Here at runladylike.com, Fridays are all about sharing the inspiring stories of fit people who motivate all of us to be better tomorrow than we were yesterday. My Friday FITspiration series profiles runners, triathletes and casual exercisers who are making choices every day to be as healthy as they can be – in both huge ways and through simple, small victories. Their stories are about the journey of transforming from ordinary to extraordinary each and every day.

“I want to prove to my kids that if you want something in life, you go after it. You become your dream by wanting it more than anything that might get in your way.” ~Chrisann Dalton

Today, I’m excited to introduce you to Chrisann Dalton. Chrisann is a stay-at-home mom and self-motivated athlete who lives in Bedford, New Hampshire, with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs. Although she has been diagnosed with chronic asthma, Chrisann is determined to finish her first IRONMAN this year to celebrate her 40^th birthday. As a Team REFUEL athlete, she is part of the BECOME ONE journey, which follows 4 athletes as they attempt to complete 140.6 miles at Kona in October, including a medical student, former U.S. Marine Corps member who lost his right leg below the knee in an IED explosion (I’ll introduce you to him next month) and former NFL player, Super Bowl XL MVP and “Dancing with the Stars” season 12 winner Hines Ward. Check out what Chrisann had to say about this journey and her IRONMAN training.

How long have you been running, and what inspired you to start?
I’ve been running for 22 years. It started with me trying to run a lap around the University of Central Florida track and a guy challenging me to work my way up to 3 miles (12 laps). I never back down from a challenge!

When you were 16, you were diagnosed with asthma. How has that affected your running? Where do you find your motivation to overcome this challenge?
I have come to accept that as an asthmatic, I am going to have good and bad days … but doesn’t everyone? On my bad days, I make adjustments. Changes might include, running a little slower, taking a dose from my inhaler or bringing my workouts inside because of humidity, pollen or smog (these irritants trigger my asthma). If my peak flow numbers really begin to plummet, I contact my doctor about making dosing changes to my daily medicines (Advair /Flonase). But overall, I don’t let it stop me. I firmly believe exercise makes me stronger and better equipped to control my asthma.

My motivation comes from a conversation I had with a doctor while I was hospitalized for almost a week due to a severe asthma attack in college. I told the doctor I loved to run. He mentioned running might not be a possibility for me, and that ticked me off. No one tells me what I can and can’t do. I set my own limits. Don’t stop me from trying; just give me the tools to succeed.

You turned 40 last month (happy belated birthday!) To celebrate, you’re taking on an IRONMAN. What has training for your first IRONMAN been like?
Thanks! This has been one heck of a birthday year!

Training for an IRONMAN has been a very empowering experience. The distances that my body could not do months ago are now routine. As for training, I have worked my way up to training 16 to 18 hours/per week, and my mid-week workouts are often 2.5 to 3-hour workouts, with weekends being longer. I love feeling strong and capable.

How do you balance training and being a mom?
By giving myself a pass not to be perfect. If you were to come to our house right now, you would find weeds in the garden, mounds of laundry piles and projects put on hold … but that’s okay. The kids are dressed, the homework is done and pizza is just a phone call away.

What is the best part of training for IRONMAN? What is the most challenging part?
The most challenging part is not comparing myself to the other guys on the BECOME ONE/Team REFUEL team. Often I have to remind myself that in the end, it is about being the best me.

If you asked me 8 months ago, I would have said the best part of this journey was getting to race IRONMAN in Kona. Today, I would say it is the people I have met on my journey. From social media to meeting folks at races, to volunteering at the finish line of IRONMAN Lake Placid, I could gush for hours about the fabulous people I have met. In addition to my BECOME ONE teammates – Joshua Kalb, Eric McElvenny and Hines Ward – Chrissy Vasquez, John Young with Achilles International and Ricky James from the Challenged Athletes Foundation are some of the most amazing people I’ve met along the way.

Chrisann meeting her BECOME ONE teammate Hines Ward for the first time, as well as a preview of the group’s training and experience (so cool!):

What running/racing accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am a runner. I am not a swimmer. Swimming 2.2 miles in our local lake, without a wetsuit, was a major Snoopy dance accomplishment for me.  You better believe, when I get out of the ocean in Kona, I will be Snoopy dancing, again.

There are a lot of new runners and triathletes who read this blog. What advice would you give to someone just starting out?
Hands down my biggest advice is to allow yourself to be a Newbie. Heck, at your first race/triathlon make a shirt/hat to celebrate your newbieness – it is a big deal. At my first indoor triathlon, I used a kick board. At my first outdoor triathlon, I tried to run onto the bike course with my helmet strapped on backwards. It is all about trying new things, taking baby steps and laughing at the mishaps with friends over a beer or glass of wine later.

What is your running mantra(s)?
What do you want more? (Great for the early morning workouts)
Can’t put the sticker on the car if you don’t do the distance.
Finish with a smile 🙂

What gear do you never train/race without?
A colorful pair of running shoes and my inhaler.

What keeps you hydrated and fueled the best?
Good ole’ water and GU’s are my go-to for runs. During longer triathlons, I love a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, squeezable applesauce/banana packs and Honey Stinger Waffles.

What have you learned about post-exercise recovery since you’ve been training for an IRONMAN? 
I’ve learned there are 4 parts to triathlon. Swim, bike, run and recovery … and they are all equally important. After training, you will always find me refueling with low-fat chocolate milk, foam rolling and strengthening my hips with the Myrtl Matrix. Consistency is key.

If you run with music, what’s on your iPod right now?
I mostly run listening to the birds. When I do play music, I am listening to:
Applause by Lady Gaga
Roar by Katy Perry
People Like Us by Kelly Clarkson

What is one thing most people would be surprised to know about you?
I pick the cookie dough pieces out of the cookie dough ice cream and let my husband think the kids did it. (So much for that secret!)

How can people connect with you?
Twitter: @YearToTri
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ChrisannDalton

If you or someone you know has an inspiring fitness story and should be considered for Friday FITspiration, email me at runladylike@gmail.com.

Chrisann talks about recovery being key to effective training and performance. What do you do to recover from a long workout or race? What is your go-to recovery fuel and regimen?