From Broken to Breaking Records: A Personal Story

Women all over the world are overcoming their own challenges each and every day. Being that today is International Women’s Day, we wanted to take the time to share the story of one of our Brand Ambassadors and how she overcame a very hard time in her life. Fitletic would like  to wish all those fabulous women out there a very Happy International Women’s Day- Remember to always celebrate your successes & stay true to who you are!!! On June 13^th, 2010 I was in a car accident and was presented with a life changing rebirth experience disguised as a very delicate spine surgery medically named “CHANCE”. Little did I know, this spine surgery was exactly that… a second CHANCE… a second chance for me to gather all my broken pieces and come back stronger than ever. I had a complex spine fracture which required surgical treatment. At this moment in time my spine was literally broken into two.  I went through spine surgery the day after my accident and immediately after was  put on the task of learning how to walk again. Before surgery I held my sisters hand telling her how thankful I felt to be able to move and walk… At this moment in time It was told to me that my chances were very slim to none. “I can’t believe that moment you held my hand and told me how thankful you felt. This was the same moment I had just received news from the doctors that you may not ever walk again” [Deborah said]. Deborah went back home at that time figuring out how she would remodel the house and started thinking of the necessary changes that needed to be made in order for a wheelchair to move around the home easily. This is the biggest miracle I have experienced so far, and thanks to the best doctors, my surgery was a very successful one. I felt like I was given the opportunity to rebirth, to connect with my higher self and transform something negative into one of the most positive experiences. After many months of daily physical therapy I recovered and with certain restrictions. With saying that, I was able to go back to work and continue my daily activities. As thankful as I was for my legs being able to move, and having a very strong- 6 titanium screw spine (Leaving me with the strongest back in the family, ha-ha)- I decided to become more active and this is when my running journey began. I am very grateful that I was able to go on this journey! In 2013 Disney runs became my biggest motivation, as I am a huge Disney fan (I must admit)! Without knowing, I was also motivating my sister and setting an example for her. She was seeing all of my greatest qualities and making personal changes for herself- Gratitude, willpower, discipline, fun but most of all self-love! I can still remember going to our very first 5k registration and Deborah telling me “I dreamt of the day we get to register for a ‘real run’”. She meant a half marathon or a longer distance race. No matter the distance we always cheered each other on through every race- realizing that this is a big achievement no matter how big or small! We completed these races due to our commitment to training, our self-discipline, and will power to never quit. Ever since, I have completed more than 40 races including: 5k’s, 10k’s, 15k’s and half marathons.  I have also completed “Travesía Baja 100” with my sister (for the second time) which is a hiking challenge truly tries your physical and mental ability! During this challenge we crossed the Baja peninsula from the Pacific coast to the Sea of Cortez- in just three days! More than half of the races I have completed have been a shared experience with my sister.  In addition to what we have done together, Deborah has become an avid marathon runner and an Ironman 70.3 finisher! Through what feels to be the darkest of tough times- My sister and I couldn’t feel any happier to be able to receive the blessings that we have thus far! In addition to all of our successes through running, we have an awesome relationship- full of celebrating each other! Cheer up through your darkest places; they are the most assertive wonderful window of opportunities we get for our transformation!