Fairfax Cancer Survivor to Compete in Ironman World Championship

This October, after a seven-year battle with brain cancer, BethAnn Telford will be crossing a major goal off her bucket list: competing in the Ironman World Championship.

Telford was one of eight winners selected to attend the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii. and was granted admission to the triathlon after multiple rounds of voting by online viewers.

About a week prior to the race, on Oct. 7, Telford will fly to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. She said she wants to arrive well before the championship day on Oct. 13. Once there, Telford will have 18 hours to complete a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run.

“I’m not doing it for myself; I’m doing it for all those people,” Telford said, referring to others battling brain cancer. “Hopefully this will remind everyone that there is a community out there that needs a presence and to be heard.”

Since her diagnosis with brain cancer, Telford has undergone multiple surgeries and started "Team BT" to help raise money for brain cancer research. Telford’s friend who is also in training and her partner will accompany her to Hawaii. Telford said she has been saving money to ensure her parents can come to see her compete as well.

“Overall, it’s… about what I’m doing for the brain tumor community,” Telford said. “(Yesterday) I was at Children’s Hospital and one little girl asked me if she’d ever run again. I said, ‘Yes, I’ve had two brain surgeries and had to learn to run again and here I am doing the Ironman’… Just like the Olympics, it gives people hope.”

Out of the three activities in the triathlon, Telford said she expects getting into the water to begin the swim will be the most difficult. After her first brain surgery she had a minor stroke. She said her left thigh does not move as quickly, but once she is in the water it will become easier.

“I think once I jump off the pier into the Pacific I will look back and see my partner and parents… and think about everyone I’m carrying on my shoulders and be so excited the whole way through,” Telford said.

Telford is aiming to finish the triathlon in 14 or 15 hours. Once completing the Ironman, Telford said she is taking time to focus on her health and prepare for surgeries early next year.

“This is it as far as my bucket list,” Telford said. “I will come back strong but will I come back strong enough for another Ironman or a Boston Marathon? Probably not… but I’m at peace and I’m very happy and I’ll keep moving forward. My goal next year is to help others pursue their goals.”

Two years ago, Telford got the word "hope" tattooed on her wrist, something she said she swore she’d never do. She said whenever she looks at her wrist, it reminds her of all the people she has inspired and the people who have inspired her, and of all the money she has raised for the research of brain cancer. She said she is the first brain cancer survivor to compete in Ironman but hopes to inspire others.

“I may be the first but I’m hopefully not the last,” Telford said.