When Glenn Hartrick was paralyzed from the chest down after a tragic accident, he was just weeks removed from finishing an Ironman. Prior to that, he was on the cover of Runner's World. Glenn's life was changed forever, but he refused to feel defeated. Instead, Glenn began to pursue marathons and triathlons as a physically challenged athlete. He set big goals, and he conquered them, even qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in 2018. Glenn is the epitome of perseverance and positivity and that shines through in this conversation. He also reminisces on the NYC Marathon and his race in Kona, which bring all the feels in a year when both of those epic events have been cancelled.

This week, I'm chatting with Ashley Weishaar. Ashley and I met as freshmen at Mount Saint Mary’s University (Go Mount!) where we ran on the cross country and track teams together. And Ashley wasn’t just a runner: She jumped into just about every event there was, and even set a school record in the pole vault that stood for a few years. But despite being the picture of health and athleticism, Ashley's health took a serious turn not long after we graduated when she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, an auto-immune disease that attacks the colon. Ashley, a mom of five (!), bravely battled this disease for 17 years before coming to a crossroads when the disease was no longer manageable. Her doctor gave her the grim news that her colitis had progressed to the point where it really came between life and death.  So, she made the brave decision to under go a total colectomy three years ago. And, today she is celebrating her victory lap, colon–and disease–free. I am so honored Ashley agreed to share this very personal story with Victory Laps listeners. Through her vulnerability and optimism, I know she will provide hope to others, especially those going through any auto-immune disease or other health challenges.