A little over a year ago Ms. Jillian O’Malley (25-29 age group) from Hinesville, GA was diagnosed as morbidly obese. She weighed around 286 pounds and was headed in a direction of destruction. After determining that enough was enough, she decided to change her life’s direction and undergo a surgery that would assist her in transforming not only her waistline, but her way of being. After only being involved in triathlon for one year, she is determined to take on one of sports’ most challenging events. In August of 2011, she will be standing on the starting line of Ironman Louisville. She did us the honor of responding to the interview questions I put forth, and this is what she had to say. For her complete story, I highly recommend visiting her website and definitely check out her year-long transformation: http://theadventuresofashrinkingfatchick.blogspot.com/
TS: What got you interested in triathlon?
JO: I needed a sport to give me the drive to keep training. I started running again and doing running races after I lost some weight, but I wanted more. I had been a runner in the past, and knew it was easy to get burnt out on just running, so doing three sports sounded like a fun challenge and a way to mix up training to stay fit.
TS: What is your best discipline?
JO: The run is my strongest discipline due to my previous experience with running.
TS: Why do you want to do an Ironman?
JO: It’s a feeling I have. I watch it on TV and I want to be there, racing the race and suffering with everyone. I read the race reports on Beginner Triathlete.com and want the experience. The first time I heard what the iron distances were, I got excited, and everyone else around me simply said “That’s nuts, I have no desire to ever do something like that.” Well, I want to do that, and I have the drive to do the training.
TS: Why Ironman Louisville?
JO: I feel ready to take on an Ironman this coming year, and I didn’t want to wait until 2012. The St. George and Louisville Ironman events were the only ones with slots available, and because I live in Georgia, I chose Louisville for logistical reasons.
TS: What do you expect to be greatest challenges in preparing for IMLOU?
JO: The hills on the bike course will be challenging because it is pancake flat where I live, so I have no hills to train on.
TS: What would your best case scenario be on race day in general?
JO: To be able to find my rhythm quickly during the swim, my weakest sport, to not blow up on the bike, and then have plenty left for the run.
TS: What is your most critical piece of equipment for each of the three disciplines?
JO: For swimming it would be my goggles. On the bike I would say my Profile Design aerodrink set-up. For running, it has to be my Garmin 110, since I have come to depend on it.
TS: What triathlon professional(s), if any,inspire you?
JO: Chrissie Wellington. I love watching her race. She is a wonderful ambassador for the sport and I admire how she always has that genuine smile on her face.
TS: Other than Ironman Hawaii, what is a major “bucket list” triathlon on your radar?
JO: I really want to do the full Vineman (Iron distance) one day. My husband is from that area, and he has a huge family, so it would be awesome to do the race and have a 40 person cheering section.
TS: Which would be a better triathlon rig, a classic Big Wheel or strap on roller skates with wooden wheels?
JO: Probably the skates. It would be really hard to pedal the big wheel as an adult, plus the skates would work your thighs.
TS: Which would be worse, losing your cycling shoes in T1 or your running shoes inT2?
JO: Yikes, both would be pretty bad, but I’ll go with losing running shoes. I got injured from running in minimalistic shoes, so the barefoot running movement it not for me. I could try my best to wing it without cycling shoes and hope I make the time cut-off.
TS: Which is more important, the finisher’s t-shirt, or finisher’s medal?
JO: The finisher’s medal. T-shirts get worn out and eventually get thrown out or turned into rags. The medal will last and I can explain to my kids when they get older what it took to train for and finish the race, and then pass it down to them.
TS: What song or artist would you love to hear blaring at mile 20 in the Ironman run?
JO: Any classic rock song.
TS: Who will you contact first to let them know that you are an Ironman? (Given they are not in attendance).
JO: My mom and dad.
Jillian has made her own personal transformation and through her efforts she is living the Ironman creed of “Anything is possible.” She has a great story that is experiencing a happy…middle. I can’t say ending because she has so much more she can accomplish.
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