses . I decided then and there to quit and run .
I decided on a date to quit and I was determined . I couldn ’ t and wouldn ’ t fail again . The date I chose was the last day smoking was legal inside bars in Louisville , June 30 , 2007 .
I started my running journey with the goal of finishing a marathon at some point just as soon as I quit smoking . “ Running ” might be a bit of a stretch . I was hacking a bit , lungs aching and my pace was just above a brisk walk . But I was out there . Every day . For a year and half , I ran 5Ks and 10Ks and a half marathon all the while thinking “ someday I will run a marathon .”
My hacking and aching decreased while my speed increased . A buddy of mine mentioned he was applying to the New York Marathon . Out-of-state runners can apply and potentially be picked lottery-style . The odds were slim , but I filled out the application anyway . Not too long after , I received a notice that I was entered to run in the 2010 New York City Marathon ! I won the lottery ! I really didn ’ t think it was actually going to happen , so I had made no plans , but I knew well in advance so I had plenty of time to prepare .
Preparing for a race is different for different people . I had been running for a couple of years , yet never considered myself a runner . I thought of myself as a smoker who runs so he doesn ’ t start smoking . I also considered myself a guy who ran so I could reward myself with extra dessert . I knew that I would have to change the perception of myself if I was going to get through this race . So ,
24 EXTOL SPORTS / DECEMBER 2017