People keep people active

It is often said that your body is your temple; this metaphor encourages human beings to have reverence for our bodies. This is a sentiment close to Irene Muir's heart, and one she lives by. Running at first, Irene would later take up cycling, "The running started to bring me joy through social interaction. However, the 25 years of negligent wrongdoing to my body - the temple God gifts us to cherish - had already happened."

Before running and cycling, Irene had to start with baby steps and walk first. She says her faith is what kept her moving. "I started where anyone would: God gifted me legs and I started walking. I lost a lot of unnecessary weight I had been carrying around for many years due to an underactive thyroid and bad eating habits," says Irene.

Against all odds

Unfortunately she had more than just bad eating habits and an underactive thyroid to deal with. Doctors had warned her against running or cycling because of the onset of early osteoarthritis. Her prognosis was exacerbated by chronic asthma. "I was scared and I felt alone," admits Irene. But her journey to better health started eight years ago when she first discovered Vitality Health. "Little did I know this was a rebirth, like a baptism, of myself through lifestyle. Vitality would turn into my provider, motivator and later, rewarder," she says.

Determined to not resign herself to bad health, she joined Vitality and chose to push through the pain, "I somehow found myself looking at my very first pair of cleats and through the safety of Virgin Active's stationary bike, instructors and fellow athletes, I was reminded that Vitality had my back and continued to encourage me in the right direction."

Irene continues, "I then got competitive with a Team Vitality group in KwaZulu Natal, a friendly, dedicated bunch that taught me to jog, pace, push and recover little by little, as I overcame chronic asthma."

Turning a corner

"A little over two years ago, I was given the opportunity to buy an outdoor mountain bicycle and again I took the plunge. My blood pumped for events, competing, growing and pushing myself to new levels," says Irene. The consistency and support from the Team Vitality group in KwaZulu Natal saw Irene graduate to endurance athlete, and she recently did something she couldn't imagine doing before - completing Ride Joburg without walking. "I've done my first 100 km race with only one water stop and now I'm training for Cape Argus 2023," she beams. The first cycling event outside Europe to be included in the Union Cycliste Internationale's Golden Bike Series, the Cape Argus or Cape Town Cycle Tour (CTCT) is the world's biggest timed race, winding 109 km around the Mother City.

Your future self will thank you

"The greatest achievement of all for me is that cycling enabled me not to have to give up my first love: running. The bike allows me recovery time and enables muscle, core, hip and flexibility growth, which help make running less damaging to my joints," says Irene.

By joining a Team Vitality group in your area, you not only enjoy immense support but you also get the best advice so you don't push beyond your physical limitations. Irene shows that steady wins the race. You don't have to start with cycling: you can walk, until you can run, before you're ready to hit the bike. One day, you'll look up and see the fruits of your labour. As Irene says, "Yes I have fallen, yes I have cried; I've cramped and compared myself to better cyclists many times. It's not easy, but each day I strive to be just that little bit better, and I include others because that's exactly how I started out. I am never fully certain of where my future leads but I know it is bigger and better than the present."