Meet 47 year old, Rich Roll, the ultra-endurance athlete who is regarded as one of the fittest men in the world. Fair play to him, says you, but when you consider how Mr. Roll has got to this place in his life, it might put a bit of perspective on his achievements.

Rich was a former butterfly swimmer at Stanford University but went off the rails in that time, a period of his life that led to a drug and alcohol problem that spanned the next 15 or so years of his life. Rich, now 50 pounds overweight and the furthest thing from fit, found himself keeled over holding his chest after attempting to ascend a mere flight of stairs, an event that sparked a new awakening for this husband and father of 4.

Rich, on the eve of his 40th Birthday vowed to transform his life and his since achieved astounding results athletically, and he's done it by fueling himself entirely with plants via his impeccable vegan diet.

In the space of 2 years Rich went from the brink of a heart attack to being one of the top finishers at the Ultraman World Championships in Hawaii, a 3 day, 320 mile, Double Ironman, that's regarded as one of the toughest endurance tests on the planet.

The race is made up of 3 stages over 3 days. Stage 1 consists of a 6.2 mile swim followed by a 90 mile cross country cycle with vertical climbs that total 6,000 feet. Stage 2 is a 171.4-mile bike ride, with total vertical climbs of 4,000 feet, which is basically like cycling from Dublin to Cork up hill. Stage 3, to finish off, is only 52.4-mile DOUBLE marathon across the seering hot lava fields of Hawaii's Kona coast. Jesus, lord bless us and save us, you'd be tired reading that let alone doing it.

In his first year in the event, Roll turned more than a few heads by becoming the first vegan to ever compete in the event, but not only did he just 'compete', he managed a Top 10 finish. Even more impressive is that Rich had never even completed a half Iron Man triathlon prior to this, and managed to juggle all his training around a full time job as an attorney. Did I mention that he's in his 40's? Unreal.

Since then, Rich has continued his athletic career and coupled it by championing a vegan diet and healthy lifestyle, seeing him become one of the most influential and motivational wellness advocates in the world.

Rich is now a bestselling author with his book Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself, and has found huge popularity through his weekly podcasts, which consistently breach the iTunes top ten.

So yeah, lads and lassies, if ever we needed an example of why we should stop making excuses and get up and go, Rich Roll is that example. Too old? Too fat? Too unfit? Too tired? I have work in the morning? Blah, blah, blah. Do yourself a favour and get inspired by this man. It may change your life for the better.

Check out his website here, where you can catch all of his latest inspirational videos and podcasts, as well as all the advice one would need about obtaining a healthy diet and all round wellness.