Another dose of inspiration for us

As a fitness trainer, I’ve worked with many midlife and senior clients. Each of them has enjoyed the many benefits that come from consistent exercise, especially feeling younger than their years. However, none of them, nor I, have had goals set as high as the amazing and age-defying trailblazer, Natalie Grabow.

At 80 years old, Natalie is the oldest woman to complete the Ironman World Championship. The Ironman is the world’s most famous ultra-endurance competition, and Natalie crossed the finish line in 16 hours, 45 minutes, and 26 seconds.

Held in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, the event starts with a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bike ride, and concludes with a 26.2-mile marathon. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.

Natalie’s trailblazing didn’t begin with the Ironman. She began competing in triathlons at 60, just one year after learning to swim. Years before, she broke gender norms by entering Bucknell University in Pennsylvania as a math major, and later became a computer software developer.

In this article from Business Insider, you can learn more about Natalie, including how she became interested in competing, her training regimen, and what she has planned next (hint: it doesn’t include slowing down).
https://www.businessinsider.com/octogenarian-oldest-to-finish-kona-ironm...