12 months ago, Colaiste Dhulaigh student Vincent Cole was lying in a hospital bed in Beaumont. Dazed and confused after high risk operation to repair nerve damage in his left arm. “During the surgery, I remember having to be held down by the doctors because I could feel the scalpel going into my arm, they had put a needle in a nerve point in my neck to numb my arm because I was too heavy to be put asleep.” recalled the first year Health Science and Sport student.
In 12 short months, Vincent has progressed from walking on a treadmill for 20 minutes to running a 26 mile marathon. “When the doctor told me how high my body mass index was it made me realise where I was heading. I decided then and there I would change my habits.” Vincent was told his BMI was 38 and to put his under anaesthetic was too dangerous. At the time of his surgery, he was 18 and a half stone.
“I joined Total Fitness in the September 2008 and just started with walking on the treadmill. At first, I was a bit intimidated working out when I was so out of shape, I felt that people were staring at me, but with the help of my friend Eoin, I managed to slowly build my confidence and speed”. Vincent lost his first stone within the three weeks of joining the gym. “I went to weight watcher classes, walked every evening and stuck to my training program and I noticed a big difference” he explained. Over the next few months Vincent spent 5 days a week in the gym working on his cardio fitness.
The first race he completed was the Raheny 5 mile in January 2009. “That race gave me the confidence to push myself further. It was my first race and my first experience of “hitting the wall”, but in my head I knew I wanted to do a marathon so that race was my starting point”. Over the next few months a new look Vincent worked on his stamina and endurance. He would run hail, rain or shine to Howth and back to his home in Donaghmede. “Because I was running with 18 stones of weight on me, my knees were being damaged from running on the hard ground, I found it really tough but I just kept on going. The pain wasn’t going to stop me”.
Enrolling in college was the next positive step Vincent took. The damage caused by the accident was so severe he could no longer pursue his career as a chef: “I was working in the Oar House in Howth before I got injured, but because the nerve damage was so bad I couldn’t work in the kitchens anymore, so I was unemployed and had to look at my options”. He started his course in Health Science and Sport in Colaiste Dhulaigh in September 09 and hasn’t looked back. “I am finding the course very exciting with plenty of options at the end of it. My tutors have been really supportive. If it wasn’t for my accident, I would never have done anything sports or nutrition related. I would have had a different career and continued with an unhealthy lifestyle”.
Asked what his feelings were after the marathon he confided that crossing the finish line was one of the best experiences of his life. “It was my greatest day but I hope to have many more”. Vincent intends to run the Cork Marathon on the 7th of June
Vincent has a ten inch scar and permanent nerve damage as a result of drunken horseplay and is warning other students accidents can happen and not to take silly risks when too much drink is taken, especially over the festive season. “Just know your limits and don’t lose control and put yourself in danger, or fall through a glass cabinet like me”.
Posted on November 18, 2009
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