#168: Breast Cancer Survivor Cycling 240 Miles To Take Her Life & Body Back

Run The Race

She survived breast cancer - twice! And now she's on a team that's getting on bikes for a cross-country ride to raise money for cancer research, taking us inside her fitness training and faith mindset for next month's big challenge. (2:15) Susan Glisson starts by telling us how this former swimmer and softball player got into cycling, including an Ironman. Her second bout with cancer prompted her to put the bike down 8 years ago, but she picked it back up this year to take her life and body back from the disease. How does cycling differ from other sports, in terms of a workout? She explains the muscles you use, what burns, what kind of road bike she uses, and the bruises she's gotten. (6:36) Starting September 7, the Coast 2 Coast 4 Cancer ride will start in Oregon and end a month later in NJ. Susan is riding around 80 miles, 3 days straight - in late Sept - from St Louis MO to Indianapolis IN. The goal for the dozens of Bristol Myers Squib employees and cycling teammates is to raise $1 million for the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Here's how you can help: www.cancerbikeride.org. This competitive woman talks about her motivation to take on this big ride, at her age in her mid 50s, not as strong or fast as she used to be, but living life to the fullest. What about the last 5 months of training? She breaks down the schedule and numbers. (12:51) We discuss her personal cancer journey, from her first diagnosis in 1997 to the next one that involved a difficult 8 hour surgery, an emotional wakeup call from God, and mental strength through the pain. Susan also learned to eat clean. For this cycling adventure, she hydrates every 5 miles or 20 minutes, but PB&J sandwiches are favorites to eat. (21:52) She's also sending a message to her son and family that there's life after cancer! These cancer rides are also about bringing awareness and compressing the stigma she talks about. (26:40) For Susan, faith is also crucial as she lives and cycles, taking in God's beauty and knowing that anything is possible if she believes, as the Bible says. She was also a former athletic trainer at Auburn University (under coach Pat Dye), where her husband played football. Now, she's the one being served and trained as an athletic team member. Wee end with her talking about this Coast 2 Coast 4 cancer ride - the anxiety of the unknown, their average speed on the bikes, daily plans, and how to donate to this cause. I close out the episode in prayer. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.