Following her series of blog posts on reaching fitness, Hilary JM Topper wrote From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete. She joins us as we celebrate UK release – and what an inspiration she is!
You see, I was never an athlete in high school or college. I skied a little but never played any organized sports. To me gym and being athletic was a waste of time. “What is it going to do for me?” I used to say.
I cut gym as much as possible and hung out in the smoking lounge instead.
But fast forward to age 48, after owning my own public relations business for many years and focusing on bringing in business to feed my staff and family, I had enough. I wanted a way out. I wasn’t happy. And I was packing on the weight.
“Was it possible for this couch potato to run at my age?”
Depression set in. After work, I would drive my car to the Wantagh Parkway and park on the shoulder. There, I would sit and watch as people ran by. It looked so graceful that I wanted to give it a try. But could I? Was it possible for this couch potato to run at my age?
I joined a gym for the first time in my life and hired a personal trainer. “Go to the treadmills and warm up,” he told me. I was reluctant.
Not knowing how to turn it on, I asked a runner to stop running and help me. “Please,” I said. “I’m sorry to bother you.” The runner helped and I started to walk. Walking turned into running a little bit and eventually, I was running all the time on the treadmill. That’s when I decided to take it outside.
After meeting a marathon runner and her encouraging me to run with her, we decided to take runcations together. We raced a lot in those early years and when we finished the Brooklyn Half Marathon in 2014, she said, “no more!”
That’s when I suggested doing a triathlon. She said OKAY. But at that point, I didn’t realize you needed to swim, bike, and run. I don’t know what I thought!
My book, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete – A Portrait of a Non-Athletic Triathlete, takes the reader on a journey through my life while also inspiring them to change their lives. Because, if I can change my life, so can you.
“If I can change my life, so can you.”
My inspiration for writing this book was to help people who are in similar situations get the motivation to make a positive change. My story is relatable, and I’m hoping it will inspire a lot of people to get out of their comfort zone and do something out of their wheelhouse.
I never thought in a million years that I would be a triathlete. And, at age 53, I became one and am still going strong into my 60s.
“I never thought in a million years that I would be a triathlete. And, at age 53, I became one…”
It doesn’t matter how sedentary you are, or how overweight you may be, or even how old you think you are, if you want to make a change, you can, just like I did.
We told you she was inspirational! From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete is available now – internationally! – through good bookstores and online retailers. You can find more information here
