Former Wales prop Adam Jones achieved rather a lot in his glittering profession as he grew to become one in all Welsh rugby's most recognisable cult heroes.
He’s a three-times Grand Slam champion and a British and Irish Lions sequence winner, making 100 worldwide appearances earlier than retiring in 2018.
Jones will concede he was recognized for his scrummaging prowess somewhat than his working exploits.
Now aged 45, Jones will sort out one of the crucial vital bodily assessments of his life when he takes on the Cardiff half-marathon on Sunday, 4 October.
The Harlequins scrum coach has misplaced greater than 5 stone (32kg) in his quest to "take himself out of his consolation zone".
Dropping weight and reducing out chocolate
Jones was impressed after seeing a picture of himself when he was a part of the Wales teaching workers in 2025, when he weighed in at 24st 7lb (156kg).
"After I was out in Japan with Wales final yr, I keep in mind the digital camera panning to me on the finish of the tour and I used to be large," stated Jones.
"I assumed I have to do one thing about this. I had a little bit of gout, too."
Jones is often dry and self-aware in his private evaluation.
"I've at all times been the kind to look within the mirror and assume I appear to be Arnold Schwarzenegger, after I'm truly removed from that," he added.
"I'd go to the fitness center and do ins and outs however my weight loss program wasn't nice and it was the outdated cliche of strolling up the steps being exhausting.
"I wanted a problem to vary issues."
Jones, who’s working in assist of two charities, St David's Hospice Care and Prostate Cymru, has lately weighed in at 19st 7lb (124kg) which is near his ultimate enjoying numbers.
He admitted he had points together with his weight while enjoying, and recruited assist from Wales chief Warren Gatland and health coach Craig White.
"After I was a participant, I wanted to be at a sure weight," stated Jones,
"I instructed Gatland and Craig, 'give me a weight and I'll stick with it'. If I used to be at that weight, I might play properly.
"I'd typically crash weight loss program as a participant. If I had a foul weekend, I'd get again to my ultimate weight earlier than the subsequent match.
"It was silly. However I don't should be crash-dieting for Six Nations matches or Lions excursions now.
"I've bought a sluggish plan. Drop it down slowly and coaching on daily basis in a single kind or one other."
Jones admits he wanted to vary his weight loss program.
"Chocolate has at all times been my weak spot," he stated.
"I've bought a candy tooth. So I minimize that out, in addition to bread."
From sofa to 5k – to longest ever run
Jones began slowly as he adopted the "sofa to 5k" method.
"As quickly as I began doing it, I noticed the advantage of the method. It was fascinating to see and develop week-to-week," stated Jones.
"I loved that and began ticking off the little milestones. It’s a sensible course of.
"The primary run was a five-minute stroll, then a 90-second run, and so forth. You're not going straight in and doing it.
"When you've bought that 5k, it was a way of feat and also you get that buzz after working."
He took to his new sporting endeavour so properly he quickly upgraded his ambition.
"After that, I used to be considering of doing a 10k, however then I noticed Cardiff was lengthy sufficient within the distance that I might prepare for a half-marathon," he added.
‘Weirdly, I loved the working a part of coaching, so it appealed to me.”
Jones lately did a 17km coaching run, not one thing he did throughout his 16-year rugby profession.
"It's positively the longest I've run," stated Jones, who with typical humour went on: "Should you added up all of the distances I've run in Check matches, it most likely wouldn't be far off that anyway!"
Jones says Harlequins gamers and coaches have been supportive.
"The boys have been sensible," he stated.
"A couple of of them have sponsored me. Some haven't, however that's principally the massive earners.
"I believe they're ready to see me end first after which the cash may go up a good bit."
The previous prop additionally believes it’s a optimistic for the gamers to see him making the hassle.
"I'm placing myself in a spot the place it's uncomfortable.
"I'm asking them to remain within the struggle and keep in form when it will get painful, so it felt improper in the event that they couldn't see me do the identical.
"I do have perspective. It'll be exhausting, however there's more durable issues to do.
"I at all times inform the boys right here you're not working down a mine. My grandfather was a miner. What he did was exhausting.“
Hoping to be impressed by Cardiff crowd
Jones has not focused a selected time for the half marathon.
"Folks preserve asking what time I need to get, it's extra about getting round for me," he defined.
"I reckon there'll be a number of different 19-odd stoners knocking across the identical time as me, so we'll have just a little race.
"I'm aggressive however I'm absolutely conscious I'm not going to win and made peace with it."
He additionally has added movement courtesy of one of many Harlequins gamers.
"Cadan Murley put into ChatGPT the opposite day to see what time I ought to run it in and stated if I beat that point, he'll give me extra money.
"I'm pleased with the time it stated as a result of if I can do it beneath two hours and half-hour, he’ll double the quantity."
Jones will likely be supported on the course by his spouse Nicole and daughter Isla.
His father may also attend with Jones admitting he’s "glad to see me get off the sofa and doing a bit".
"I’m just a little nervous about it, however I'm buzzing," stated Jones.
"I've had the race quantity from the organisation and it means issues have gotten actual.
"I checked out that and thought, 'What have I finished?'
"I would go incognito within the race so nobody can see how sluggish I'm going, possibly I'll put a balaclava or a daffodil hat on, so I don't get abused!
"However I've heard good issues concerning the occasion and the way individuals assist you. I'm hoping the Welsh public will get me round the previous couple of miles."
Jones additionally hopes he may proceed his working profession.
"I'd think about I'll need to attempt one other half-marathon some other place after it," stated Jones.
"However let's see how this one goes first earlier than I begin fascinated by working throughout the Sahara Desert and world marathons and all that."
