Making NOW the right time – Meet Kate 8 of 52 Phenomenal Women (Year 2)

Meet Kate:

In her own words –

A journey of a thousand miles (or in my case, 140.6) begins with one step.

“I’ve wanted to complete an Ironman for several years, but as a working mom, it seemed difficult to fit it in. Conquering the laundry seemed enough to tackle, rather than layering in an event that consists of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, and full marathon. I have completed several smaller triathlons, but Ironman represents the pinnacle of endurance events for triathletes. How could I achieve such an aspiration, within the tiny slivers of time that danced in and out of my day?

When my mom was diagnosed with Cancer last year, I found my answer. I was reminded that life can change in an instant, and we never know what lies on the path ahead. There is no better time than the present, and if we want something, we need to move toward it one step at a time, just as my Mom would be doing with her recovery. During seven intense months of training, I realized that we are blessed with powerful minds and strong bodies, and we can conquer so much more than we think we can. I also realized that although Ironman is an individual sport, it absolutely requires a team to get to the finish line. The unconditional support and patience from my family and the encouragement from my friends and fellow triathletes allowed me to cross the finish line, just as my mom beat Cancer. 

What I found at the finish line was so much more than I set out for. For me, this has been more than an endurance event. Looking back, while also looking ahead, I realize I have found my happy, my community, and a renewed energy around what is possible. I believe that when we find something that brings us joy, the joy spills into other areas of our life – we perform better at work, are more present at home, and we bring this energy with us to other arenas of life.   

I am so grateful for this journey. My advice to women who have a vision for something more yet struggle to ‘balance it all’ is to start your journey with just one step. If there is something that is calling your name, or a goal or challenge that may seem insurmountable, tip-toe towards the vision. Once you start, these small steps will likely accelerate into boundless sprints. Rally your support network, follow the vision, and lead with your heart. It may take you to places that you never knew you could achieve, and with this realization, you will likely find something or someone you never knew possible. As we set out on this journey – we take those tiny little cracks of time, expand them into vast open spaces that swell with love, and discover our better selves.”

*** Please follow along on instagram as well and learn more about Kate. 52 Phenomenal Women is now in its second year! This is week 8 of 52.

Participants in this project will be supporting the efforts of Dress for Success Worldwide – Central. We are all stronger together and it is my sincere hope that we will be inspired by each other’s stories. Now is the time to celebrate as well as encourage one another. Tell your story!***