Triple
Amputee
Athlete
Takes
On His
First 5K
Presented byADVERTORIALWatch Mike’s journey online at Competitor.com/toyotaraceday
EVERY RUNNER KNOWS THE MANTRA “PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN.”
It’s what gets us through the most challenging parts of our runs, workouts and races. But
for lifelong athlete Mike Atherton, pushing through pain meant more than just fi nishing a
5K—it meant regaining his mobility, his confi dence, and his life.
On May 9, 2009, Mike was with his family on his in-laws’ boat, enjoying what he thought
would be a relaxing day off the Florida coast. Without warning, the boat exploded, and then
was quickly engulfed in fl ames—and Mike and his family were jettisoned from the boat.
Mike was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were able to save his life—but not with-
out amputating portions of both legs and his lower left arm. After a grueling surgery, Mike
remembers lying in the hospital, not knowing what his future would hold. He had always
been an active person; now he wondered if he would ever walk again.
His doubts quickly turned to determination: Mike committed himself to walking again,
though he knew it wouldn’t be easy. After countless hours of physical therapy, and being fi t
with three prosthetic limbs, Mike was walking again, regaining a sense for the mobility he
had always known.
But Mike wanted to run again, so a new goal was set: the 5K at Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas.
Through support from Toyota and the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Mike received a
new pair of running legs to help him achieve his goal.
With his new running legs, taking his fi rst few steps was a signifi cant victory, and it gave
Mike a new lease on life: “I kept pushing myself more and more,” he said, “and I thought, ‘I
can keep going.’” Mike spent months training for his race, and found happiness and mean-
ing in each small accomplishment. “It felt like I was getting my life back,” he said. Falling,
though it might bruise his ego, wouldn’t take him down—he knew how to get up. And not
fi nishing simply wasn’t an option.
Mike would be running alongside his 15-year-old daughter, Maddie, who, along with his
family, had always been a source of strength and determination. “If he sets his mind on
something, he’s going to do it,” Maddie said.
Leading up to the race, Mike shared his story at the Toyota Motors North America Head-
quarters in Plano, Texas, with a group of team members also running in the race. He spoke
about his injury, recovery, newfound mobility, and the fortitude it took to fi nd his place in
sports again. Upon seeing the Toyota team’s reaction, Mike knew that this race was about
more than just fi nishing; he could inspire people across the country reaching for new
physical goals.
On race day, Mike knew that his determination and months of training would yield a
victory. Under the hot Texas sun, Mike and Maddie took off at a vigorous pace. Soon, how-
ever, Mike was overcome with fatigue, forcing him to walk. Failure to fi nish seemed like a
real possibility, but the survivor in him wouldn’t relent.
Through his strength of body and mind, Mike pushed through profound pain. Crossing
the fi nish line wasn’t just a great accomplishment—it gave Mike a new sense of his future:
no longer uncertain, but fi lled with opportunity.
“Because of my newfound mobility, I’ve been able to train, push myself and set more
goals,” Mike said. “And it’s really been a huge part of getting my life back.”Untitled-1 1 5/10/17 8:03 AM