James Martin Makes it Look Simple

Some plans seem easy.  So brilliant in their simplicity that you can’t stop yourself from asking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”  Then you realize why the best-laid plans of the few remain the dreams of the many – because even when a plan is simple in concept, it is rarely ever easy to execute. 

Such is the case for James Martin (see him on Strava). His plan was simple, but neither its execution nor the man are.

If you ask James, however, I’m sure he’d disagree.  He prefers to focus his perspective upon the most basic of motivations.  For James life is all about three simple things: Fatherhood, Faith, and Fitness. 

A Rough Childhood

Childhood was not easy for James Martin, and those early experiences influenced his decisions and relationships as an adult.  James describes carrying a lot of baggage from his childhood years: “What stuck with me was a deep down resentment and unforgiveness, rage, and addiction.”

James explains, “These awful things I carried with me, and into my own marriage, led to the suffering of my family and ended in divorce.”  James Jr. was 9 when James’ wife informed him she was leaving for someone else.  

“I got down and begged her… please, please, please do not take my son from me,” James pleaded.  “My father was shot and killed when I was 13 years old and I didn’t want my son to live without his dad.”

Poor Life Choices Took Their Toll

At the age of 39 James weighed 225 pounds, the consequence of bad choices and habits resulting from the demands of working two shifts to support his family while attending classes to earn his high school degree.  “It took a toll on my health,” he says, “I put on a lot of weight, was drinking heavily, and didn’t eat too healthy.”

His life a “mess”, James decided he had to make a change.  “Having a good father figure is something that children need, and not having a strong role model definitely caused issues in my choices as a father,” he says. Knowing firsthand the importance of a father’s influence motivated James to make the lifestyle changes required to assure that he would always be there for his son.

James Turns His Life Around… The First Time

James’ first job after dropping out of high school at 16 was at a bike shop where he worked for 9 years.  “I was there when mountain biking took off in the 90’s and I developed a love for working on them, and riding them,” he remembers with enthusiasm. 

In the span of a few short years, he trimmed himself to 165 pounds and changed his life by following an exercise regimen of calisthenics and mountain biking.

James credits his fitness routine with giving him the emotional strength to be an example to his son.  “I believe when one is healthy it just doesn’t leave any room for depression,” states James.  

He was in the best shape of his life, working out 2 to 3 times a day, sometimes performing in excess of 900 push-ups daily.  His talent and dedication as a mountain biker earned him 2nd place in the inaugural State Games of Michigan.

A Damaging Obsession

The addictive personality which proved to be an insurmountable burden upon his marriage also wreaked havoc upon James’ joints.  The excessive wear and tear of his often obsessive training routine caused overuse injury to his shoulders.  Recovery was not in mind as James remembers, “I always felt so good I didn’t think about it, but my shoulders began to hurt so bad I couldn’t even do a push-up.”  

James was forced to stop his calisthenic routine and eventually gave up mountain biking altogether.  In the years that followed, James gained back the weight, and something much more important to him in helping to change his life… again.  

Faith Turns His Life Around… The Second Time

Through a growing commitment to his faith he sought forgiveness from his family for the poor choices he’d made and the pain he’d caused.  “I had come to realize how easy it would be for them to make the same mistakes I made, living a life of blame, while carrying the same patterns into their own families, just as I had done.”

The day of revival, and of implementing his health plan, came on June 15th, 2020.  At the age of 51 and a weight of 220 pounds, facing the reality of the risks of his poor health in a pandemic world, James again made the commitment to get healthy.

He explains, “If and when Covid hits our house I need to have done everything possible to give myself the best chance to survive for my son.”

A Simple Fitness + Nutrition Plan

James’ goal of returning to the healthy weight and active lifestyle he once enjoyed was achieved by getting back to the basics. In addition to steadily increasing his saddle time, James eliminated junk food from his diet, limiting himself to two meals a day consisting of only lean meat (except pork), oatmeal, fruit, vegetables, and eggs, eating only what he describes as, “whole foods”.

He began commuting back and forth to work on his mountain bike.  The 4.2 mile trip which started off as a 20-minute ride soon became a 12-minute race, thanks to the new road bike he gifted himself.  On September 27th, he took his last race to work.

Discovering Zwift

The harsh Michigan weather forced James inside, prompting him to take the wheels off of his road bike and put it on the trainer.  “I jumped on Zwift for my first ride,” he exclaims. “Oh my, I absolutely love this!”  

He recalls the wonder he felt in his first Zwift group ride he noticed, “I can feel what it is like to slide into the draft and to ride in a group.  This is not mountain biking, this is a different thing altogether!”

In December of 2020 James was riding in excess of 400 miles per week and weighed in at 148 pounds.  Yes, James lost over 70 pounds in under a year! The simple basic way.

An Avid Zwift Believer

As evidenced by his incredible setup (below), it is obvious James has entered the category of “avid Zwifter.”  He rides a Wahoo KICKR equipped with a Climb positioned atop a KOM Cycling Rocker Plate.  Two television monitors mounted side-by-side allows James Jr. to ride his Wahoo KICKR Snap alongside. 

“I have invested quite a bit into my Zwift setup,” James admits, emphasizing that “it is worth every penny because Zwift has brought me much more than just fitness.”

“Zwift has been a blessing to me,” remarks James, who not only transformed his body, but found a community whose belief system coincides with his basics.  “I took my first 100k group ride with riders who called themselves DIRT (Dads Insider Riding Trainers),” he recalls.  “What a treasure to have the ability to ride with people from all over the world with the same beliefs as me. I love Zwift so much I can’t see ever taking my bike off the trainer.”

Ride On, James!

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