Teri Griege crossed the finish line at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, three years ago. That was two years after she was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer with metastases to the liver, which comes with a 6 percent five-year survival rate. It was a crushing blow, but Griege dared to hope, and so has persevered. “Someone had to be in that 6 percent, so why couldn’t it be me?” she says.
Griege ran her first marathon in 2002, when she was in her 40s, and moved on to triathlons in 2008, when she completed her first Ironman just shy of qualifying for the world championship. The following year, even after training hard, her time was 10 minutes slower. This, along with other symptoms, led her to visit the doctor, who delivered her diagnosis. “I made a decision almost right away that the cancer wasn’t going to stop me,” she says.
Focusing once again on the Ironman World Championship, Griege trained while undergoing cancer treatment. When she participated in 2011, two years after diagnosis, she was still receiving maintenance chemotherapy, which she continues to this day. None of it would have been possible without Teri’s Troops, Griege’s army of supporters who have done everything from training with her to providing medical and spiritual support.
Although Griege can no longer compete—she completed the Ironman World Championship as an inspirational athlete—she still can participate, and that’s all that matters to her. “Training to finish is a different perspective than training to race. When you’re passionate about something, you don’t want to give it up. It doesn’t matter to me if I’m competitive or just there to enjoy it,” she says. This month, Griege will run the Tokyo Marathon, crossing a major goal off her list.
Griege’s story has inspired countless others, and she has ardently helped spread awareness about colon cancer. She appeared on national talk shows, like The Today Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. A book about her story, Powered by Hope, is set to hit shelves this spring. “Colon cancer can be prevented with early screening and being aware of family history, so I have been adamant about sharing my story,” Griege says. “It has become a way for me to be an example of hope.”
[the routine]
Weekly I run at least three times a week, up to 20 miles. I also keep a base triathlon going, so I bike twice a week for two hours, and ride on a trainer at home if I can’t get outside. I also swim once or twice a week, for at least two miles, and try to lift weights once per week.
Photo by Charles Barnes
