20: GUEST: IronWoman Karen Aydelott's Challenged Athlete's Resilience & Hope

The Everyday Awesome Project

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Ready for a cozy conversation of HOPE? Listen in as Polly interviews this living Ironwoman Legen, Karen Aydelott of San Luis Obispo, CA. Karen is a soft-spoken yet fierce elite athlete (at recording she's 78 yrs young).
Have you ever dreamed of meeting a Bionic Woman? This is your chance! During this episode you'll meet EVERY DAMN DAY Awesome Karen - with a lifetime of experiences that only a human with a mind of steel, heart of gold and body of iron could possibly live through.
This week Coach Polly, our resident Ironwoman in training, sits down with Karen to discuss her philosphies and approach to being a mega endurance athlete, a widow and adapted athlete. Listen in to how Karen used her mental game to rebuild her body and then life after being rolled over, flipped by a car from behind while on a training ride - causing 20+ surgeries, fusing of 4 vertebrae in her spine and ultimately the decision to amputate part of her leg.
Karen is truly the most humble badass we have ever met. She competed in Kona Hawaii at the Ironman World Championships 15+ times. While her athletic prowess and resilienct spirit shine through all of her mega racing accolates, it's the compasionate heart of a champion and unstoppable desire to help others that will win you over. She had a stellar 35 year career as CEO of the YMCA and countless roles of service to community from boards, volunteering and coaching swimming to children and families.
Throughout Coach Polly and Karen's conversation, truth bombs are dropped about her emotional and physical turmoil when having to choose lower leg amputation, her continuous quest for athletic excellence, and the solace she finds in the companionship of family and friends, including the four-legged kind. Her volunteer involvement with the Challenged Athletes Foundation, the Bob Jones Trail committee and Bike SLO County safety committee illustrate how personal adversity can fuel ones desire to both give back and to impact positive change in the face of pain.
Karen shares stories of many losses in her life, but you'll never hear her giving up or giving into anything that wants to hold her back from being HOPEful and optimistic. She says she practices every day being the person she wants to be because life is a precious gift and worth it if you learn to appreciate what you have. Karen shares about how she keeps her focus on being the best human she can be...here are her 7 principles to an empowered life:
Courage ,Purpose, Positive, Strength, Focus, Commitment, Hope
Find Karen Aydelott at:
https://www.instagram.com/aydelottkaren
https://www.facebook.com/karen.aydelott

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Kapitler

1. Triathlete's Inspirational Journey and Resilience (00:00:03)

2. Overcoming Adversity and Maintaining Hope (00:10:47)

3. Overcoming Challenges Through Endurance Sports (00:16:38)

4. Life Challenges and Resilience (00:30:27)

5. Find Everyday Awesome Through Contribution (00:37:38)

6. Choosing Positivity (00:47:11)

7. Finding Your Awesome (00:59:31)