Former Smoker Now Fundraises for Lung Disease
March 10, 2026
Join RHA and Igor on April 12, 2026, at the CARA Lakefront 10 Miler & 5K!
Igor Matlin quit smoking about two decades ago, after smoking a pack a day. Today, he’s running marathons and doing stair climbs up Chicago skyscrapers. Igor wasn’t an athlete growing up; this is something he chose to do for himself.
After quitting smoking, “I was looking for an outdoor activity I could do,” Igor said, “just to improve my overall health and test my abilities.”
Igor started running five years ago. He has now completed three marathons and two Hustle Chicago® stair climbs.
This was “something that seemed out of reach a few years ago,” Igor admitted. And then, with a big smile, he adds, “I like the results so far.”
According to Statista Research Department (2024), about 15% of the US population runs (roughly 50 million). Many of those individuals are ex-smokers. Yet, running for ex-smokers isn’t solely for health reasons. The top five reasons people say they quit smoking, according to Beaufort Memorial Hospital, are for health, family, financial savings, cosmetic benefits, and emotional motivation.
For Igor, it was all of the above.
“I did not have any specific health problems, knock on wood,” Igor says. But he confessed, “certainly reading about it and you know, hearing about potential risk factors was a big part of the decision.” He added, “My wife is one the reasons I’ve been able to stay away from smoking.”
Igor trained for both the marathon and the stair climb in a smart, prepared, and careful way. With both, he started slow. To maintain his running regimen, he enlisted help from family, friends, and joined a running club.
“It’s a big help. Having others believe in you, give you support and encouragement was a huge factor.” After finishing his first race (a 5k) he said, “I felt like an Olympic Champion!” Although, he confesses his wife was nervous to watch in the beginning.
For the stair climb, Igor watched a lot of videos on how to train and used RHA resources. He felt having the running experience before tackling the stair climb definitely helped him. But admittedly, climbing the stairs was a challenge for him since different muscles are being utilized.
To stay motivated while exercising, Igor says, “I keep my long terms goals in mind.” In addition, he keeps his mind from wandering. “I do listen to audiobooks and podcasts, instead of thinking ‘oh, there are still x miles left’ in my run,” he shares.
Igor is looking forward to the next challenge but said it’s not about the PR or the numbers. “I just want to maintain my level of training, level of activities, and not get injured. And keep my cardio system working.”
When asked what advice he would provide to someone wanting to try a marathon or a stair climb, Igor shared: “Start small and keep working on it. It may appear out of reach when you start, and you may be out of breath after climbing just a couple of flights of stairs but keep at it! You’ll be amazed at what you’re capable of doing.”
He also has advice for current smokers. “Quit. If you’re still smoking, you should definitely quit. There’s no justification for continuing, and the sooner you quit, the better,” he said.