Playing cornerback in the NFL is tough. But for Jerry Azumah, it’s no sweat compared to training for the Chicago Marathon.

“I’ve never run so much in my life,” says Azumah, 37, who played seven seasons for the Chicago Bears (1999-2005) and was named to the 2003 All-Pro team as a kick returner.

While sprints had been the bulk of his running through high school, college, and the NFL, Azumah got into endurance running two years ago, thanks to some Chicago friends who loved to pound the pavement. Since then, he’s checked a Tough Mudder, an 8K (in 39:00), and other races off of his list.

As part of his training with Nike’s 20-week Chicago Marathon program, Azumah has been running four to five times a week – a mix of sprints, intervals, and long runs. As Sunday’s marathon approached, he hit 20-plus miles on those long runs. (A recent 20-miler took just about three hours.)

“This last part of training is awesome because every week I’m running the farthest I’ve ever ran in my life,” he says.

“Marathon training is completely different from football training. I’ve always been the type of person to go after the weights. But I can’t be a bodybuilder trying to run a marathon,” Azumah says.

So instead of trying to build tackle-making mass and explosive fast-twitch muscle fibers, he’s working to up his endurance, core strength, and flexibility, and is even taking yoga classes to help lengthen out his muscles. His body shows it. He’s now at 180 pounds—a weight his scale hasn’t seen since high school. (While he had already lost 10 pounds since leaving the NFL, marathon training alone has knocked off another 10.)

Still, he’s eating constantly—an imperative when you’re burning as many calories as any marathoner-in-training does on a daily basis. But he’s not using it as an excuse to raid the candy aisle.

He has cut junk and fried foods from his diet, drinks water obsessively, and fuels with healthy carbs and lean protein. He can’t wait for his pre-marathon pasta dinner.

And as far as what’s to come after the Chicago marathon, it’s probably not anything more than a half marathon.

“26.2 is a huge commitment. It’s rigorous,” Azumah says. “I initially was dead set on running the marathon in 3:45… and then I got halfway though my training and realized I just need to finish. I’m just going to be happy to cross the finish line. One and done.”

Azumah will run the 2014 Chicago Marathon to raise money and awareness for PAWS Chicago, the Midwest’s largest no-kill animal shelter, and the Azumah Student Assistance Program (ASAP), which provides youth programs and financial scholarships to underserved Chicagoland students. (You can donate to both charities at gofundme.com)

K Aleisha Fetters K Aleisha Fetters is a Chicago-based strength and conditioning specialist, contributing to publications including Time, Runner’s World, VICE, U.S.

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