My name is Monique, and I’ve been married to my sweet husband 12 years, and we have a spunky 7 year old daughter. We’ve lived in the Sacramento area for about 17 years now. In June of 2010, just after I had turned 38, I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer with a 12cm tumor and told I most likely had 2-5 years to live. “IBC” is the most fatal form of breast cancer, and being Stage 3, there’s a 40-50% chance of survival. Yeah, not exactly how I had planned to wrap up my 30’s, but I decided to fight hard. I spent the next 4 months doing the most intense chemotherapy they could throw at me, then had a double mastectomy, followed by twice-daily radiation for 5 weeks. Despite what I initially imagined, I actually gained weight through this process, with my weight topping out at 207. After a full 7 months of all of this nonsense, I got a PetCT scan and was declared “No Evidence of Disease”. This just means that they can’t locate any cancer cells big enough to see on a scan, and would have to watch me like a hawk.

I didn’t really know how to deal with the whole “Move on with life, but keep in mind there’s still a 50-60% chance you’re gonna die in the next few years.” As my brain spiraled into an uncharacteristic depression, I knew I didn't want to waste whatever life I had left laying around feeling numb and useless. 

In May 2011, my husband suggested that I get out and start exercising to lift the depression. I had read that getting to a healthy weight would drastically increase my chances for survival, and desperate, I decided to go for it.

I started by working out at the gym a few times per week. Boy, I tell ya, just walking a mile on that darn treadmill was a serious accomplishment at that point. But I started to feel something that I hadn’t felt in a long time – a spark. Though brief, I felt better after working out and I liked it. , I wanted that feeling stick around longer. 

When someone at my gym mentioned TBF and the Golden State Triathlon, I thought that sounded like a great way to keep myself motivated. I roped in my friends Stephanie and Erin, and together we signed up for the training class with Coach Dan. Wow, talk about a life-changer! That fall, I actually RAN my first mile – EVER. And in October, I managed to complete that Golden State Triathlon sprint distance. I wasn’t fast, but I did it, and I can now say I’m a Survivor and a Triathlete!!!

Maybe it's because I hadn’t exercised in years, or maybe it's because I was built to be a linebacker, I found that endurance training exposes old injuries. That when I found Coach Tim.

Coach Tim Sorensen helped me learn how to train smarter rather than harder.  I can’t even begin to tell you how awesome Tim has been, and how much knowledge and encouragement he has poured into me. I’d sooner give up electricity and indoor plumbing than to miss my weekly butt-kicking session with Tim. There’s just nothing like that weekly accountability, personal training plan and even help with my eating program. My injuries have improved dramatically, and I am way stronger than I was just a few short months ago. I have dropped about 45 pounds and gone from a size 16/18 to a size 10/12 (and still shrinking!). Yes, I’m still on the slow side, but that’s starting to change. Next week, I’ll turn 40, and I know that one of these days, I’ll be passing up the 25 year old guys out there where they can read the back of my “You’ve just been chicked” shirt.