Margie Allman

Author of the forthcoming book, "The Sufferfest: How Sex, Drugs, and Triathlon Saved My Life." The book chronicles my path to becoming an Ironman triathlon contender: how I survived institutionalized child abuse at an institution for kids called Straight, Inc., how I got there, my time there, and what I call The Aftermath: heavier into addiction and prostitution. My book and I are about overcoming obstacles, trying and failing, and never, ever giving up. It's about learning what it takes to be comfortable in your own skin and your own weirdness. And letting go of shame. In the book I also write about getting epilepsy from a high fever at age 19 and that it went away when I was in my 40s. When I was 30, I almost died from Toxic Shock Syndrome. I became a Pilates instructor at 33 and a triathlete at 38. A month before my 50th birthday, I lost my partner of 22 years.
The good news is: I kept growing through my 50s, searching out tools to help deal with the past and navigate the future. I took up scuba diving, yes SCUBA!, at age 56 and worked my way back to the happy place of my childhood - the sea.
I'm 60 now and in the best place I've ever been in my life. I've always wanted to be at peace with myself, and I finally am. For someone who never cared if they lived this long, I'm so happy I did.