Publisher's Synopsis
This book is about a champion, Beth Sanden, her tragedy, with hopes crushed along with vertebrae, and the enormous willpower to rekindle her purpose - a story meant for us all. At 64 years old, paraplegic Beth Sanden breaks the barriers for all of us who have abandoned our dreams. One race at a time, she is changing the world for us, the able-bodied, the disabled, the warriors who are wounded, the downtrodden, the frustrated, the "detoured," and those of us who feel our dreams have passed us by because of age or circumstance. And she's not finished. Come along for a magnificent ride and learn how to set afire to who you are, ignite your sense of purpose, and break through to achieve what you are truly meant to do. Sometimes we find that our purpose changes as we come to a crossroads in life, whether expected, or in Beth's case, completely unexpected. She began her triathlon and marathon racing at 44 when she was able-bodied, and became a world-class competitor by 2001. She raced in the Ironman California, and the Kona Hawaii Ironman World Championship. She raced in the San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon, and qualified for the 2002 Boston Marathon. But a tragic bicycle accident in April of 2002 interrupted Beth's plans to run in Boston. As she trained for another Ironman, participating in the Guacamole Grande bike race, a 50-mile race in Temecula, California, she suffered a terrible accident, and shattered the T6-7 vertebrae in her back like glass. It stabbed her spinal cord, which then leaked spinal fluid. She underwent an eight-hour surgery. She was told she would never walk again. It's at these times, we must have faith that as one door closes, another opens, and our challenge is to refresh and "recalibrate." As Beth shows us over and over, we can still experience joy. It might take some time to find where it lies, but there is a kernel to cultivate somewhere. That kernel could be inside you. Beth overcame a horrific accident, hospitalization, paralysis, a dire prognosis, and relentless pain to walk again and to race. Now, using her arm strength, a cane, a walker, and a handcycle, Beth has been back in the race, back in the winner's circle, since 2004. She goes beyond the ability of many able-bodied triathlon and marathon contenders. Since the accident in 2002, and her painful recovery from a complete paraplegic to partial use of one leg, as of this writing, Beth has competed globally in: 82 Marathons including: The North Pole Marathon 4 Boston Marathons The "Seven Continents" Marathons (Yes, marathons on each of the seven continents!) She completed the Seven Continents series by racing in Vietnam in 2016. The Great Wall of China Marathon A "Triple 7" in Africa: 7 marathons in 7 days in 7 different countries. 78 Triathlons, Sprint, and Olympic distance. In 2017, she competed in, and finished, the ultimate marathon, the challenging, life-changing North Pole Marathon, with 49 other competitors. These feats landed her in the Official World Records in 2017, and Guinness World Records in 2018. You will be astounded at the stuff she's made of - the stuff she's always been made of. It will become very clear to you why the path of her destiny unfolds. Her life has always had a calling. She has set the globe on fire. She is an inspirational role model for everyone. Through her racing, she has raised funds to provide the disabled worldwide with handcycles and race wheelchairs, and has written letters for grantees for prosthetic limbs. Most of her races raise funds on behalf of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF), who insures the delivery of equipment in the US and throughout the globe. Although a traumatic experience may seem like a lump of coal to you, to others who find themselves in the same or similar situation, your experience might be like gold. Like Beth, your life could be the bridge from disappointment, discouragement and detours for others, for breakthroughs to their purpose.
