I recently qualified for Age Group Nationals for the Olympic-distance race in August 2017! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that would be possible. Here is why. 

I am 45 years old, a mother of four beautiful children, and I’ve been married for 21 years. I have always been an athlete. Gymnastics, volleyball, field hockey, diving, cheerleading and tennis. I competed as a Division I level diver for four years in college. However, once I began having children, the extent of my exercise was pretty much walking and chasing after my kids.

After the birth of my fourth child in 2008, I suffered a mini stroke leaving me with weakness to my entire left side. After a year of rehab and recovery I had another mini stroke. A large hole was found in my heart, which they repaired in 2009. I decided after that that I wanted to get my body back in to shape. I started running and swimming.

In 2012 my femoral artery was nicked during a routine hysterectomy. The surgeon told my husband that I most likely wouldn't make it. It was a long recovery. Experiencing a near-death occurrence really changes how you view life. Many of my friends are marathon runners and knowing that running was not my strength, my girlfriend recommended that I look into doing a triathlon. That is when I began training. I was so excited and in the best shape of my life. One month shy of my first race I began experiencing fatigue, shortness of breath and pain in my left arm. Even being a nurse, the thought of having a heart attack was the furthest thing on my radar. After all I had a triathlon to do!

I rested for a day. I know, right? My symptoms kept worsening. Exactly one year after my hysterectomy scare, I suffered a massive heart attack that led to emergency open-heart surgery for a quadruple bypass. What? All I can remember is waking up in the ICU with my surgeon standing at the end of my bed. I had no idea that I had even had surgery let alone open-heart surgery. Once I realized what had happened and saw the tubes coming out of every orifice in my body, I gave the surgeon the most pathetic look.

"Does this mean I can't do my triathlon next month?" Scary thing is, I was serious! Of course he said very kindly, "no honey, not this year."

I did manage to muster enough strength to pick up my swag and experience the pre-race festivities just one week out of the hospital. My recovery met obstacle after obstacle as I experienced lung complications and infections. After three months of cardiac rehab I was given the green light to begin training again … slowly. So, I immediately signed up for the triathlon I was supposed to do for the previous year. But, again, one month shy of the race, I began experiencing shortness of breath. A virus caused fluid to build up around my heart. So, I was side lined yet again.

Once I recovered, I began training again. Third time is a charm, right? I decided to steer clear from the Bethany Beach race in August, after two failed attempts, and I signed up for a race in June that was closer to home. I joined a Triathlon team, which soon became my second family. I crossed the finish line in my first triathlon in June 2015. It was one of the most emotional experiences I have ever had next to my wedding day and the birth of our children. I went on to compete in three more races that season and landed on the podium in two of them.

I have caught the triathlon bug. I trained really hard in the offseason and competed in six races this past summer. I placed top three in my age group in every race and placed third overall for the women in one of them. I did my first Olympic-distance and placed second in my age group. Then the most exciting thing happened. I decided last minute to sign up for the race that I missed two years in a row. I know, crazy.

The Bethany Beach Triathlon was held in September and was my first USA Triathlon Sanctioned Event. I finished second in my age group and 10th overall even after having been diagnosed with a stress fracture the day after the race. No wonder my run was so off. I probably would have done so much better. But, to my utter surprise I qualified for Nationals! I can't tell you how excited I am.

I hope to encourage others to never give up.

Share Your Story 

Sometimes the best inspiration comes from the triumphs and accomplishments of your fellow athletes. Submit your own story. Email us at communications@usatriathlon.org and include the story and any accompanying photos as attachments. Please include "My Story" in the subject line.