From couch to half ironman world championships

bhokanson2015

I could have never known where this journey I am on would lead when I started. When I started all I wanted was to be a better version of myself. To not be ashamed of how I looked in pictures and have terrible anxiety anytime I got a notification that someone tagged me in some picture on Facebook.

I didn't start out by being a triathlete, or even knowing what an Ironman was. When I started I didn't run, couldn't swim and didn't own a bike. I started out by wanting change. I bought a little fitbit and walked my *kitten* off, literally. When it was taking me too long to get the 20k steps I was wanting per day I started running because I thought that would be a more efficient way to get the number of steps I wanted.

Running lead to racing, and two years ago in 2016 I bought a bike and joined a gym to layer in swimming and biking to my regimen. My first time in the pool I thought it was going to be impossible, I couldn't even make it across the pool one time without stopping, and my first ride on my bike I had to walk my bike about a half mile home because I had no idea how to downshift it into a smaller gear. Failure is a big part of this journey. Failing at swimming, failing at biking, blowing up in races. If you fail who cares? Triathlon and life isn't success only, if you wait for everything to be right before attempting something you may end up waiting forever and never starting.

This last month I flew to South Africa to compete against the fittest triathletes in the world, something I never would have thought I would be doing. I worked, I earned my spot, because I know that its true that anything is possible.

kami3006

What a fantastic success story! Thanks for sharing this and congratulations on how far you've come. You look great and so happy.

bemyyfriend0918

Wow this is really inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

mom23mangos

Wow! So inspiring! I still struggle with cardiovascular health and I have to remember it's just one step at a time.

IHaveMyActTogether

Growing up I watched the Ironman competitions in awe. What an inspiration you are!

michael1976_ca

that's incredible learning is a never ending lesson and you are proof of that. thanks for sharing

MsBaz2018

Wow

bpotts44

Wow.

middlehaitch

Well done and congratulations, you look magnificent.

To compete in an ironman is no mean feat (I have a son that has competed in a few), to build up your training in just 2 years shows incredible dedication.

My hat is off to you.

Cheers, h.

elisa123gal

I bet this experience has filtered into other aspects of you life. I'm sure you now know you can accomplish anything. What a well written story that proves you don't have to have a whole game plan, you just have to get into the game and not give up. amazing. and congratulations.

QueenBee2018

Just WOW. Thanks for sharing!

jdubois5351

Wow, that might be one of the most inspiring things I've read so far! Excellent work!

Styggian

amazing story and results, congratulations

winn9524

Congrats dude! What an accomplishment!

times60

An amazing story. Congratulations on your success. It is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing

fbcarlson

So amazing! Congratulations on the transformation!

Leannep2201

Wow, well done!!!!
I’m at the “teaching myself how to run” stage because walking for exercise is becoming less of a challenge.
Would love to run a 5k one day, and you’ve definitely inspired me to think that maybe I actually can do it!!!

4bugsmama

You are an inspiration. And absolutely correct - trying and failing then trying again until you get it right is far better than never trying. Congrats on your successes!

lorrpb

OMG that is so great! I swam the first leg of a tri sprint relay team last month, came home and bought a bike, hooked! So proud of you and will be cheering for you!

dbanks80

Wow Amazing story!

evergreenlakegirl

Thank you for sharing your journey.... I smiled when you said you didn’t run- swim- bike and how you moved forward
Truly inspiring- you look great and I’m sure feel great too - physically and emotionally

bhokanson2015

evergreenlakegirl wrote: »

Thank you for sharing your journey.... I smiled when you said you didn’t run- swim- bike and how you moved forward
Truly inspiring- you look great and I’m sure feel great too - physically and emotionally

I do, it’s much better now. I used to regularly have major problems with my back that would leave me in crippling pain and that’s all gone away with how I live now. I feel better now than I did 10 years ago

daveredvette

awesome job, in order for you to make it to World Championship you had to win your age group or top %. You came a long way from the couch and lot of hard work.

I completed my first full Ironman in September and started in the sport about 5 years ago with Sprint distance. Bragging rights to my other 53 year old friends.

Keep up the great work

daveredvette

Leannep2201 wrote: »

Wow, well done!!!!
I’m at the “teaching myself how to run” stage because walking for exercise is becoming less of a challenge.
Would love to run a 5k one day, and you’ve definitely inspired me to think that maybe I actually can do it!!!

You can complete a 5k this year, you can run / walk it, just keep putting 1 foot in front. Next spring run the 5K. crossing the finish line is more mental. you can do it