For those who have ever thought they were too old or too unfit to finish a triathlon, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete will prove that it is never too late to compete! This is a story about overcoming life's obstacles-from injury and business trouble to grief and loss and everything in between. Hilary Topper was a 48-year-old working mother who once upon a time had practically failed high school gym class. She was working 60-plus hours a week, running a small business. Her focus was on others-her children, her aging parents, and her staff. In the meantime, her weight kept increasing, and she was unhappy with the way her life was going. She needed a change. To turn things around, she joined a gym for the first time in her life. This book will take you on Hilary's decade-long journey as she trains for and runs her first 5K, swims the aqua-blue waters of the Caribbean, cycles a hilly course in Milwaukee, learns how to run-walk her way through the New York City Marathon, and competes in her first triathlon in Sanibel, Florida. You will be right with Hilary as she narrates each experience-even a 5.5-mile swim in the murky waters of Long Island. Hilary's story will move, motivate, and inspire. You will laugh and cry as you follow her on her journey. Even if you don't start out as an endurance athlete, after reading this book, you will walk away feeling that no matter what happens, you can cross the finish line, too.

Hilary JM Topper, MPA, is a 30-year public relations veteran. She runs both HJMT Public Relations Inc., a full-service public relations and social media agency, and HJMT Media Company, where she curates two blogs and a podcast. In addition, she is an adjunct professor at Hofstra University where she teaches digital communications and public relations classes. Hilary has written two other books: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Social Media (2009) and Branding in a Digital World (2019). In her spare time, she trains for endurance events, including triathlons. She is a level 1 USA certified coach, a running coach, and a certified personal trainer. She runs an international triathlon team, WeREndurance, and she has a local running club where she meets weekly with her members. Hilary lives on Long Island with her family.