TeamUP Community

Turner

OR

I've been active my whole life. I was a competitive gymnast from age 6 to 23. After gymnastics I luckily fell in love with running. I also was able to continue in the gymnastics world as a coach. Following college, coaching took me around the world from Oregon, Utah, San Diego, Austin, and eventually the beautiful island of Bermuda! After 3 years of living in Bermuda a car ran into me on my motor scooter and changed my life forever. I immediately had no use of my left leg. The next 3 years my life was on hold and I was unable to work and do all the things that I loved. I mostly missed running. I went 3 years unable to move my left leg, and could only walk with my clunky medical walking cast. I went to doctor to doctor dubbed a medical mystery. Finally lucky doctor number 25 diagnosed me with 2 different spinal cord injuries and sent me to be fitted for an orthotic to help me be active again. Luckily that orthotic was an Allard Toe-off! The day I took my Allard home I went for a run. A few months later I tried a half marathon, then marathon, just to see if I could. To my surprise I qualified for the Boston Marathon which had been my biggest life dream! I've since run 5 Boston Marathons and each one is just as special as the first. In February 2018 I became the first person to complete the 6 World Marathon Majors with a spinal cord injury on foot (Boston, NYC, Chicago, Berlin, London, and Tokyo). What an amazing adventure it was! I'm now aiming to complete a marathon on all 7 continents and having so much fun doing it. Now only did my Allard allow me to get back into running, it also let me return to coaching gymnastics and teaching fitness classes. I've also gained a big "family" through the wonderful Allard community.

ALS, Cancer, Diabetes, Stroke, Other

Friend, Caregiver

Gymnastics , Hiking, Running

Life is tough but I am tougher.