Hugh Williams took off running with his second life.
Eight years ago, Williams struggled to get out of bed. He collapsed at his Barbados home and was rushed to the emergency room.
“I died on the way to the hospital,” Williams said. “My body and heart shutdown.”
Williams was unconscious for a week. He was in bad shape – gallstones, possible cancer; on top of that, his body had reacted poorly to the medication. Williams went from 160 pounds to less than 90.
Darren Williams, Hugh’s son, wanted to extend his father’s life. He directed Hugh back into a hobby of his younger days: running. Darren wanted to keep his father moving, Hugh said.
Now, Williams participates in annual international running events, primarily full and half-marathons. He’s run in Amsterdam, Spain, Italy and London, among others.
Williams, 58, works in rehabilitation at Aswan Fitness in Barbados, specifically conducting pool therapy. He regularly rehabs patients with doctor or medical referrals, those recovering from operations or incapacitated and injured athletes. He expanded past general fitness after his mother and sister fell victims to cancer.
“God brought me back for a purpose,” he said. “It’s showing in my work, in rehabilitation. Whatever purpose I’ve been brought back for I’m serving it. … I strive for health and fitness in my patients and expect no less from myself.”
His next objective: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race on July 4.
Williams is no stranger to Georgia’s capital. He has a cousin in Lithia Springs and once considered relocating there. He calls Atlanta his favorite American city. He said southern culture is similar to the Caribbean in that everyone is respectful.
“Southern hospitality,” Williams said. “When you hear and experience it, it’s something else. I’ve been to New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas, others. … The friendliness stood out a lot more to me in Atlanta than other cities.”
The AJC Peachtree Road Race stood out to Williams because of his late friend, Haywood Dunaway. Dunaway had a history of health problems that forced him into an early retirement from UPS. He overcame those struggles, completing his first race, the Peachtree Road Race, two years ago. Dunaway died unexpectedly two months later.
Williams met Dunaway 15 years ago while he was in Washington, D.C., for cancer and exercise certification. They crossed paths at a party, and the two formed an immediate bond.
Since Dunaway’s passing, Williams hasn’t returned to D.C. He identified the race as a perfect tribute to Dunaway, but was too late registering in 2016.
Now, the 2017 Peachtree Road Race is the first time Williams will run in honor of someone else.
“He was my brother, my confidant,” Williams said. “I had to find a way to say goodbye and this is my way. … It was very important for him to do this run. I’m very honored and happy that I got through the lottery and they’ve allowed me to run. I just want to do it justice for him.”
Williams’ training hasn’t come without snags. He recently strained his back lifting a patient out of a pool. He was out of commission for eight days, fearing he’d miss the race.
“I rehabbed myself,” he said. “I went to town on my body. There was no way I was missing Atlanta. Now I have three weeks of training to get back to where I want to be.”
Williams will arrive in Atlanta on July 1. While he’ll run two to three times a week until then, he doesn’t anticipate any major training in the days leading to the race. He’s coming early to be “climatized” and brace for the most meaningful run of his career.
“This race is just very personal to me,” he said. “It’s my way to finally say good bye.”
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