From Ironman to Thriving: Getting Fit After Chemotherapy
The Stark Contrast: Ironman to Illness
In 2014, I was at the peak of fitness, competing in long-distance triathlons, culminating in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii (see picture). I felt invincible. Then, the wheels completely fell off both my health and my fitness.
First, I was struck down with a virus leading to chronic fatigue, which ended my exercising almost overnight. Then, after an 18-month haze, I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at 41 weeks pregnant. The birth, major surgery, and four rounds of chemotherapy set my health back even further, leaving me feeling near death. (You can read more about my agonising decision to stop treatment early here)
I knew that not exercising after chemo was not an option. I simply became more determined that I would do everything in my power to regain not only my health but my fitness too. This is the candid, long-term story of getting fit after chemotherapy—a journey from barely walking to successfully reclaiming my physical strength.
2014: Ironman World Championships (Hawaii)
Essential First Steps: Safety and Energy
Always check with your doctor before starting any new training regime. If you are currently in the midst of cancer treatment, extra care must be taken when considering the appropriate level of exercise for you. Please seek advice from an appropriately qualified health professional experienced in exercising through cancer treatment.
The question is: Is it possible to regain fitness after chemotherapy? YES. But be cautious and patient.
The impact of conventional cancer treatment requires immense energy for recovery, repair, and rebuilding your health. This is why you must prioritise two things:
Fueling: Exercising requires energy too. You must ensure that you are fuelling your body with sufficient calories and the essential macro and micronutrients needed to facilitate a return to health. It is crucial to seek advice from a qualified health professional, such as a Nutritional Therapist, experienced in this area.
Patience & Caution: Going too fast has the potential to set you back. For many, like me, this process takes months or even years. Try to be patient and kind to yourself.
The Big Goal: London Marathon at 100
Around the time of my diagnosis, when my outlook seemed bleak, I set myself a rather ambitious (some may say delusional) long-term goal: running the London Marathon when I’m 100. For more information on this read my London Marathon Post.
I was barely able to walk, yet I was confident that I’d not only be able to fully regain my health and fitness but that I’d be living healthily for a very long time to come.
“We fall, we break, we fail... But then we rise, we heal, we overcome.”
9 Years On: Where Health and Fitness Stand Today
It’s nine years since I became chronically unwell and almost seven years since my cancer diagnosis. I’m delighted to say that I’m not just alive and well, but I’m physically and emotionally thriving!
Initially, I simply kept moving as much as I could—short walks with my new baby, gentle stretching. When I felt better, I would walk further, ride my bike occasionally, or go to a yoga class. My immune system was seriously compromised, and I suffered with all too frequent colds and viruses that would floor me for weeks at a time. It’s been one crazy rollercoaster of a ride, but slowly and steadily I have become healthier and stronger.
✨ The Low-Impact Answer: Kundalini Yoga for Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Strength
In January 2017, I found a new love in Kundalini yoga. This type of yoga, with its combination of exercise, meditation, and chanting, left me energised rather than feeling spent. I threw myself into the practice wholeheartedly and, by 2018, I had signed up for the Level 1 KRI teacher training course. I felt myself growing stronger—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—throughout the course.
Immunity and the Water: My Struggle with Swimming
Initially, I struggled with swimming. I lost so much weight after druing and chemotherapy that I couldn't stay warm, wasting precious energy my body needed for recovery.
A bigger factor was a developing chlorine intolerance, which manifested as severe hay-fever type reactions that lasted for hours after swimming. I now understand this was due to my severely dysregulated immune system at the time. Clearly, the pool wasn’t a great place for me in the early days, so I avoided it for a long while.
Nine years on, I can now swim again! I have managed two rather epic swims this year: a 9km pool swim followed by an 8.5km end-to-end swim of Lake Coniston. This achievement shows just how far my health and immune system have come!
June 2023: 8.5km Coniston swim
Back in the Saddle: Why Cycling Worked
Cycling was the easiest of my three former loves to get back into—it’s low impact, gets me out into the fresh air, and it helped my mental health tremendously.
In the early days (2017-2018), I kept the volume and intensity low. By 2020, I was cycling much longer distances, and in 2021 and 2022, I completed The Tour of Wessex, a multi-day sportive covering 335 miles over 3 days. I’m really not far off my 2014 strength, which, given I’m almost 10 years older and have been through the mill, is an immense success!
May 2022: Tour of Wessex - 3 days, 335 miles
The Nemesis: Running and Strength Training
Running is high impact, requiring sufficient muscular strength to support the skeletal structure. Unfortunately, I lost far too much weight and lean muscle mass after chemo and lacked the required strength. I wasn’t given adequate nutritional information at the time (Lesson 1 learnt). I also didn’t incorporate strength training before increasing my running mileage (Lesson 2 learnt).
Consequently, I’ve been plagued with injury, including a sacral stress fracture. Over the last two years, I have finally incorporated strength work into my training to ensure I have the muscular strength needed to run consistently again (and set myself up well for my big London Marathon run!). While I had to defer my 2023 Manchester marathon place due to injury, I remain hopeful... 2024 will be my marathon comeback year!
Oct 2022: Yorkshire Moors - 15 miles
And Summing Up: Health and Strength Reclaimed
I think I can proudly say that I have managed to regain both my health and my fitness. I might not be able to run a marathon (yet), but I am healthy and strong and able to take part in all the activities that I love, at a level not too far from where I was 10 years ago. That is a huge achievement given how far I fell! This journey proved that getting fit after cancer isn't about speed; it's about sustainable rebuilding.
💖 Find Your Support & Strength
If you are navigating the process of regaining fitness after chemotherapy, struggling with energy, or looking for a safe roadmap to rebuild your strength and resilience, we can support you.
Our Cancer Support Programme is designed to provide the necessary knowledge and guidance—especially on the nutritional needs and immune support required—to help you achieve your best possible health outcome and quality of life.
If you do not have an active or recent cancer diagnosis but are interested in long-term health and disease prevention, check out our Optimise Health & Healthy Aging Programme for more information.
👋 Let's Stay Connected
If you would like to read more about my personal experience with breast cancer and my journey back to great health—which is the foundation for all my programmes—you can find more in-depth information here.
I look forward to connecting with you and supporting your journey! You can also follow me and join the conversation on: