Taking Tourette to Ironman Boulder
Donation protected
As much fun as it might seem, having Tourette Syndrome is not all it's cracked up to be. As a kid there are struggles with friends, teachers, doctors, and even family. As a teen the struggles continue as you search for an identity that isn't your disease. As a college student you're met with the opportunity to recreate yourself, and the possibility of developing serious dependencies. As an adult you struggle between coping with change and coping with your disease, exponentially more difficult in combination. It's not all swear words and Bob Saget...
I was diagnosed with Tourette in the 1st grade, and have since been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression, and an anxiety disorder. While these other things are found on their own, it's very common for these things to follow a Tourette diagnosis.
To say it's all been rainbows and sunshine isn't really accurate, but don't think it's all been rainclouds and thunderstorms, either. I've been fortunate enough to find a way to keep my tics and symptoms in check: Triathlon.
In 2009 I ran my very first triathlon. I had been thinking about it for a while, but decided to jump in and make the commitment. I had seen a show on television covering the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and was amazed at the courage, determination, heart, and athletecism it took to cross the finish line. I made my mind up then and there that I would become an Ironman, no matter what it took.
Life has a funny way of delaying what you're not ready for. I was in college at the time, and struggling with substance abuse as a method of coping with my symptoms. As you might guess, these things didn't do a great job keeping me sane and in check with my symptoms. As I found them getting worse, I found myself consuming more, feeding a cycle that was going nowhere fast.
Fortunately, I discovered that I could make things better on myself if I exercised regularly. I began to run more often, I began cycling to and from classes, and started swimming laps. I found my symptoms virtually disappearing the more activity I did!
I had always been aware of the Tourette Syndrome Association, but never had the opportunity to participate in any of their activities. I got a letter in the mail one day, requesting that I consider participating in a genetic research study on Tourette Syndrome. I agreed to do so by giving blood, something I do not do voluntarily thanks to my fear of needles.
A couple years later in 2013, I decided that I would give triathlon another try as a method of coping. That first season I raced twice, reawakening my drive to become an Ironman. I knew I had a lot of work to do, and that it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to get better.
I am proud to say that 7 years after starting this journey, I'll be fulfilling that dream of becoming an Ironman in 2016! I've signed up to race Ironman Boulder on August 7, 2016 and finally get my M-dot. This is just one more step on a long journey, following many steps, and preceeding many more, but it is a landmark step in the career of any triathlete.
You may not realize it, but triathlon is a particularly expensive sport. From bikes, to shoes, to clothing, to the races themselves, it's definitely a financial challenge to race in these events. While I have been able to support my own journey to this point, I recently left my job to go to law school. What was once a stretch financially now appears to be a virtual impossibility.
Turns out that it's pretty difficult to get funding for Tourette research, and Congress isn't too keen on renewing any research money either. After emailing my congressman and getting a firm "Not now nor ever," I have decided that if I want to see action taken to support research for my disease, I'm going to have to do it myself. So, here I am.
I need your help to make this happen. In order to get to Colorado and race, it's going to take about $1,500. In addition, I would like to dedicate my race to the Tourette Syndrome Association. In order to do that, I would like to raise $1,500 to make a gift to the TSA to help fund research and programs for kids who are struggling with coping with this disease.
Here's the plan: No matter what you give, it will be split 50/50. You may not think you know anyone affected by Tourette or a similar tic disorder, but chances are someone close to you is struggling with one. Let's go into this together and make a difference!
I was diagnosed with Tourette in the 1st grade, and have since been diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression, and an anxiety disorder. While these other things are found on their own, it's very common for these things to follow a Tourette diagnosis.
To say it's all been rainbows and sunshine isn't really accurate, but don't think it's all been rainclouds and thunderstorms, either. I've been fortunate enough to find a way to keep my tics and symptoms in check: Triathlon.
In 2009 I ran my very first triathlon. I had been thinking about it for a while, but decided to jump in and make the commitment. I had seen a show on television covering the Ironman Triathlon World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and was amazed at the courage, determination, heart, and athletecism it took to cross the finish line. I made my mind up then and there that I would become an Ironman, no matter what it took.
Life has a funny way of delaying what you're not ready for. I was in college at the time, and struggling with substance abuse as a method of coping with my symptoms. As you might guess, these things didn't do a great job keeping me sane and in check with my symptoms. As I found them getting worse, I found myself consuming more, feeding a cycle that was going nowhere fast.
Fortunately, I discovered that I could make things better on myself if I exercised regularly. I began to run more often, I began cycling to and from classes, and started swimming laps. I found my symptoms virtually disappearing the more activity I did!
I had always been aware of the Tourette Syndrome Association, but never had the opportunity to participate in any of their activities. I got a letter in the mail one day, requesting that I consider participating in a genetic research study on Tourette Syndrome. I agreed to do so by giving blood, something I do not do voluntarily thanks to my fear of needles.
A couple years later in 2013, I decided that I would give triathlon another try as a method of coping. That first season I raced twice, reawakening my drive to become an Ironman. I knew I had a lot of work to do, and that it wouldn't be easy, but I was determined to get better.
I am proud to say that 7 years after starting this journey, I'll be fulfilling that dream of becoming an Ironman in 2016! I've signed up to race Ironman Boulder on August 7, 2016 and finally get my M-dot. This is just one more step on a long journey, following many steps, and preceeding many more, but it is a landmark step in the career of any triathlete.
You may not realize it, but triathlon is a particularly expensive sport. From bikes, to shoes, to clothing, to the races themselves, it's definitely a financial challenge to race in these events. While I have been able to support my own journey to this point, I recently left my job to go to law school. What was once a stretch financially now appears to be a virtual impossibility.
Turns out that it's pretty difficult to get funding for Tourette research, and Congress isn't too keen on renewing any research money either. After emailing my congressman and getting a firm "Not now nor ever," I have decided that if I want to see action taken to support research for my disease, I'm going to have to do it myself. So, here I am.
I need your help to make this happen. In order to get to Colorado and race, it's going to take about $1,500. In addition, I would like to dedicate my race to the Tourette Syndrome Association. In order to do that, I would like to raise $1,500 to make a gift to the TSA to help fund research and programs for kids who are struggling with coping with this disease.
Here's the plan: No matter what you give, it will be split 50/50. You may not think you know anyone affected by Tourette or a similar tic disorder, but chances are someone close to you is struggling with one. Let's go into this together and make a difference!
Organizer
Brenden Macy
Organizer
Indianapolis, IN
