ST. LOUIS – Dr. Jonathan Solomon never dreamed he’d run a half-marathon, but this Saturday, he’s tackling 13.1 miles as a part of the Greater St. Louis Marathon.

A former college football player, Solomon once weighed 421 pounds. At his heaviest, running was unfeasible. 

But through consistent diet and exercise, he dropped 175 pounds. And what began with 14-minute miles—barely faster than a walk—is now the cornerstone of his life. 

“Running’s has been a huge difference maker for me in my journey. And I always knew that running was something I could associate with being healthy,” Solomon said. “I knew that I wanted to run a 5K. For me, that was a marker of being in a healthy place.” 

Jonathan joined the STL Run Crew, a welcoming community of runners and walkers. 

Being part of a run crew has allowed him to achieve new heights in his running journey. 

“Over time, just sticking with it and being in a community with people who really encourage me and help me, I was able to run 5ks, and I remember signing up for my first 10K,” he said.

For Jonathan, this race is more than miles—it’s a celebration of his transformation. 

After this half-marathon, he’s eyeing another race: next year’s Los Angeles Marathon, which is Jonathan’s hometown.

 “I didn’t think that I could do this. But somehow, by sticking to it, I’ve been able to make it to this point. I wanted to make sure that there was meaning in that race, with it being my first marathon and it being in a place that was really meaningful for me,” Solomon said.