Adaptive Endurance Athlete Taking on Her First IRONMAN
An Adaptive Athlete With a Big Finish Line Ahead
I’m training for my first Ironman — while navigating paralysis, chronic illness, and the wild unpredictability of my own body.
Meet Stephanie — Chronic Illness Warrior. Ironman In Progress
I’m not your average endurance athlete.
I live with multiple autoimmune diseases and a rare neurological condition that can temporarily paralyze me from the neck down — sometimes for hours.
Most days, movement is a gift.
Some days, I can’t walk.
But I’m training anyway — because every finish line I reach represents someone who wishes they still could.
I believe in showing up imperfectly, powerfully, and fully human — and pushing until the world realizes adaptive athletes belong here too.
About The Mission
I’m Stephanie — an adaptive endurance athlete, former dual-sport college star, and chronic illness warrior based in Atlanta.
Eighteen months ago, my body shut down. I was severely inflamed, 90 pounds heavier, and relearning how to move after right-side paralysis took away the simplest things—standing, walking, climbing stairs. Running felt like a life I no longer had access to.
Today, I’m rebuilding it piece by piece.
This September, as someone who only learned to swim 12 months ago, I’m taking on my first full IRONMAN:
🏊🏾♀️ 2.4-mile open water swim
🚴🏾♀️ 112-mile bike
🏃🏾♀️ 26.2-mile run
All in under 16 hours.
Not because it’s easy—
but because it’s the hardest thing my body has ever attempted.
Chronic illness doesn’t get the final say.
I do. And every mile I conquer is a message to anyone who’s ever felt written off:
Your story isn’t over either.
Why I'm Doing This
I’m racing because movement is a privilege — and I won’t waste a single mile. This Ironman isn’t just a race, it’s my statement.
Chronic Illness Is Part of My Story — Not the End of It
I’m still navigating:
⚡️ Hemiplegic migraines
⚡️ Sudden-onset paralysis
⚡️ Celiac disease
⚡️ Mast Cell Activation syndrome
⚡️ Mobility challenges
⚡️ A body that sometimes shuts down without warning
Training for an Ironman with all that in play
isn’t “normal”… and that’s the point.
My body can’t rely on default strength.
I have to work smarter, recover harder,
and adapt every mile — in water, on the bike, and on the run.
If you’ve ever felt like your body betrayed you,
this mission is for you, too.
Fuel the Mission
This isn’t a charity fundraiser — this is a real-life support campaign to help cover the medical, nutritional, equipment, and travel costs that come with training while chronically ill.
Your contribution helps with:
✔ Race entry fees
✔ Adaptive and medical gear
✔ Supplements + treatment expenses
✔ Training + recovery tools
✔ Keeping this body moving toward the start line
No amount is too small.
Every dollar helps me get one mile closer.
Next Marathon
March 7
Albany, GA
Combos Marathon
Next Half Ironman Triathlon
May 17, 2026
Chattanooga, TN
Upcoming Full Ironman Triathlon
Sept 27, 2026
Chattanooga, TN
Come On the Ride With Me
Right now, I’m training through flare-ups, paralysis relapses, and days when my body flat-out refuses to cooperate.It’s not glamorous. It’s not linear .And it’s definitely not always Instagram-pretty.
Some weeks I’m stacking miles like a machine. Other weeks, I’m celebrating walking the dog without pain.But every step still counts.
This is where the real work happens —the rebuilding, the relearning,the quiet victories nobody sees.
I’m sharing it all — the strong days and the setback days —because athletes with chronic illness deserve representation too.If you’re moving slowly, stopping often, or starting over more times than you planned…you still belong here.And I’m inviting you to follow along, mile by mile and comeback by comeback.
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