Road to Ironman 70.3 for Ehlers Danlos Syndrome

My name is Belen and on 7th May 2023, I will be competing in (taking part in is probably more accurate) my first Ironman 70.3 in Venice, Italy. I will be doing this in memory of my sister, who sadly passed away in May 2021 at the age of 27 due to complications with vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.

Ehlers Danlos is a rare genetic disorder which has no cure, and more often than not, it goes undiagnosed. Alba was first diagnosed at the age of 20 following a hospitalisation where she fought for her life. This would be the first of four battles she underwent until she sadly suffered a brain haemorrhage - one she didn’t win. Alba was kind, caring and always had a smile on her face, enjoying her life to the full and never letting EDS stop her in any way. Alba loved spending time outdoors with her two dogs, Pipo and Dama, always alongside her boyfriend.

All money raised will go to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Charity , which will improve the quality of life of people living with EDS, fund research, and raise awareness.

My Journey

Completing an Ironman 70.3 has never been on my bucket list of things to do. It had never crossed my mind that swimming 1.9km in open water (I’m rather scared of it), followed by cycling 90km (I’ve never even owned a road bike) and running a half marathon would be a good idea. In fact, I know for sure this is not the brightest idea I’ve ever had, but this is meant to be a challenge, right?

Sport and exercise have always been part of my life, and over the past couple of years they have become my therapy. When my sister passed away though, everything stopped - I didn’t exercise and didn’t fully get back into it until approximately a year later.

Training

In December, I joined Optima Racing Team, a very friendly (and impressive) triathlon club. Although my body isn’t currently conditioned to swim, cycle or run any of those distances (and neither can I complete them separately), I know all I need to do it’s to keep showing up and putting the work in over the next five months. I’m starting from zero, but that makes it more fun.

Finishing the race will be challenging, but it’s all about the journey and mindset to get there; the preparation, commitment and consistency required over the next few months. I know Alba, wherever she is, will be proud.

Raising money for Ehlers Danlos charity

Far more important than any sporting event or personal achievement is the awareness and funds I’d like to raise in memory of my sister.

If you can, I’d really appreciate your financial contribution and sharing this page with your family, friends and colleagues (and on social media, of course!)

You can follow my journey on Instagram: belen_ripoll

Thank you!