Fitness & Performance

The Long Game

Weight loss ยท Body composition ยท Running ยท Minneapolis, MN

โ† Back to natehermanson.com

The Story

I've been a runner on and off since my mid-20s โ€” marathons, 5Ks, the whole arc. My best years were 2019โ€“2021, when I logged over 1,700 miles in a single year and ran a 19:07 5K. Then a meniscus root repair in March 2023 sidelined me for the better part of two years, and the weight crept up accordingly.

In August 2025 I started taking it seriously again. I'd hit a peak of 204.4 lbs โ€” nearly 47 lbs above my 2019 race weight. I started tracking daily, cut alcohol on January 1, 2026 (and committed to a full 6-month break starting Memorial Day), and slowly rebuilt the habit. As of May 31, 2026 I'm at 182.6 lbs โ€” down 21.8 from peak, still with work to do.

The target is 157โ€“162 lbs โ€” where I was when I ran my fastest and, frankly, felt the best. Two stretch goals are driving me: dunking a basketball and qualifying for Boston. Both require getting lean and staying there.

Current Goals

โš–๏ธ
Target Weight
157โ€“162 lbs โ€” my 2019 race weight and where I feel and perform best.
In Progress
๐Ÿ€
Dunk a Basketball
At 6'2", it's achievable at race weight with the right vert training. Always been on the list.
Next Phase
๐Ÿƒ
Boston Qualifier
BQ for my age group requires a sub-3:05. My PR is 3:38 (Fargo, Sept 2021). Needs serious training and weight loss.
Long Term
๐Ÿšซ
6-Month Sobriety
No alcohol or THC from Memorial Day 2026 through November. Clean fuel for the second half of the year.
In Progress

Weight Loss โ€” Aug 2025 to May 2026

Daily Weight
7-Day Avg
Peak 204.4
Current 182.6
Target Zone 157โ€“162

BodPod Body Composition History

Date Total Weight Body Fat % Fat Mass Lean Mass RMR
May 2, 2019 162.7 lbs 15.3% 24.9 lbs 137.8 lbs 1,658
Aug 8, 2019 157.0 lbs 11.1% ๐Ÿ† 17.4 lbs 139.6 lbs 1,666
Dec 20, 2021 164.7 lbs 15.6% 25.7 lbs 139.0 lbs 1,674
Jul 10, 2022 172.8 lbs 20.8% 36.0 lbs 136.7 lbs 1,666
Aug 22, 2022 173.4 lbs 20.6% 35.7 lbs 137.7 lbs 1,677
Jan 6, 2023 185.7 lbs 23.9% 44.4 lbs 141.4 lbs 1,736
Aug 1, 2024 195.5 lbs 28.0% 54.7 lbs 140.8 lbs 1,748
Aug 10, 2025 199.8 lbs 30.3% โ†‘ peak 60.6 lbs 139.2 lbs 1,740
Nov 2, 2025 โ˜… 197.1 lbs 28.8% 56.7 lbs 140.3 lbs 1,746

โ˜… Most recent scan ยท ๐Ÿ† All-time best ยท RMR = Resting Metabolic Rate (calories/day) ยท Tested at Discover Strength, Minneapolis

Annual Running History (Miles)

Running Milestones

2012
First Marathon โ€” Grandma's Marathon
481 miles logged that year. First of many.
2013
Peak mileage year โ€” 1,097 miles, 2 marathons
The training volume that set the foundation for everything that followed.
2019
5K PR โ€” 19:07 ยท 1,782 miles ยท 3 marathons
Best shape of my life. 157 lbs, 11.1% body fat in August. This is the benchmark everything else is measured against.
2021
2,256 miles โ€” career high ยท Marathon PR 3:38
Most miles ever in a single year. 3 marathon starts, 2 completions. Set my marathon PR of 3:38 at Fargo in September.
2023
Meniscus root repair โ€” March
Right knee surgery. Only 144 miles logged all year. The long road back begins.
2026
Rebuilding โ€” weight loss + return to running
Down 21.8 lbs from peak as of June 2026. Mileage still modest but trending in the right direction. The goals haven't changed.