
Ryan Reeve, 29
-Inman, South Carolina
-Triathlete -Married with 2.5 year old daughter,Sienna.
-Full-Time Sales Rep for Pest Control company
-Assistant Head Coach for local American Legion Junior baseball Team
Ryan’s Awakening
You’ll probably notice that I haven't always been an endurance athlete. Nearly three years ago, you would have seen a 350lb+ pound couch potato. Heck, the word ‘triathlete’ would have been the last way to describe myself, much less, ‘swimmer’, ‘cyclist’, or ‘runner.’ Three years ago I passed out at work at my heaviest weight: my blood sugar was over 450 and my blood pressure well over stroke levels. Noticing my pregnant wife, my doctor at the hospital asked me when she was due. “Two months,” I replied. He told me in no uncertain terms that if I didn't make an immediate lifestyle change, I wouldn’t live long enough to witness her birth. From that day forward I made a promise to myself, my wife, and my daughter that I would do everything in my power to be here as long as possible. That year I started the ketogenic diet as a way to lower my blood sugar levels. Two and a half years later I had completely transformed: I lost over 150 pounds, became a runner, started swimming and cycling, and now I am a triathlete. Just like my weight loss, triathlon gives me goals to accomplish and PR’s to beat. I also like to think it gives my friends, family, and strangers a little motivation. I hope my transformation helps people believe that anything is possible, as long as you lay out a plan, you execute that plan, and never give up. The triathlon community is just amazing: everyone likes to talk, and share stories, tips, and tricks. It's a huge family out there and we all kind of recognize that we share the same brand of crazy.
24 Hours of Cycling

A Transformational Ride
The 24 hour ride was the most physically and mentally challenging undertaking I have eve4r experienced. The first three hours were just another training ride. Hour six was just a long ride. Hour nine was: “Man it's getting dark outside, what am I doing?!” Hour twelve was: “Holy crap, I'm halfway there. But I'm ONLY halfway there!” Spinning through the night was difficult: your body is used to being asleep. I was lucky to have a great support team, keeping me motivated, hydrated, and fed. The support I received from friends on facebook, instagram, phone calls, texts, were a huge inspiration. I thought constantly about the kids I was raising money for, and how they can’t give up, no matter how much they may want to.