NewsInspirational Moments In Ironman
Gaylia Osterlund profiles two inspirational Ironman athletes from Ford Ironman Florida
Published Wednesday, January 20, 2010
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.”
Pat Puchalski, Gahanna, Ohio. A celebration of life and family.
For Pat Puchalski, racing the Ford Ironman Florida was a celebration of life. She had just retired from teaching elementary school for 35-years and she had been cancer-free for five years. She does not much want to talk much about the cancer, but more about how full her life is these days.
“My 83-year-old father is my daily life coach who provides encouragement and positive thinking. We chat by phone at 6 A.M. each day before he is off to his walk at the YMCA.”
Pat’s dad is also a cancer survivor, so he knows all to well what her fight has been. She is inspired by him to put in the hours it takes to get to the starting line of an Ironman.
Although she is retired, her life is full and training requires a degree of innovation.
“My training was not consistent because I was helping my daughter care for her one-year-old son who was taken to the hospital twice for breathing difficulties,” explains Pat. “Strength training consisted of lifting 30-pound A.J. and long runs were often around the neighborhood with him in my arms.”
She has no regrets because her four grandchildren (A.J., 1 1/2, Brooke, 4, Corinne, 4 1/2, and Reese, 6 1/2) are very special to her.
“They are highly spirited, unique individuals who keep me young and motivated to stay healthy. Their laughter, hugs, and phone calls are among my greatest joys!”
When she visited her son's family over Christmas, these same youngsters took a page from great-grandpa’s book and urged her along in her training.
“I was jogging up a very steep hill with Corinne and Reese. I started walking on the when Reese exclaimed, "Grandma Pat, you've run the Boston Marathon!
If you ever want to go back, you better run faster than you are now!"
Although she picked up the pace, her six-year old grandson still beat her to the top!
So come race day, it was no surprise that her family was there to cheer her on.
“I struggled with cramps on the bike so I had to stop and stretch,” says Pat. “Once back riding, I increased my electrolytes and there was a tail wind! Suddenly, biking was fun again.”
The change in nutrition out on the bike paid dividends the first half of the marathon, but she slowed to a walk for the last six miles.
“I had no idea I was in second place and had no thoughts of Kona. I just knew my family was cheering me on telling me I looked better than any of my previous four Ironman races.”
She credits her family, friends, students and physicians for encouraging her to reach for her dreams.
“I thank God each day for the many blessings in my life. Only because of God’s will am I heading back to Kona. What a surprise!”
The best part of the day you ask? Well that would be when her three-year old grand daughter declared she wanted to be an Irongirl when she grows up.
You may contact Gaylia Osterlund at gaylialynn@ironman.com.
