Forever Athlete: Faith Ireland
One Woman’s Journey from Chronic Pain to Champion PowerLifter
by
Book Details
About the Book
Faith’s story is about transformation. Having never truly identified with the term “athlete,” the “old” Faith Ireland wasn’t one for regular physical exercise. Though she had experienced great success in her career, Faith’s body had suffered from a sedentary environment and a string of unfortunate events. She endured physical pain for over fifteen years, until she made a decision—to work through the pain and reclaim her life. Faith’s story embodies the very essence of the human condition. It’s a true tale of tragedy, setbacks, and physical pain, but it’s also a powerful example of courage, perseverance, hope, and ultimately the ways in which an ordinary person can rise above obstacles and find a way to become a healthier and happier person. Along her path, Faith shows us how to set practical goals, take small steps, and avoid unrealistically comparing ourselves to others. She demonstrates how to enjoy the progress along the way and make bargains with ourselves to stay motivated. And most importantly, she shows us how to prevent barriers, including negative aging stereotypes and our fears—of failure, injury, and the unknown—from stopping us in our tracks. Faith’s story is good news for all of us; it offers real evidence that it’s never too late—and that we’re never too busy—to start our own journey.
About the Author
Forever Athletes is about you—about putting your life into play. We’re building a community of people—the big, the small, the elite, and the everyday—who overcome the obstacles life puts in front of them and keep on playing. We’re sharing inspirational stories that redefine what an athlete is—stories of “late bloomers” becoming national and world champions in the second half of their lives; stories of healthy lifestyle changes and real weight loss that come from discovering a sport you truly enjoy; stories of parents and grandparents using their own physical skills to rehab themselves so they can play with their children and grandchildren. Regardless of our age or physical condition, Forever Athletes strives to empower each of us to discover—or rediscover—our own inner athlete, and put our lives into play.