Laura Webb was looking forward to competing in her first Ironman in Florida in 2007. She was several months into her training, biking more than 100 miles a week in addition to running and swimming, when she went to a doctor because of a sharp pain she kept having in her left side. Laura assumed she had pulled a muscle, but a colonoscopy revealed a much more sinister problem: On August 14, 2007, Laura was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.
Even though chemotherapy treatments meant Laura couldn't compete in the upcoming Ironman she had been prepping for, she saw her cancer as a temporary speed bump. "I was determined to compete, but I wasn't sure when I would be able to," she says. "The Ironman in Florida fills up within 15 minutes. So if you don't sign up right away, you won't make it in." When she realized that her chemotherapy was slated to last through 2008, Laura decided to sign up for the 2009 Ironman—even though she was still being for cancer at the time.
Incredibly, she competed in that race—and has finished several more since then. Even better, Laura has been cancer-free for more than five years. Instead of letting her troubles derail her entire life, she looked forward to better times ahead to get through her rough patch. Sure, beating cancer is one hell of a serious roadblock—and we hope it's more trying than anything you'll have to endure. But everyone goes through tough times, whether it's dealing with health problems, the loss of a loved one, or a devastating layoff. And as Laura will attest, the difference between letting these difficulties derail your life and putting them firmly in the past is all in your attitude. Here, she shares her top tips for how to get through any of life's trials:
Log Plenty of Face Time with Friends
One of the reasons we have friends is so that we'll have a shoulder to lean on when times get tough—so take advantage of them. "I missed all of my friends that I worked out with [while I was in treatment]," says Laura. Since one of their traditions was to go out to breakfast post-workout, Laura made it her mission to find the energy to eat with them and hear about their training. Although she admits she did feel a little left out, listening to how their workouts were going kept Laura motivated to get through chemo and eventually rejoin the gang in their sweat sessions. While it can be hard to see friends living their normal lives when it feels like yours is falling apart, maintaining your relationships will help you stay connected to what you found fun and exciting before your problems popped up.
Stick to Your Routine as Much as Possible
No one ever expects something tragic to happen to them. When it does, it can feel like your world is spiraling out of control—but it's helpful to maintain some semblance of normalcy where you can. For example, Laura couldn't push herself to the limit during workouts as she previously did—but she could modify her usual exercises to stay as active as possible. And amazingly, she never missed a day of work during chemo. For Laura, maintaining control over her daily routine kept her from simply feeling like "a sad empty shell" and instead made her feel like a normal person—despite everything that was going on with her health.
Set a Goal to Look Forward To
Think of it as a way to reward yourself for making it through a hard situation. During chemo, Laura planned to participate in the Marine Corps half marathon that was scheduled to take place in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a month after her treatment was supposed to end. "That was my motivation to get through chemo and make that end goal," she says. Laura's sister, brother-in-law, and friend walked the entire race with her, even though it took them four hours to complete it. Working toward and reaching a goal can help remind you that your tough times don't define you—and that you can make good experiences happen even after tragedy strikes.
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