{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2F989ac317-23e4-49a9-b022-78b8a803faa2","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"13. Listening To Your Body","description":"(Lauren Warren) What would you do if every month you doubled over in pain, convulsed and ended up in the hospital for over two decades?\u00a0 What if the doctors didn\u2019t know what was wrong?\u00a0 What if some people told you that this was all in your head?\u00a0 Would you resign yourself to a life of despondency?\u00a0 Would you live in anger, frustration and hopelessness?\u00a0 Although many people would, Lauren Warren, decided she would compete in Ironman triathlons.\u00a0 The first time Lauren menstruated she was hospitalized.\u00a0 Her body broke down and she felt as though she was dying.\u00a0 When it happened the next month and the month after that, her family suspected that something was severely wrong.\u00a0 Doctors could not find out what was causing these flare-ups and a range of suggestions from anemia to psychological counseling left a young Lauren feeling confused, embarrassed and living in fear that she would have an episode while at school.\u00a0 Entering into adulthood Lauren faced a tough decision \u2013 become a victim or decide to champion the monster that reared its ugly head.\u00a0 Lauren chose the latter and dug in; Lauren decided to take on Ironman triathlons (2.2 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run).\u00a0 Despite her health challenges she became surprisingly good at racing the distance even qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona.\u00a0 How could a woman, who became powerless for almost a week every month, compete and excel in one of the most grueling races on the planet?\u00a0 Listen to this amazing journey.\nLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/60c40ff8-ac4d-40b7-b4c4-d88914eb130a/3414b22ba10d5d61d09f8d5c3740e6ef.jpg"}