Long Island paralympian to compete in Empire State Runup
NEW YORK (WABC) -- Long Island native Sarah Reinertsen made sports history in one of the toughest endurance events in the world, the Hawaii Ironman.
The legendary race starts with a 2.4 mile swim, continues with a 112 mile bike ride and culminates with 26.2 mile run, all in a single day.
Two years ago, Sarah completed the Ironman World Championships in Kona, becoming the first woman to finish an Ironman on a prosthetic leg.
She's since become a beacon of bravery and inspired thousands.
Now she is in New York City for this week's New York Empire State Building Run-Up.
The race is held to help benefit the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
We first brought you Sarah's story in 2012, as she prepared for the New York City Marathon:
Once upon a time, Sarah was the last one to be picked at school for team sports because of her ability.
Now, she's a marathoner and a tri-athlete.
It's ironic talking to Sarah about running into obstacles. After all, her challenge would prevent most people from ever entering a race.
"I had to frame my life in a certain way, I had a choice," she said.
Because of a tissue disease, her leg was amputated when she was seven. Sarah learned to run at the age of 11. And by 21, the New York native who grew up watching the great race every November entered her first NYC Marathon.
"My first was New York and I chose it because I'm from New York", adds Sarah.
She has a $36,000 hi-tech running leg that's custom fit. It's made on Long Island close to where the Huntington native grew up.
"I'm still being raised in New York," she adds.
She also has legs for biking and high heels. A fitting combination for an Ironman finisher, yes, the 140-mile, swim bike run race.
"No woman on one leg had done it. That became my throw down. girl with one leg can do that too," adds Sarah.
It's true her can-do, always-tri, nothing is impossible attitude is how she began her first 26.2 mile race. But she says the lessons she gets from a life on the run are as precious as the race itself.
Click for more information:
http://www.esbnyc.com/event/2015-empire-state-building-run-up-info
http://www.alwaystri.com/
