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From 350 Pounds to Marathon Finisher: Freddie Collins’ Journey of Transformation
- Brooks Glycerin Max
When Freddie Collins stood at the starting line of the LA Marathon in March 2025, he knew he was about to complete a journey that had begun exactly two years earlier focused on weight loss. What he couldn’t have known was how many lives he would touch along the way or how his personal quest for health would evolve into a mission to create community and belonging in the running world.
The Wake-Up Call That Changed Everything
In early 2023, Freddie was facing some hard truths. At 350 pounds and pre-diabetic, his health was declining rapidly. But it was a particular moment that truly sparked his transformation.
“The biggest reason why I needed to do something is because I could barely see my youngest child. My eyes were so blurry, I couldn’t see her anymore,” Freddie recalls. “It was a very difficult thing for me. I needed to make some changes. My health was borderline tragic at that point.”
This harsh realization became the starting point for action. When a friend suggested that if he could walk a 15-minute mile, he could incorporate some running, Freddie decided to try the Couch to 5K program. His initial goal was to simply complete a 5K race.
“I started my first session and I quit after the first session. I thought, I can’t do this. “This is wild,” Freddie admits. “And then two weeks later I got back into it.”
Those two weeks between quitting and starting again represent perhaps the most critical moment in Freddie’s journey. He made the decision to try again. It’s a lesson he now shares with others: success rarely comes from never failing, but rather from getting back up when you fall.
Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
What started as prep for a single 5K quickly evolved. Freddie signed up for his first race on March 18, 2023 – his mother’s birthday. Far from being a one-and-done experience, Freddie found himself drawn to the sport.
“By the time I ran my first 5K, I’d already signed up for four other races,” he laughs. “The very first one that I signed up for ended up being the fourth one that I did. I ran seven 5Ks from March of 2023 until July. I was addicted.”
Throughout his journey, Freddie maintained complete transparency about all aspects of his approach to health. He combined walking and running with intermittent fasting, better eating habits, calorie counting, and the use of Zepbound (a weight loss injection) to help manage his hunger.
“Everyone wants to make it seem like these shots are cheating,” Freddie explains. “But if you want to keep this weight off, you have to do the additional things on top of that. The shot was the thing that kind of was the vehicle to get me there, but the work that I put in to train, that is the X factor.”
This approach yielded impressive results. Freddie lost 100 pounds from January 2023 to December 2023, transforming both his health and his outlook on life.
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Finding Community and Creating Spaces for Others
As Freddie became more involved in running, he noticed something missing in his local community. While there were established running groups in metro Atlanta, there weren’t many that were accessible from his home in Gwinnett County and reflected the diversity he wanted to see.
“When I started running these races, especially the ones locally, there’s not as many Black and Brown people running these races here in the area that I live,” Freddie notes.
This observation led him to connect with broader organizations like Black Men Run and Black Runners Connection, which helped him realize “there are more of us than we think.” Inspired by events like “The Race” – an annual Black runners’ homecoming in Atlanta – Freddie decided to create something similar closer to home.
“When I started the Metro Mile Mafia, which is the name of my run club out here, the goal was to bring more marginalized people groups into it,” he explains. “I want it to be a safe space for everybody. I want it to be inclusive for everyone.”
The club’s growth has been steady and organic, starting with just six members and expanding to thirteen. What makes Metro Mile Mafia special isn’t just its inclusive nature but its success. At a recent 5K fundraiser, the team won the entire team competition. This is proof of Freddie’s leadership as well as the club’s strength and dedication.
“I want you to know and understand that you are welcome. You belong here. You deserve to be here,” Freddie says of his club’s philosophy. “We all deserve to be here. We all have an equal footing in running.”
From Health Focus to Competitive Edge
What began as a weight loss journey that was focused solely on health and not marathon running has evolved into something more. As Freddie’s times improved, he discovered a competitive side he hadn’t fully explored since his youth.
“When I started running, I was never last and that made me very happy,” Freddie says. “But once I started seeing improvements, the competition side of me kicked in. In July of last year I finished a 5K in 48 minutes. And in February of this year, set my new PR at 28:01. Shaving 20 minutes off of my first July race to my last February run was incredible.”
This improvement sparked a new goal. He is planning on returning to the very race that had taken him nearly 50 minutes to complete two years ago, but this time with the aim of winning it outright.
“I call it a revenge race because I want to go back and avenge the time that I had,” Freddie explains with a laugh. “I never expected to go from taking 50 minutes to run a race to two years later to go and win the whole thing. It’s something that keeps me hungry, that keeps me focused.”
Family Ties That Strengthen the Journey
Perhaps the most heartwarming aspect of Freddie’s story is how running has become a family activity. What started with a Turkey Trot during a period of separation with his wife has blossomed into a shared passion that has strengthened their relationship.
“We’re getting to the point where we’re trying to run them and finish them around the same time. So we’re keeping each other motivated,” Freddie shares. “She told me that her favorite run was her first 10KM because we did it together. We ran, we talked, we sang, we just had a blast with it.”
Now they’re training together for her first half-marathon in Brooklyn. Their schedules don’t always align – she often runs in the mornings while he runs after work – but they reserve Tuesday nights to run together, making it a priority in their busy lives.
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Big Dreams and Bigger Goals
The man who once laughed at the idea of running a marathon now has his sights set on completing the World Major Marathons. How could a journey that started out with a focus on weight loss culminate in finishing marathons around the world? Simple. He got started and now he’s already secured a spot in the Sydney Marathon for August 2025.
“I got into Sydney and that’s one of seven world majors,” Freddie says with excitement. “Going to London is a dream of mine. Obviously running Chicago would be amazing. Running New York City would be fantastic.”
But Freddie’s vision extends beyond personal accomplishment. He’s planning to launch a race series in Gwinnett County – six races starting in July 2025, one every month, culminating with a championship in December.
“I want to do something out here,” he explains. “Everything is very big in Atlanta. You have to travel out there to do it. I want it to be something big where you don’t have to just go to Atlanta to be a part of larger crowds of community. Come do that out here.”
Advice for Those Just Starting Out
When asked what advice he would give to someone thinking about getting into running, Freddie’s response is immediate and passionate:
“Take the first step,” he says firmly. “You take the first step and you go from there. Don’t go and invest in gear. Don’t go in and start changing everything. Just get out there and walk. Get out there and run-walk. Get out there and run for as long as you can.”
Freddie talks the importance of avoiding comparisons with established runners or social media influencers:
“Do not compare what you’re doing to them, because they had to put in the time, energy, and effort to get to where they are, but they had to do the same thing that you’re contemplating doing, which is take the first step.”
His final words of wisdom truly cover the philosophy that has carried him from those first struggling steps to marathon finisher:
“You have no idea what you’re capable of or what your journey is going to look like, where you’re headed, unless you take that step,” Freddie says. “Don’t let things discourage you because there’s always going to be an excuse. There’s always going to be a reason to say no.”
For Freddie Collins, saying yes to that first run has opened up a world of possibilities he never imagined. Improved health, stronger family bonds, a growing community, and the satisfaction of helping others find their own path to the starting line. Freddie will tell you that if you start your journey to kick start weight loss, reduce stress or enjoy the outdoors, allow for possibility, including running a marathon. Never say never.
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