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Inspirational Moments in Ironman; Her 9-Year Old Made Her Do It!
As Posted on Ironman.com |
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| Jan 21, 2010 |
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Inspired by her nine-year-old son, Stephanie Liles went on to finish Ford Ironman Florida, while Pat Puchalski celebrated life and family with her finish in Panama City Beach.
“Hard work spotlights the character of people. Some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses and some don’t turn up at all.”
~Sam Ewing~
Stephanie Liles, Tallahassee, Florida. Her Nine-Year Old Made Her Do It!
About five years ago, 37-year old Stephanie Liles was on the sidelines watching her son do his very first triathlon. She was intrigued with what she saw these kids doing but, being a single mother of three and working full-time, she had doubts she could figure out how to train for a triathlon, much less an Ironman.
“Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could complete an Ironman,” she explains by email. “I found myself getting really creative! I would get up at 4:30am to train while the children slept and I often brought the wind trainer to my son’s baseball games to get a ride in while he played.”
When she arrived in Panama City Beach for the Ford Ironman Florida, Liles was most worried about the chaos of a mass swim start.
“I wasn’t sure what I was expecting, but I did not get as beat up as I thought I would. I just got into my own rhythm and kept going.”
Once out on the bike, it was smooth sailing. Her primary goal was to finish so she was focused on smart pacing.
“When I saw my three beautiful children, my parents and fiancé, the boost of energy was amazing! I really had to hold myself back on the bike and run. As I came through the finish line, I was laughing and crying tears of joy all at the same time,” she says. “Hearing ‘Stephanie Liles, you are an Ironman’ were the greatest words I could have heard that day!”
Race week next October will be special in more ways than one. Not only will she compete in the World Championships, but Liles will be getting married to her long time beau and best friend, Mike Weyant.
“I know there are many of us single moms/dads out there in the same boat,” she continues. “If I can inspire just one person, my whole reason for what I do will be complete.”
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