| Stephen
Manley is a candidate for the 2003 DESA Athletic Achievement Award.
As an ironman triathete he truly has taken "active lifestyle" to a
level only a few can achieve. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 1996,
he became determined to make exercise and proper diet an integral
part of his diabetes management.
Stephen says, "I feel fortunate to be a very active person. I
have been able to see the rewards of such and active lifestyle while
striving to reach my goals. My blood sugars are more consistent
since training for triathlons, which makes me feel better in general.
My weight has stayed in the normal range for someone of my age and
height." His pursuit of triathlons has also provided him the opportunity
to explore different parts of the country and meet so many other
athletes with diabetes.
Stephen has completed two ironman triathlons, and fulfilled his
dream from a young age by finishing the Ironman Hawaii 2002 competition;
Qualifying for this competition is a rather daunting task in itself,
with only 1500 participants accepted out of an estimated 50,000
triathletes in 50 countries. The ironman consists of a 2.4-mile
swim, a 112-mile bike ride, and a 26.2 marathon run. All of this
must be completed in the allotted 17-hour timeframe.
Learn more about Stephen in our Members
Only section. He wants to share his experiences and share training
strategies with other DESA members.
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