Agape Freedom Sports Media LLC

From college parties and nearly 300 pounds to a rainy 26.2-mile journey through northeastern Pennsylvania, Honesdale’s Christopher Novoa proves that sometimes the greatest victories begin long before the finish line.

By Jeric Yurkanin | Agape Freedom Sports Media LLC

SCRANTON, PA — Imagine someone telling you during your college years, when you weighed nearly 300 pounds, enjoyed partying with friends, and had little interest in running, that one day you would willingly wake up early on a cold, rainy October morning to run 26.2 miles.

Not two miles.

Not six miles.

TWENTY-SIX POINT TWO MILES!

You might have looked at that person, laughed, and asked if they were out of their mind!

After all, running a few miles is challenging enough for most people. Running an entire marathon? That’s a completely different level of physical endurance, mental toughness, discipline, and determination.

And doing it in steady rain, with chilly autumn temperatures and wet roads?

Well, that makes the challenge even more interesting!

But sometimes, life takes us in directions we never expected. Sometimes, the things we once disliked become the very things we eventually fall in love with.

And sometimes, a person who once doubted what they were physically capable of accomplishing discovers that their greatest limitations weren’t necessarily physical.

For 2005 Honesdale High School graduate and current Honesdale resident Christopher Novoa, that’s exactly what makes his story so remarkable.

Because long before he became a marathon runner, a personal trainer, a CrossFit enthusiast, a gym owner, and someone passionate about helping others improve their lives, Novoa was a college student approaching 300 pounds.

And no, that wasn’t 300 pounds of muscle!

He enjoyed the college lifestyle, spent time partying with friends, and certainly wasn’t imagining himself running a marathon someday.

Running 26.2 miles?

Forget about it!

Yet on Sunday, October 11, 2026, there he was, taking on his first marathon at the Steamtown Marathon in northeastern Pennsylvania.

But this story isn’t simply about a man who lost weight and learned to run.

It’s about family, heartbreak, personal growth, second chances, discipline, determination, and the importance of never being afraid to try something new.

It’s also about the kind of person Novoa has become along the way.

And to truly appreciate what he accomplished on that cold, rainy Sunday morning, we need to go back to where his journey began.

Christopher Novoa’s story began in Queens, New York, where he spent the earliest years of his childhood.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck his family when Christopher was approximately four years old. His father unexpectedly passed away, leaving his mother to raise the children without him.

Following his father’s death, Christopher’s mother eventually moved the family to the Honesdale area of northeastern Pennsylvania.

It was there that Chris would grow up, attend school, develop friendships, and eventually graduate from Honesdale High School in 2005.

Like many young boys growing up, Novoa enjoyed sports.

He became a passionate fan of professional teams, including the New York Giants and New York Yankees.

But there’s a difference between loving sports from the comfort of your living room and wanting to participate in physically demanding athletic activities yourself!

Throughout his childhood, Novoa experimented with different sports and recreational activities. However, becoming a competitive distance runner wasn’t exactly on his list of future goals.

And by the time he entered Bloomsburg University, running and physical fitness still weren’t major priorities.

Instead, Novoa enjoyed the social side of college life.

Partying, drinking, spending time with friends, and enjoying his college years became part of his lifestyle.

Over time, his weight climbed to nearly 300 pounds.

For many people, reaching that weight might feel like the beginning of a lifelong struggle.

But for Novoa, it eventually became the starting point of something much bigger.

Before that transformation could begin, however, life dealt him another heartbreaking blow.

In 2011, his mother passed away.

Having already lost his father at such a young age, Novoa now faced the difficult reality of losing both parents.

His family had experienced tremendous loss, but the values his parents instilled in their children would continue shaping their lives.

Values such as working hard, helping others, learning from mistakes, and refusing to give up when life becomes difficult.

And those lessons would eventually become important parts of Christopher’s personal transformation.

Two years after losing his mother, Novoa began his weight-loss journey in 2013.

At first, the objective was straightforward: lose weight, improve his health, and become more physically active.

But anyone who has attempted to lose a significant amount of weight knows that wanting to make a change and consistently doing the work required are two very different things!

There are days when you’re motivated.

There are days when you’re exhausted.

There are days when life gets busy, work becomes stressful, and the last thing you feel like doing is exercising.

And there are certainly days when sitting on the couch sounds much more appealing than completing another difficult workout!

For Novoa, though, it became about learning discipline and developing consistency.

He started completing T25 workouts with Shaun T, pushing himself through demanding exercise routines.

Day after day.

Workout after workout.

Little by little, the weight began coming off.

And as the pounds disappeared, something else began changing.

His confidence.

His mindset.

His attitude toward fitness.

What started as a weight-loss goal was becoming a lifestyle.

His older sister, Debbie, remembers those early days.

“When Chris started his weight-loss journey, he used to do T25 workouts with Shaun T every single day, no matter how tired or busy he was,” Debbie recalled. “I remember watching him exercise and seeing firsthand how hard he worked and how committed he was. He stuck with it and ended up losing a tremendous amount of weight.”

Eventually, Novoa discovered CrossFit, a physically demanding form of training that combines strength, conditioning, functional movements, and endurance.

And this time, something clicked!

Fitness was no longer simply about losing weight.

It became something he genuinely enjoyed.

“Chris has always been physically active, but when he eventually got into CrossFit, he truly developed a love for fitness,” Debbie explained. “It made him happier, more confident, and gave him more energy.” Stated his sister.

That passion eventually opened doors to coaching, personal training, nutrition, and gym ownership.

A man who once struggled with his own weight was now helping others work toward improving their health and fitness.

Talk about a remarkable transformation!

As Christopher continued his journey, he also found someone who would become one of his biggest supporters: his wife, Sarah.

When Sarah first met Chris, his transformation was already underway.

But what impressed her most wasn’t simply the physical changes.

It was watching him become more confident, disciplined, and willing to challenge himself.

“When I met Chris, he was already on a path of personal development and growth,” Sarah shared. “Although weight loss was the catalyst for his journey, the biggest difference over the years hasn’t been physical. Rather, it’s been seeing how much his mindset has changed as he continues to challenge the limits of what he is capable of.”

She continued:

“It’s been such a fun journey as his wife to watch him put in the work and demonstrate the discipline it takes to continue challenging himself over and over again.”

And here’s another interesting part of this story.

Sunday’s marathon happened to take place just one day before Chris and Sarah’s seventh wedding anniversary!

While many couples might celebrate their anniversary with a relaxing weekend, a romantic dinner, or a special getaway, the Novoa family had something a little different on the schedule!

How about running 26.2 miles through northeastern Pennsylvania in chilly temperatures and pouring rain?

Now, that’s certainly one way to kick off an anniversary celebration!

And for Sarah, watching her husband accomplish something he once never imagined possible made the occasion even more special.

Forget the fancy dinners and expensive gifts for a moment. Sometimes, the greatest memories come from watching someone you love accomplish a dream they’ve worked so hard to achieve.

And something tells me this is one anniversary weekend Chris and Sarah won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

Christopher’s growing passion for fitness would eventually lead to another accomplishment.

In the spring of 2023, Chris and Sarah purchased a CrossFit gym in Honesdale.

The couple had previously been members there and had discussed the possibility of someday owning a gym themselves.

Eventually, that possibility became reality.

For someone who once weighed nearly 300 pounds and didn’t enjoy exercising, becoming a gym owner was quite an accomplishment.

But owning a business is much different from simply enjoying what that business offers.

There’s scheduling, finances, management, staffing, customer service, and the countless responsibilities that come with operating a successful gym.

Meanwhile, Chris and Sarah also had careers and other responsibilities outside the business.

Over time, they realized that giving the gym the attention and resources it deserved was becoming increasingly difficult.

During the summer of 2026, they made the decision to sell.

Some people might look at selling a business as the end of a dream.

But I look at it differently.

They had an opportunity to pursue something they once hoped to accomplish, and they actually did it!

They became business owners.

They gained experience.

They learned valuable lessons.

And when their circumstances changed, they made another decision about what was best for their lives.

Sometimes, personal growth isn’t just about knowing when to keep pushing forward.

It’s also about recognizing when it’s time to take a different direction.

And for Christopher, another exciting chapter was already developing.

Here’s where Novoa’s story becomes even more interesting.

For years, running wasn’t something he particularly enjoyed.

In fact, he disliked it!

But through CrossFit, fitness, and friendships developed along the way, he became connected with people who enjoyed distance running.

Several of his former gym clients and friends participated in a running club.

They trained together, encouraged each other, and participated in 5Ks, half-marathons, and full marathons.

Eventually, Novoa decided to give running another chance.

And wouldn’t you know it?

The man who once disliked running began developing a genuine appreciation for it!

What had previously seemed unpleasant gradually became another opportunity to challenge himself.

His sister Debbie has watched this transformation unfold over many years.

“At his former gym, many of his clients and friends had their own running club,” she explained. “They would run and train together, participating in 5Ks, half-marathons, and marathons.”

“After spending many years disliking running, Chris eventually decided to give it another try with the running group. To his surprise, he developed a genuine love for it!”

For Debbie, that willingness to try something new wasn’t surprising.

She remembered the same personality from Christopher’s childhood.

“As a kid, Chris was super talkative, to the point where our mother would sometimes bribe him with quarters just to stay quiet for five minutes!” Debbie recalled.

“He was funny, charismatic, and good-natured. He was also the kind of kid who could do anything he put his mind to.”

Growing up, Chris tried Little League, bowling, pool, and other activities.

Some interested him longer than others.

But even when something didn’t work out, he wasn’t afraid to try another activity.

“He hasn’t changed all that much,” Debbie said. “He’s still the same good-natured, charismatic person who is willing to try something new whenever he puts his mind to it.”

And now, years after beginning his weight-loss journey, Chris was preparing for perhaps his biggest physical challenge yet.

His first marathon.

Now, I want to share something from my own experiences, because I think some people underestimate just how much discipline and dedication distance running requires.

I’m not a marathon runner, and I certainly won’t pretend that running a few miles is the same as running 26.2.

But I do understand what it’s like to train, push yourself physically, and work toward improving your running times.

During my sophomore year at Lakeland High School, I began running to prepare for the physical fitness portion of gym class.

Believe it or not, that was probably the one category in gym class where I actually excelled!

By my junior year, I ran a mile in 5 minutes and 46 seconds.

My physical education teacher was impressed enough to put in a good word for me with Lakeland cross-country and track and field coach Phil Tochelli, one of the most successful coaches in District 2.

That eventually led me to participate in cross-country during my senior year in the fall of 2001.

My best 3.1-mile time at McDade Park was 18 minutes and 58 seconds.

In April 2002, I also ran my best two-mile time of 11 minutes and 13 seconds.

Now, why am I sharing this?

Because I remember the dedication required.

You don’t simply wake up one morning and become a strong distance runner.

You train.

You run when you’re tired.

You deal with sore legs, challenging workouts, changing weather conditions, and days when you don’t particularly feel motivated.

You learn that improvement often comes gradually, through repetition and consistency.

And even with my own running background, I can appreciate that preparing for a marathon requires another level of commitment entirely.

Running 26.2 miles is no joke!

Especially when Mother Nature decides not to cooperate.

Which brings us to Sunday, October 11, 2026.

Forget the beautiful sunshine.

Forget comfortable autumn temperatures.

And forget those picture-perfect running conditions you might hope for when attempting your first marathon!

Mother Nature had other plans.

On Sunday morning, October 11, 2026, chilly temperatures in the 40s and lower 50s greeted runners participating in the Steamtown Marathon.

Steady rain created wet roads and challenging conditions throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.

For spectators, it wasn’t exactly an ideal morning to stand outside and watch a race.

But for the hundreds of runners who had spent months preparing, the weather wasn’t going to erase all their hard work.

Imagine being near the starting line that morning.

The chilly autumn air surrounds everyone.

Rain falls onto the pavement.

Runners stretch, adjust their clothing, check their watches, and prepare mentally for the miles ahead.

Some are experienced marathon runners who know exactly what they’re getting into.

Others are about to experience their first 26.2-mile race.

There is excitement.

There are nerves.

There is anticipation.

And somewhere among those runners stands Christopher Novoa.

The same man who once weighed nearly 300 pounds.

The same man who once disliked running.

The same man who began exercising to lose weight back in 2013.

Now, more than a decade later, he’s preparing to run farther than he ever had in a competitive race.

Twenty-six point two miles.

An enormous challenge, even under ideal circumstances.

And these certainly weren’t ideal circumstances!

When the race began, Christopher started moving toward a finish line that was still hours away.

With every passing mile, he was getting closer to accomplishing something his younger self might never have believed possible.

But along the way, he wasn’t doing it alone.

His family and friends were waiting to offer encouragement.

And one of those moments happened in Peckville.

Approximately 17 miles into the marathon, Christopher was approaching an area of the running trail in Peckville.

By this point, he had already covered more distance than many people will ever run in a single outing.

And he still had more than nine miles remaining!

Standing along the course were his older sister, Debbie, and his young nephew, Micah.

They were waiting to cheer him on.

From a distance, Chris was easy to recognize.

His bright yellow running shoes and shorts stood out as he approached.

Even in the rainy conditions, you could spot those yellow colors coming down the trail!

And then came one of those moments that reminds us why sports can be about so much more than competition.

As Christopher approached his family, he slowed down.

He greeted Micah with a big smile and gave his nephew a hug.

Then he embraced his older sister.

For a brief moment, it wasn’t about his pace, race position, or the distance remaining.

It was simply about family.

A younger brother.

An older sister who had watched him grow up.

And a nephew watching his uncle accomplish something remarkable.

Here was a man who had already endured hours of running through cold and rainy conditions, yet still had a smile on his face when he saw the people who had come to support him.

After exchanging hugs, Chris continued down the trail.

There was still plenty of work to do.

Nine miles may not sound like much when you’re driving a car.

But when you’ve already run 17 miles?

That’s an entirely different story!

And as Christopher disappeared farther down the course, another group of supporters was waiting just ahead.

Around the 18-mile mark, Christopher’s wife, Sarah, and several friends were waiting to cheer him on.

At that point, Novoa had been running for approximately three hours and 10 minutes.

His pace had averaged roughly 10 minutes and 30 seconds to 10 minutes and 40 seconds per mile.

Think about that for a moment.

For more than three hours, he had been moving through cold, wet conditions, pushing his body over mile after mile of challenging terrain.

And there were still approximately eight miles remaining!

This is where marathon running becomes especially demanding.

The physical fatigue builds.

Your legs become heavier.

Your body has already used tremendous amounts of energy.

And mentally, you have to convince yourself to keep moving forward.

But after seeing Sarah and his friends, Chris continued toward Scranton.

Sarah then headed toward the finish-line area, hoping to be there when her husband completed his first marathon.

And what a moment that would be.

Not only was Christopher approaching the finish line of his first marathon, but he was doing it on their seventh wedding anniversary.

For Sarah, watching him complete the race would represent so much more than a finishing time.

It would symbolize years of personal growth, discipline, and determination.

After months of preparation, countless training miles, and hours of running through the chilly October rain, Christopher Novoa completed his first Steamtown Marathon.

TWENTY-SIX POINT TWO MILES!

Mission accomplished!

The former college student who once weighed nearly 300 pounds had become a marathon finisher.

And while he wasn’t competing for the overall championship, his accomplishment was significant in its own right.

According to the reported race results, Novoa finished:

• 791st overall out of 1,099 participants
• 505th among male runners out of 657
• 86th in the men’s 35–39 age group out of 104
• 135th among local male runners out of 211

Not bad for someone completing his first marathon!

But here’s the thing about running a marathon.

You don’t need to finish first to accomplish something extraordinary.

For many participants, the greatest achievement isn’t defeating the person running beside them.

It’s completing the challenge they spent months preparing for.

It’s proving to themselves that they can do something difficult.

It’s looking back at the person they once were and realizing just how far they’ve come.

And for Christopher Novoa, the distance between his nearly 300-pound college days and that marathon finish line was far greater than 26.2 miles.

Sarah couldn’t have been prouder.

“I can’t even put into words the emotions I felt as he crossed the finish line,” she shared. “I was so proud of him, but really, no matter the outcome of the race, I would have been proud.”

She explained that the two had trained throughout the summer and she had personally witnessed the effort Chris put into preparing for the challenge.

“We had both been training to run together throughout the summer, and I knew he had put in the work,” Sarah said.

“The marathon is the reward for all the hours of effort, the sacrifices, and the discipline. And I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had already won just by making it to that starting line.”

What an interesting perspective!

For Sarah, the victory didn’t suddenly happen when Christopher crossed the finish line.

The real victory had been developing throughout the months of training, the difficult workouts, and the countless decisions to remain disciplined.

She continued:

“I am most proud of his willingness to grow, try new things, and challenge himself along the way. He’s never been a person who is afraid to step outside his comfort zone, and it’s inspiring!”

And while his wife celebrated her husband’s incredible accomplishment, his older sister was also thinking about two people who weren’t there to witness it.

Their parents.

For Debbie, watching her little brother accomplish another personal goal brought tremendous happiness.

But it also reminded her of their late mother and father.

Their father passed away when Christopher was just four years old.

Their mother died in 2011.

Neither parent was physically there to watch their son complete his first marathon.

But Debbie believes they would have been incredibly proud.

“I felt so happy and proud of my little brother for accomplishing his latest goal,” Debbie shared. “But as proud as I am, I know our parents would have been even happier and prouder of him.”

She remembers the values their parents emphasized throughout their childhood.

“Our father passed away when Chris was only four years old, but he always taught us that we could accomplish anything we put our minds to. He told us that if we failed, we should try again and learn from our mistakes. Our mother taught us those same valuable lessons.”

Those lessons remained with the family even after their parents passed away.

“Both of our parents faced difficult challenges throughout their lives, but no matter what obstacles came their way, they never gave up,” Debbie explained.

“They were also kindhearted people who were always willing to help others.”

And as far as Debbie is concerned, Christopher has continued living out many of those same values.

“I truly believe they would be incredibly proud of everything Chris has accomplished,” she said.

“They would have been especially proud to see him complete his first marathon. There was a time when Chris didn’t think he could ever become a runner. He didn’t even enjoy running! But years later, he decided to challenge himself, give it another chance, and see what he could accomplish.”

Yet as Debbie reflected on everything her brother had accomplished, she emphasized something even more meaningful.

Their parents wouldn’t have simply been proud of Christopher because he lost weight, became a marathon runner, or owned a gym.

They would have been proud of who he became as a person.

And that’s an important part of this story that deserves recognition.

Christopher Novoa’s life isn’t defined solely by fitness, running, and personal accomplishments.

He’s also dedicated considerable time and energy to supporting his community.

Novoa serves as president of the Jaycees, an organization focused on community involvement, leadership, and service.

He’s also a member of the Board of Directors at The Cooperage Project, a nonprofit organization that provides events, educational opportunities, and activities for children and adults while emphasizing community connections and inclusion.

And recently, Christopher began another professional chapter as marketing coordinator at the Wayne County Community Foundation, an organization committed to supporting the present and future of Wayne County.

For Debbie, these accomplishments are just as meaningful as finishing a marathon.

“Chris is heavily involved in his community,” she explained. “He serves as president of the Jaycees and consistently goes above and beyond to help others.”

“He’s also on the Board of Directors at The Cooperage Project, a nonprofit organization that hosts community events, provides activities for children and adults, and promotes diversity and inclusion.”

Debbie believes their parents would have appreciated Christopher’s dedication to helping others.

“Chris genuinely enjoys giving back to his community, and I know that would mean so much to our parents.”

She also expressed pride in his new career opportunity.

“He also recently began a new career as a marketing coordinator at the Wayne County Community Foundation, where he will help contribute to the present and future of Wayne County.”

For a man who once began exercising simply to improve his own health, it’s remarkable how much his journey has expanded.

From weight loss to personal training.

From CrossFit to gym ownership.

From disliking running to finishing a marathon.

And from focusing on his own personal development to helping make a difference in the lives of others.

Christopher’s journey has never really been about one single accomplishment.

It’s been about continuing to grow.

Continuing to learn.

And continuing to challenge himself.

Of all the memories Debbie shared about her little brother, perhaps the most touching was what she imagined their parents would have done if they were still alive.

“If our parents were still here today, I can picture them hugging Chris and telling him just how proud they are of him,” Debbie said.

“They would be proud of him for accomplishing his goal of running a marathon, for working so hard, and for refusing to give up, even when things became difficult.”

Then she shared what matters most to her.

“But most importantly, they would be proud of the kind, determined, and caring person he has become. And as his big sister, I couldn’t be prouder of him either.”

Sometimes, the most meaningful accomplishments in life aren’t measured by trophies, medals, finishing times, or race placements.

They’re measured by the person we become along the way.

And that’s what makes Christopher’s journey so special.

As I reflect on Christopher Novoa’s remarkable journey, one thing stands out to me.

Sometimes, the biggest obstacle standing between us and accomplishing something isn’t our physical ability. It’s believing that we’re capable of trying in the first place.

Think about everything Chris experienced along the way.

He lost his father when he was just a young child.

He later lost his mother as a young adult.

He attended college, enjoyed the party lifestyle, and eventually reached nearly 300 pounds.

Then in 2013, he decided to make a change.

He began working out.

He lost weight.

He discovered CrossFit.

He became passionate about fitness.

He pursued coaching and personal training.

He and Sarah accomplished their dream of owning a gym.

And after years of disliking running, he decided to give it another opportunity.

That decision eventually brought him to the starting line of his first marathon.

Now, picture that rainy Sunday morning one more time.

The cold autumn air.

The steady rain.

The wet pavement.

The tired legs.

The hundreds of runners pushing themselves toward Scranton.

And somewhere along that 26.2-mile journey, Christopher Novoa, wearing those bright yellow running shoes and shorts, making his way through Peckville.

At approximately mile 17, he sees his sister and young nephew waiting along the trail.

He smiles.

He stops to give them hugs.

And then he heads back down the course.

One mile at a time.

One step at a time.

Closer and closer to a goal that once seemed unimaginable.

And several miles later, he finally reaches the finish line.

After more than a decade of personal growth, years of fitness training, and months of preparation for this race, Christopher has become a marathon finisher.

But here’s what I find most inspiring.

The same man who once wanted nothing to do with running had just completed 26.2 miles, in the rain, on his seventh wedding anniversary!

And the people who love him were there to celebrate.

His wife.

His sister.

His nephew.

His friends.

And although his parents weren’t physically there to witness this accomplishment, the lessons they taught him about perseverance, kindness, and never giving up remain part of his story.

I imagine that if Christopher could go back in time and have a conversation with his younger self, the college student approaching 300 pounds who never dreamed of becoming a marathon runner, he would have quite an interesting story to tell!

Because sometimes, the person we become is someone our younger self could never have imagined.

Christopher’s marathon medal represents a tremendous athletic accomplishment.

But his story is about much more than a medal.

It’s about second chances.

It’s about determination.

It’s about personal growth.

It’s about family.

And it’s about discovering that our lives can continue changing in remarkable ways when we’re willing to challenge ourselves.

Nearly 300 pounds to 26.2 miles.

What a journey!

And something tells me Christopher Novoa isn’t finished challenging himself just yet.

Congratulations, Chris, on completing your first marathon! And happy seventh wedding anniversary to you and Sarah!

Sometimes the greatest victory isn’t simply crossing the finish line.

It’s looking back and realizing just how far you’ve come.

— Jeric Yurkanin
Agape Freedom Sports Media LLC