Ironman Mom: Summer’s Story
It was a pleasure to work with Summer (aka Wonder Woman), a tenacious and talented athlete and mother of 3 small children, who has been chasing the “dream” of finishing an Ironman.
Training for Ironman is no small feat. Check out our YouTube video on how long it takes to train for an Ironman. Add in the roles of mom, wife and physical therapist, and now we’ve got a true challenge. How do you balance it all (and have fun at it too)?
Summer is a great example of how to put it all together and finish with a beautiful smile!
What made you look for The Endurance Edge services? What were you trying to accomplish from the start?
I needed to find a coach who understands what it’s like to train for a full Ironman while working part-time and raising three kids under ten years old. Chris has two young children herself, is a successful entrepreneur, and a supremely accomplished triathlete. She excels at formulating concise workouts that maximize training effect.
Did you hit any roadblocks during the process of working with us? If so, how did that change your approach, mindset or goals?
I had a fairly serious bike crash in the months leading up to Ironman. I had been making significant physical gains up to that point, and suddenly found myself in a situation where I couldn’t swim because of my open wounds and where I’d lost a bit of confidence in the saddle. Chris never freaked out about any of it. She made me feel like we still had plenty of time to recover from this setback and continue along the original trajectory. She put me at ease during a time when I could have latched on to any negative input. For the first time since my collegiate running days, I put my faith in a coach and trusted that she had the wheel and we were going to get through this crisis to the other side. Together.
What is the best part of your experience with The Endurance Edge?
Even though I live hundreds of miles from Cary, NC, I feel like I’m still a part of the Endurance Edge community.
I’ve been able to talk to fellow athletes through Facebook forums, and feel invested in their successes and vice versa. I’ve been able to take advantage of the auxiliary services Endurance Edge offers, such as body work with Sherri and sports psychology with Brian. I feel like this coaching program is extremely well-rounded in meeting the needs of an athlete, from sweat testing and nutritional guidance to hands on work, to form analysis, to emotional support and race strategy.
What are some of the lessons or concepts that stuck with you most?
I learned a lot of helpful strategies from my sessions with Brian, that I will carry over into training for future endeavors.
Ironman is obviously a test of physical endurance, but less blatantly a mental challenge as well. As a mom and a Physical Therapist who works with individuals with brain and spinal cord injuries, I had to conquer the fear that open water has held over me, and quiet the inner voices about what could happen to me if I was hit or crashed my bike. Those fears, while feasible, are unlikely and were only holding me back from accomplishing my dream.
What would you like to accomplish next?
Next on the books is focused marathon training.
Going to take a shot at qualifying for Boston. Running is my first love and strongest discipline, so I’m going back to my roots. I’ll still bike and swim as cross-training, and to keep this old body ready for the 2019 triathlon season, though. I have a feeling Louisville was not my last Ironman, despite my arguments to the contrary!
Congratulations, Summer! We’re so proud of you and so impressed by your commitment to your family and achieving your dream!
