"Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you."- Oprah Winfrey. Emily’s leg was amputated when she was 2 years old because of a condition called fibular hemimelia. Growing up, Emily had been active in sports like t-ball, volleyball and riding horses. Emily’s passion for competing attracted her to triathlons which started an exciting and challenging adventure for her. After completing her first Half Ironman in 2016 Emily has trained harder and proudly finished the 2018 Full Ironman in Boulder, Colorado. She is very active in helping others with similar conditions. She is a president of LIM359 - an activities-based support group for people with limb loss/different. Emily is also a disability rights attorney at a nonprofit called Disability Law Colorado and she is an ambassador captain for Skirt Sports.

You have completed your first Half Ironman in 2016. What experiences or learnings from the half marathon are helping you train for the Full Ironman coming up in 2018?E: Every time I participate in a race, I learn something new about myself and how my body reacts to different things, such as heat or the type of nutrition I take in. I will take all of these lessons with me as I embark on the Ironman. One of the most important things I’m taking into this with me is the knowledge that there are always things outside my control that I may have to deal with in a flexible way on race day. I learned this when I rode horses competitively because the horse itself is such a huge unknown when you are competing, so I am fortunate to have this experience under my belt as I continue my triathlon journey.

What kind of challenges do you face during a triathlon? Who is your mentor?E: Some of the challenges I face in longer distance triathlons include the mental aspect of moving forward for that amount of time and some physical issues with my leg. When I run longer distances (over 10 miles), my prosthesis will sometimes rub behind my knee, causing a blister. This can be a little painful, but I’ve come up with some decent strategies to help with that, although I haven’t figured out how to eliminate the issue completely yet… My left glue muscle also works harder because of the mechanics of running with a prosthetic leg, so it tends to get worn out more quickly on the run. The other logistical challenge is getting out of the water because I swim without a prosthetic leg, so I have a person called a “handler” who waits for me and assists me with getting out of the water and to a towel where my leg is waiting for me.
My mentor is my coach, Mark Sortino. We have been working together since August of 2014 and he has guided me from being a “newby” triathlete to now toeing the line at my first Full Ironman less than 4 years later. When I look back on my training, it’s pretty incredible how well he’s guided me down this path.

What are your day to day responsibilities as a disability rights attorney at Disability Law Colorado?E: Working at a nonprofit gives me the opportunity to wear multiple hats, so I carry a caseload as an attorney, but I also oversee our intake team. A big part of our work is also enabling individuals to be self-advocates. This means that my daily tasks include writing demand letters or complaints, presenting educational trainings, creating resources, fielding questions, and continually working to improve our intake process.

How and when did you decide to come up with your blog Amp Tri Life?E: I decided to start my blog in September 2016 because I wanted to have a platform to share a message of positivity and to connect with others who may be working towards overcoming some sort of barrier in their life. I have been contacted by quite a few parents who have kids with the same condition I had that lead to my leg being amputated, so I hope my blog is a good resource for them as well.

What challenges did you face during your school days? What or who motivated you to face those challenges?E: My challenges during school were basically the same as most kids dealing with self-confidence issues and trying to fit in with the “cool” kids. My mom really supported me as I was growing up and encouraged me to embrace who I was as a girl with a physical disability. She never let me think this was in any way something that would hold me back from doing what I wanted to do, and helped me find a way to do everything I expressed an interest in doing – from gymnastics to volleyball to horseback riding, and more, my mom never expressed any doubt that I’d be able to do whatever it was I set my mind to doing.

Who is your inspiration?E: I have so many strong women in my life who motivate me to be a better person. My mom is so strong and energetic, it’s hard not to feed off her energy when she’s around. My mom’s sister – my aunt Linda – completed the Ironman Championships in Hawaii during the 1980’s when women were just breaking into the sport, so she has always been a source of inspiration for me. Nicole DeBoom, founder of Skirt Sports, also inspires me constantly because of her positivity and true passion towards building up other women around her. There are so many other women in my life that it’s really hard to answer this comprehensively, but those are three who have impacted me in recent years.

Where do you want to see yourself in next 5 years?E: In 5 years, I see myself continuing to work as an attorney and exploring different athletic endeavors. After Ironman Boulder on June 10, 2018, I want to find an event that an amputee has never done before and then work towards tackling that. I also want to write a book, and would hope that it would be published by then.

What do you like to do when you are with your family/friends?E: When I’m with family and friends, I like to do things that allow us to connect with each other and usually just go with the flow. This usually results in walking, biking, doing puzzles, or just sitting on the porch enjoying a glass of wine.

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who want to become an athlete?E: I would say that it’s always important to maintain perspective and don’t compare yourself to others, many of whom have been involved in their chosen sport for years. We all want to be good overnight, but that’s not reality, and the only way to get better at something is to be consistent and put in the hard work. Eventually it’ll pay off, but you have to be patient with yourself.

Any special message for our community?E: Chase your dreams with passion, but understand that it usually takes a team to get there, so don't be afraid to ask for support from those around you.