Past Races

Alyssa Roberts

44139, Ohio

My 'why:'
In middle school and high school, I was the kid that took part in every activity, especially track and cross country, easily running 6 min miles and just loving all things running. One day it was really difficult to do the warm-up lap for track practice, I asked my peers if they thought it was hard to breath.. due to smog or high humidity, they just said I was crazy. Well after complaining to my mom about my difficultly just running warm up laps, she took me to the doctor. Well, *SNAP* one day it looks like I woke up with exercise educed asthma. I went from being a star running to barely being able to complete easy runs or walk up the stairs at school. It was like a slap in the face. In the last few years of high school and college, I started shying away from running sports, even though I loved them. I was so ashamed of my decrease in abilities. I didn't look at running again until I was a 'young professional' and I lived in Greenville, Mississippi. I was eating fried green tomatoes, fried okra, fried chicken, sweet tea, you name it, I was immersing myself into the southern culture. I worked at Uncle Ben's Rice and we hosted an aid station table for the Mississippi River Marathon - it is a qualifier for Boston and travels from Arkansas, over the MS river and ends in Greenville, MS. Of course I volunteered to hand out water and Gatorade, I was inspirired… there were people that were out of shape, in wheel-chairs, old, young.. everyone pushing forward no matter what, .. running this race, with a smile on their face.. and I couldn't help but ask myself, why wasn't I running it too?! I just have asthma.... my other co-workers and I spoke... I told them.. yes I will do this race next year.. who's with me!? a few others agreed to start training and eating healthier, I hosted a few 'get moving' exercise sessions in our company gym as well as at local parks. I completed a half marathon later that year in Nashville, proving that with a little focused effort, you can do anything!!
One of my co-workers (Greg) and I bonded during one work out session about our dream to do a triathlon, this was shortly after the world championship was aired.. that's always the most inspiring thing, eh? So I helped him run his first 5k, then 10k, then OUR first duathlon, and eventually a sprint triathlon. Over the next few years we continued with Olympic distance. This was my first AG #1 finish, I was balling when I found out, because there was quite the competition, and I was training my butt off, trying to swim front stroke, but struggling due to my asthma.. and mainly doing back stroke for all races.
I never thought I would be 'competitive' because of my breathing issues. But I learned that if I put in the time and train.. I can compete with others in my age group, which I never thought was possible.
I was told I couldn't run like I used to. I run and compete in triathlons today, because I was told I wasn't going to be able to do so.
I love proving people wrong, and doing things that I "shouldn't" be able to do. Pushing my body to limits I never thought I could attain again. I run because I love it, and the way it makes me feel, every time I run, I remember the times it was so easy, and now I try to never take my abilities for granted, I run for the people that can't or won't. I try to be that symbol of hope for others, of what CAN BE, if you just pull yourself up and put in the work.