This week, Colin and Danny are joined by Jeremy Woodward, heart failure survivor and creator of “Run Empowered”. Jeremy Woodward introduces himself as a heart failure survivor who has undergone two major open heart surgeries. He was born with a bicuspid aortic heart valve and developed endocarditis at age 22, requiring his first surgery. He later went into heart failure at age 29, requiring a second emergency surgery where he was nearly put on a heart transplant list.
The night before his second surgery, Jeremy made a goal to complete an Ironman triathlon, despite initial doubts from his doctors. He started with sprint triathlons and worked his way up, finding inspiration and purpose in the sport. Jeremy emphasizes that his goal is not to be the fastest, but to inspire others and raise awareness for heart disease through his athletic pursuits.
The power of a positive mindset
- Throughout the discussion, Jeremy highlights the importance of a positive, resilient mindset in overcoming adversity. He shares how he maintained hope and determination during his medical crises, and how he approaches challenges with the mindset of taking "one step forward" at a time.
Run Empowered Safety Program
- Jeremy introduces his 'Run Empowered' program, designed to educate runners about safety awareness and self-defense. He discusses statistics about runner safety and the program's development.
Martial Arts and Training Philosophy
- Jeremy discusses his martial arts background, including being a 6th degree black belt in Taekwondo. He explains how he balances martial arts training with triathlon preparation.
Recap and looking ahead
- The group discusses some personal stories related to runner safety, and Jeremy shares details on the upcoming digital launch of his "Run Empowered" program, with the goal of reaching 100,000 runners in the next 5 years to spread his message of awareness and empowerment.