281.2 miles for MS: One Veteran’s journey from legally blind to Ironman

A Veteran’s fight against MS, one mile at a time

My diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) came with nearly every symptom imaginable – my neurologist called me a textbook case. I experienced bowel issues, severe balance problems, slurred speech, memory loss and numbness so profound that I would walk out of my shoes without realizing it. I also lost my vision and was legally blind for several years, although I am grateful to have now regained enough sight to be considered visually impaired.

I was terrified. I felt like my life had ended. I lost my job, my independence and my confidence. After about six months of grief and self-pity, I decided to fight for my strength. With medical guidance and careful progression, I went to the gym, hired a personal trainer and began rebuilding my body one deliberate step at a time. The journey since then has included multiple relapses, but it has also been marked by resilience, adaptation and unexpected achievement.

Over the years, I have trained my body not only to move again, but to go farther than I ever imagined possible. I have completed eight Ironman-distance triathlons, including the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. Most of these events required adaptive strategies. My husband has served as my guide, tethered to me during the swim and run and riding a tandem bike with me when my vision deteriorates from heat sensitivity.

Throughout my journey, the care I have received through Salem VA Medical Center has played a critical role in helping me safely pursue long-term rehabilitation and endurance training. Living with MS requires careful medical oversight, and the neurology team and specialists within the VA system have provided consistent monitoring, guidance and support as I gradually rebuilt my strength. Knowing I have a medical team that understands MS and follows my progress has given me the confidence to continue pushing forward while protecting my health.

This year marks what I’m calling my “ultra year.” On Valentine’s Day, I completed my first 50-kilometer ultra marathon with my husband guiding me through icy and muddy trails. On March 28, I raced the Hone Quarry 40-mile mountain ultra, my first solo trail race without an official guide. Then, on April 18, one day after our 11-year anniversary, my husband and I took on the Blue Ridge Double Marathon, considered one of the toughest road marathons in the country.

All of this is leading to my most ambitious challenge yet.

This journey has become something bigger than just my personal goals. I’m using these races to raise awareness and support for those living with MS through something I call “281.2 Miles for MS.”

In September, I will attempt the Endure Ultra Triathlon at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. This 281.2-mile event consists of a 4.8-mile swim, 224-mile bike and 52.4-mile run. If successful, I will become the first woman living with MS to complete this distance. For the first time, I plan to attempt the event without an official guide and on a single bicycle.

Everything I’m doing this year is about turning these miles into something that can help others feel seen, understood and not alone.

The Endure Ultra Triathlon is more than just an athletic challenge for me. It represents the next chapter in a journey that began with relearning how to walk safely and rebuild my independence after my diagnosis. My goal is to show other Veterans living with MS that a diagnosis does not mean the end of ambition, adventure or achievement. With the right medical care, adaptive strategies and persistence, it is still possible to pursue meaningful goals and live a full life.

Learn more about MS care in VA.