From being told she could face life in a wheelchair as a teenager to overcoming the fear of cycling after a serious accident, a Sunshine Coast chiropractor has stopped at nothing to overcome adversity.
Dr Carmen Atkinson’s latest achievement is no different after she placed second at the inaugural Ultra355 event in Hervey Bay.
The three-day event from February 27 to March 1 was the first official event of its kind in Australia and comprised of a 5km swim and 100km bike, a 200km bike ride and a 50km run.
“For me it’s the perfect fusion of Ultramarathon running and Ironman triathlon,” Carmen said.
“It’s a similar concept as a three-day triathlon but it’s a slightly shorter distance than Ultraman.
“It’s main point of difference is it is a fully self-sufficient event so you can’t rely on crew members to give you food or hydration or support if things go wrong.
“This time you’re really in it on your own and you have eight hours each day to complete the events.”
The 44-year-old (pictured) was the second female to cross the line on day three, and the seventh competitor to finish overall with a time of 16hr11min22sec.
“Fifty athletes started the race; I came out of the swim 13th female and then I rode myself into seventh place female at the end of day one.
“On day two I set the course record of 6:46.27 and rode myself into fourth place female and then on the final day I ran myself into second.
Growing up Carmen said she had always been an active child and was “good at everything but great at nothing”.
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article.
She took up marathon running in the early 2000s and competed in her first Ironman event in 2013, qualifying for the world championships in Hawaii in 2015.
Hearing of the Ultraman Australia event in Noosa, Carmen began training for the event in 2016 ready to race the following year.
“In 2017 I actually crashed my bike on day one of the race and ended up with a fractured face, smashed teeth and broken hand.”
“I have been a nervous cycler and I have been inured a lot since that crash.”
Carmen felt her recent success was the redemption race she had been searching for.
“I had a really good race. I feel like it was the best race I have put together – very much since my accident.
“It was a breakthrough experience because it was the race that I needed to have for a few years.
Carmen also lives with scoliosis, a condition she was told could put her in a wheelchair.
“When I was in my early teens I was told I needed spinal surgery or I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 30.
“It was my chiropractor at the time that suggested keeping it functional and strong and living an active lifestyle.
Like stories that inform, connect and celebrate the Sunshine Coast? So do we. Join an independent local news revolution by subscribing to our free daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE at top of this article to register
“Here I am 30 years later running in ultradistance events and as fit and as strong as I have ever been at nearly 45.”
Her own experience inspired her to become a chiropractor 20 years ago, and even from her recent recovery, Carmen said exploring her own potential motivated her and was something she carried through to her professional life.
“It comes back to that belief that the human body is capable of extraordinary things.
“You can achieve anything even when you have had a prognosis like that.
“That’s part of my purpose as a chiropractor is to help people fulfil their health potential, their athletic potential – so for me it was another opportunity to overcome adversity.”
Carmen said while she is not sure what her next race will be, she still had plenty of gas left in the tank.
“There’s always races on the horizon that I want to tick off my bucket list.”
