From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

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.

1140977761
From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

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.

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From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

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Overview

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.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781782552406
Publisher: Meyer & Meyer Sport
Publication date: 08/01/2022
Pages: 312
Sales rank: 172,598
Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Hilary JM Topper, MPA, is a 30-year public relations veteran. She runs both HJMT Public Relations Inc., a full-service public relations and social media agency, and HJMT Media Company, where she curates two blogs and a podcast. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University where she teaches digital communications and public relations classes to undergraduate and graduate students. Hilary has written two other books: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Social Media (2009) and Branding in a Digital World (2019). In her spare time, she trains for endurance events, including triathlons. She is a level 1 USA certified coach, a Galloway-certified running coach, and a certified personal trainer. She runs an international triathlon team, WeREndurance, and she has a local running club where she meets weekly with her members. Hilary lives on Long Island with her family.

Table of Contents

Foreword 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 118

2016

Chapter 18 Challenge Yourself 128

Chapter 13 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 23 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

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