At 6:00 in the morning, most of us are at the least trying to get out of bed and at our best tucking into that first cup of coffee in the morning in an attempt to gain the strength to face the day. If you’re already out of bed, had breakfast, out the door already 30 minutes into an hours long exercise regime that could politely be called grueling, then you are probably Jeremy Woodward. Jeremy is an athlete and martial artist. To be more specific, he holds a 4th degree black belt in Kenpo Karate, a Black Sash in Kung Fu, and has run and finished the NYC marathon.
That would be enough for 3 people, let alone one. Jeremy also finished the IRONMAN Lake Placid 2010 beginning with a 2.4 mile swim which he did in 1 hour and 45 minutes, followed by a 112 mile bike ride completed in 7 hours 47 minutes 43 seconds, wrapping it all up with a full 26.2 mile marathon that he ran in 6 hours 2 minutes 21 seconds. That would seem like enough of an accomplishment for most people for a dozen lifetimes. Jeremy Woodward, however, doesn’t seem to know when to quit. He competed in the IRONMAN for charity, raising over $200,000 for the Nature Conservancy, a conservation organization that works globally to protect ecologically important lands waters and communities. His stated goal was to raise $140,600. He’s a bit of an over achiever. Jeremy is the owner of HighPoint Fitness and Jeremy’s Bootcamp where he now trains other tri-athletes and the average person on how to achieve their fitness goals. It is worth mentioning that also in 2010, Jeremy was 1 of only 25 athletes world wide to be selected as a2010 Medtronic Global Hero.
The truly amazing thing is Jeremy achieved all of this, after having 2 open heart surgeries. In 2000, Jeremy was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis, an inflammation caused by infectious agents, that damaged his aortic heart valve. The valve was replaced with another human tissue valve. In 2007, the replacement valve failed, sending Jeremy into congestive heart failure (CHF) twice. CHF is the hearts inability to provide sufficient blood flow to meet the bodies needs, resulting in fluid back up in the body, excessive fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath and weakening of the hearts pumping action. That year Jeremy was in a Boston hospital awaiting surgery to replace his heart valve again, he made a bet with a friend who competes in triathalons. In an article in the Union Leader published Jan 30th of this year, Woodward was quoted “I said, ‘If I get out of here, I’m going to do Ironman.’”
The Concord native did that and more. Jeremy is the New England regional director for the Ironheart Group, a global organization that seeks to raise awareness of heart disease and support for cardiac charities. He is a motivational speaker, trainer, husband and father of two young girls. The 33-year-old Bishop Brady grad also manages to find time to organize events like the Ironheart Classic, which according to the Union Leader is a , “ Concord fun run scheduled for May 5 that will benefit the Nick of Time Foundation, which educates schools, athletes and communities about sudden cardiac arrest and death in young people.” The motto at Jeremy’s HighPoint Fitness is “Live Life to the Fittest,” which is also the address of his website, www.livelifetothefitteset.com . Jeremy Woodward would be an inspiration for any one of his many achievements. Put everything together, and he does more than inspire, he makes you truly want to move. It’s time to dust off the old running shoes. Somehow, I’m tired just doesn’t cut it anymore.
That would be enough for 3 people, let alone one. Jeremy also finished the IRONMAN Lake Placid 2010 beginning with a 2.4 mile swim which he did in 1 hour and 45 minutes, followed by a 112 mile bike ride completed in 7 hours 47 minutes 43 seconds, wrapping it all up with a full 26.2 mile marathon that he ran in 6 hours 2 minutes 21 seconds. That would seem like enough of an accomplishment for most people for a dozen lifetimes. Jeremy Woodward, however, doesn’t seem to know when to quit. He competed in the IRONMAN for charity, raising over $200,000 for the Nature Conservancy, a conservation organization that works globally to protect ecologically important lands waters and communities. His stated goal was to raise $140,600. He’s a bit of an over achiever. Jeremy is the owner of HighPoint Fitness and Jeremy’s Bootcamp where he now trains other tri-athletes and the average person on how to achieve their fitness goals. It is worth mentioning that also in 2010, Jeremy was 1 of only 25 athletes world wide to be selected as a2010 Medtronic Global Hero.
The truly amazing thing is Jeremy achieved all of this, after having 2 open heart surgeries. In 2000, Jeremy was diagnosed with bacterial endocarditis, an inflammation caused by infectious agents, that damaged his aortic heart valve. The valve was replaced with another human tissue valve. In 2007, the replacement valve failed, sending Jeremy into congestive heart failure (CHF) twice. CHF is the hearts inability to provide sufficient blood flow to meet the bodies needs, resulting in fluid back up in the body, excessive fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath and weakening of the hearts pumping action. That year Jeremy was in a Boston hospital awaiting surgery to replace his heart valve again, he made a bet with a friend who competes in triathalons. In an article in the Union Leader published Jan 30th of this year, Woodward was quoted “I said, ‘If I get out of here, I’m going to do Ironman.’”
The Concord native did that and more. Jeremy is the New England regional director for the Ironheart Group, a global organization that seeks to raise awareness of heart disease and support for cardiac charities. He is a motivational speaker, trainer, husband and father of two young girls. The 33-year-old Bishop Brady grad also manages to find time to organize events like the Ironheart Classic, which according to the Union Leader is a , “ Concord fun run scheduled for May 5 that will benefit the Nick of Time Foundation, which educates schools, athletes and communities about sudden cardiac arrest and death in young people.” The motto at Jeremy’s HighPoint Fitness is “Live Life to the Fittest,” which is also the address of his website, www.livelifetothefitteset.com . Jeremy Woodward would be an inspiration for any one of his many achievements. Put everything together, and he does more than inspire, he makes you truly want to move. It’s time to dust off the old running shoes. Somehow, I’m tired just doesn’t cut it anymore.
What a great way to bring attention and share Jeremy's inspiring story and philosophies with others on a larger scale.
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