For those who have ever thought they were too old or too unfit to finish a triathlon, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete will prove that it is never too late to compete! This is a story about overcoming life's obstacles—from injury and business trouble to grief and loss and everything in between.
Hilary Topper was a 48-year-old working mother who once upon a time had practically failed high school gym class. She was working 60-plus hours a week, running a small business. Her focus was on others—her children, her aging parents, and her staff. In the meantime, her weight kept increasing, and she was unhappy with the way her life was going. She needed a change. To turn things around, she joined a gym for the first time in her life. This book will take you on Hilary's decade-long journey as she trains for and runs her first 5K, swims the aqua-blue waters of the Caribbean, cycles a hilly course in Milwaukee, learns how to run–walk her way through the New York City Marathon, and competes in her first triathlon in Sanibel, Florida. You will be right with Hilary as she narrates each experience—even a 5.5-mile swim in the murky waters of Long Island.
Hilary's story will move, motivate, and inspire. You will laugh and cry as you follow her on her journey. Even if you don't start out as an endurance athlete, after reading this book, you will walk away feeling that no matter what happens, you can cross the finish line, too.
Author(s): Hillary JM Porter
Year: 2022
Language: English
Commentary: A Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete
Pages: 288
Tags: A Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete
CONTENTS
Foreword by Danielle Sullivan .........................................................8
Preface.............................................................................................11
Acknowledgments ..........................................................................13
CHAPTER 1 My Entrée Into Sports..........................................15
2009–10
CHAPTER 2 Learning to Run ...................................................23
CHAPTER 3 Running Firsts......................................................30
2011
CHAPTER 4 Turning Point .......................................................36
2012
CHAPTER 5 Shattered Life.......................................................44
2013
CHAPTER 6 The Year of the Runner ........................................53
CHAPTER 7 Becoming Obsessed With Jeff Galloway.............59
2014
CHAPTER 8 Brooklyn Half Marathon......................................64
CHAPTER 9 We Signed Up for a Triathlon!.............................68
CHAPTER 10 My First Training Week .......................................72
CHAPTER 11 First Training Weekend .......................................76
CHAPTER 12 Triathlon Firsts.....................................................80
CHAPTER 13 First Two Triathlons ............................................90
2015
CHAPTER 14 Working With a New Coach...............................102
CHAPTER 15 Triathlon Training Camp....................................109
CHAPTER 16 My 2015 Race Season—Hang on to
Your Seat!...........................................................112
CHAPTER 17 Going Overboard With Races ............................1182016
CHAPTER 18 Challenge Yourself .............................................128
CHAPTER 19 It’s More About the Experience Than the Race
...134 CHAPTER 20 New York City Marathon
142
2017
CHAPTER 21 On Giving Back .................................................157
CHAPTER 22 Getting Out of My Comfort Zone ......................165
2018
CHAPTER 23 Losing My Best Friend ......................................174
CHAPTER 24 Races Where I Had to Dig Deep ........................180
CHAPTER 25 50-Mile Relay With the Group...........................189
CHAPTER 26 Saint Croix’s Beauty and the Beast Race ...........193
2019
CHAPTER 27 Trying to Pick Up the Pieces ..............................196
CHAPTER 28 Being a Bystander ..............................................201
CHAPTER 29 Finally Made It to St. Anthony’s
Triathlon ............................................................203
CHAPTER 30 Life-Changing Experiences ...............................209
CHAPTER 31 Turning Point in My Racing ..............................213
2020
CHAPTER 32 COVID-19 Hits Us .............................................221
CHAPTER 33 Lockdown...........................................................228
CHAPTER 34 Training During COVID-19 ...............................233
CHAPTER 35 Building Up Endurance......................................235
CHAPTER 36 Half-Distance Aqua Bike During
the Pandemic ......................................................237
CHAPTER 37 Still Swimming in the Open Water ....................242
2021
CHAPTER 38 The Year of Hope ...............................................246
CHAPTER 39 Life Back to Normal?.........................................249
CHAPTER 40 Lots and Lots of Swimming ...............................252
CHAPTER 41 And More Swimming at Tobay ..........................256
CHAPTER 42 Maggie Fischer Memorial Cross
Bay Swim ..........................................................262
CHAPTER 43 Half Ironman Triathlon Training........................267
CHAPTER 44 Training Continues.............................................272
CHAPTER 45 Conclusion . . . ..................................................276
Epilogue ........................................................................................278
