Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Huggard.
Hi Sarah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started as a cyclist back in 2021. My husband bought me a new bike in July. On a bike ride that August I came across a 70 year old man who told me about Lotoja bike race; from Logan Utah to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I decided I wanted to do it. I emailed the race director and got in 4 weeks before the 204 mile race. My goal was to finish. With little training and only a few months of cycling I completed the race. A fire was lit. I decided next year I wanted to podium the race. I started training more seriously, learned all about cycling, rules, etiquette and how to draft. I raced Lotoja in 2022 and placed 4th in my age group and got my podium finish. The next month I went on a girls trip with my cycle friends to St George and got to witness the Worlds Ironman 70.3 Championships and watched the pro women finish. I decided then and there I was going to compete in an Ironman 70,3 event.; With little swimming or running experience. I went home and kept the idea to myself. I wanted to first see if I could learn to swim for a race and run. With previous iT band issues I wasn’t sure it was possible. I hired a fellow cyclist friend to coach me and I competed in my first ever triathlon, St George Ironman 70.3. The following month I did Coeur D Alene 70.3. I was hooked!
I decided in 2024 I would focus on improving my overall time and I cut 31 minutes off my Ironman 70.3 time at St. George.
After that race I decided to improve in the area of running to help propel myself forward in triathlon. A good run race is super important to improve overall time.
So that year I decided to train for my first ever marathon. During this year I had lost my voice. Weirdly it just wasn’t working anymore. I couldn’t sing to my daughter at night for bedtime and I often sounded like I was sick although I felt fine.
I was also feeling lightheaded after workouts, so my dr sent me to a cardiologist to run tests. Everything came back clear so life continued as normal. I experienced random migraines but nothing out of the ordinary. I ran my first Marathon in September of 2024. I trained with a neighbor and good friend! Our goal was under 4:30 and we finished in 4:11. We were super excited. Here I knew I could run a full marathon and maybe I would be ready for a full Ironman Event. In November of 2024 I ran my first stand alone half marathon with some friends, then hiked Angels landing in Zion National Park. Two days later while wrapping gifts for Christmas, I had an intense migraine (or so I thought it was a migraine)that nothing could help. My husband got home from working out of state and I couldn’t walk or really talk. He rushed me to the ER where stroke protocol was quickly enforced. After some time in the ER, scans revealed I had a large meningioma. At the time I didn’t know what that meant. I went home and the next morning googled it. A brain Tumor!
The ER requested an MRI and then I sent my scans out of state to a Neurosurgical office. The dr whom only worked mondays told me to be in his office that Friday.
I had a tumor the size of a clementine. Slightly bigger than a ping pong ball.
There was indications that he may not be able to remove all of it because of location. One month later I had surgery. I was in the ICU for a few days and the hospital 5 days total; With 21 staples across the top back of my head.
Then the next journey started. Recovery. It was slow. Minimal activity only walking. Then swimming and then eventually light running. Paying attention to how I felt and migraines. I kept at it but didn’t bike much since the risk factors were higher.
I wanted badly to compete in St George Ironman 70.3 2025 again, but my Neurosurgeon said I should not do the whole event. So instead I relayed it with 2 amazing friends. I did the run portion and we got 2nd place for female relay. 4 months PostBrain Surgery!
After this race I decided I wanted to push myself to something I viewed as harder and started trail running and did my first 50k with a best friend. That lead to my next goal, 100k 1 year post brain surgery! So here I am today full of gratitude for the opportunity I get to be here. That I can do hard things and I GET to do so many other adventures! Life is meant to be enjoyed and I think we should push the boundaries of comfort. So this summer I compete in my first 100k in the high Idaho mountains! I know it will be difficult but I’ve got grit and determination! I’m looking forward to that Finish Line!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Well as in the previous explanation I experienced migraines, struggled feeling well after intense workouts. Recovery was hard. Not being able to sleep great since my surgery was on the back portion of my head. Trying to be present for my kids and still feel good, my voice never fully recovered, but if that’s my biggest complaint; it’s not really one!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I graduated with a bachelors degree in behavioral science. Then got married and am a stay at home mom. I have 4 kids. And I’m super proud of them and their accomplishments so far. They range from 22 to 7!
What was your favorite childhood memory?
My favorite memory was riding horses with my dad and playing my violin or piano for my mom.
I also loved being pulled on a sled behind my dad’s pickup in the winter with my favorite neighbor friend!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @sweatnglowrunner
