Atsusa
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The story

Why I'm building this

  1. 82 kg / 181 lb

    I'm Dave, 51, and 168 cm (5 ft 6 in). Four years ago I stopped drinking. I was 82 kg (181 lb), very unhealthy, and after falling down and being in a very bad way, I decided to sort my life out.

  2. Zone 2

    I started on an exercise bike in the shed, building my zone 2. I read about metabolic health and got tips from my cousin, who was getting into it after a friend was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

  3. Gym

    I joined the gym, started lifting weights and experimenting with ketosis. Treadmill, spinning, yoga, Xcore, push, pull, legs, 10k steps a day. The weight slowly dropped off.

  4. 80 min

    A 10 mile (16 km) run from Amsterdam to Zaandam, in 80 minutes.

  5. 19:29

    Then I trained for a 5k (3.1 mi), done in 00:19:29.

  6. 10k · 45 min

    Then it was time for a half marathon, 21.1 km (13.1 mi). I was fine for the first 10k (6.2 mi), 45 minutes in.

  7. Empty

    Then I was empty, purely down to the weather conditions. I pushed on. And on.

  8. 01:40:00

    Little did I know I was slipping away into a heat-exhausted state. My head felt like a wrecking ball wanting to drop backwards. Colour drained from my face. I was no longer able to sweat. I didn't notice anything until I crossed the line.

  9. 40.7°C / 105.3°F

    If Anton and the rest of the medical crew hadn't been there, I wouldn't be typing this today. My temp was 40.7°C (105.3°F). I felt drunk, ironically. I should have been unconscious. They cooled me down and, well, saved my life. I'm sure of it.

Dave standing at the Wave 4 start banner before the half marathon
The start

Wave 4, stood still under the banner. Fresh, relaxed, colour in my face.

Dave running midway through the half marathon
Midway

Halfway. Still holding pace, already running out of cooling.

Dave in the closing kilometres, head tipping back, skin drained of colour
The danger sign

Head rolling back, skin white, no sweat left. This is what heat illness looks like from the outside, and I felt none of it.

Dave after treatment by the medical crew, barefoot and soaking wet, holding his medal
After the medics

Straight out of the medical tent. No shoes, soaking wet, and very lucky. My wife was so worried. 

At that same event, a 22-year-old student collapsed and died. That is the reason this can't just stay my story.

Meet Atsusa: the warning I didn't get.Dave