Weiser coach conquers cancer and Spartan races

Michelle Estes completed her first Spartan in Boise in 2017. After watching her husband and oldest son do the races in 2016, including competing at Worlds at Lake Tahoe, Estes decided she really wanted to give it a try.  
 She started off running four races that first year: The Boise Sprint (in open), Utah Super (her first competitive race), Portland Sprint (open with family), and then the Seattle Beast (in open).
 In 2018, Michelle and her family started competing in their age group divisions. That was when they really started taking things a little more seriously. She completed four races again that year. (Seattle Super, Montana Beast, Boise Sprint, and Rocky Mountain Super in Kimberley, Canada). Rick and Justin did those same races but also did a few more.
 After they started competing in the age divisions, Rick and Justin were super successful. Justin was on the podium every race but one. Rick made it for four of his races. While Michelle did not make the podium in 2018, this year she has been there in five out of six races. Rick has made it three times and Justin three times.
 In 2018 all three qualified for Worlds by placing high enough in a national race, which were Seattle, Utah, and the Canadian National Super Race at Kimberley. Justin placed second and Rick came in ninth at the World Championships.
 Although she had qualified,  Michelle was unable to race at the World Championships in 2018. At the end of May, a few days after her daughter Emma graduated from high school, Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer. Michelle was disappointed that she had to cut her race season short and not participate in the World Championship race.
 Michelle said that going through cancer was not about her, but she believes it was about God and the hope that only He can provide. What she gained through her own journey was far greater. Her last race of the season was the Rocky Mountain Super. That race and the cancer helped her put things into perspective.
 “Life and circumstances are going to be challenging and sometimes seem impossible to conquer, but faith in God, a supporting family, generous friends, and a positive attitude can propel you past the challenges,” she said.
 Michelle’s treatments for her cancer were in full force during volleyball season last year. As the JV coach, she felt incredibly blessed to have her team, the coaching staff, parents of players, and her family all supporting her.
 One of the hardest parts of the treatments was not the radiation, but the realization that she wasn’t going to feel better right away. The medication to block her hormones affected her, continuing to make her feel ill for more than six months. She didn’t start feeling better until the beginning of April and ran her first race on April 13, 2019.
 Throughout her experiences, Michelle shared that some races are easy and she feels, “wow, this is amazing.” Others are so hard that she is crying as she completes the last few obstacles just to finish the race. The races can be brutal, physically and mentally.
 From the easiest race in Boise 2019 to the hardest race Rocky Mountain Super 2018, most of the Spartan races the Estes family does are 9-13 miles in length and can take anywhere from 35 minutes to 3.5 hours for Justin or Rick and 50 minutes  to five hours for Michelle. This means going from aerobic and anaerobic while throwing in the mental toughness to stay the course making it very taxing on the body.
 Michelle shared that Spartan racing has given her a focus on being competitive. At the age of 50 there aren’t a lot of sports that you can push yourself in to become a strong athlete again. The family enjoys traveling  and competing together.
 To train, they take lots of trips up to the Sawtooth Mountains and the McCall area to run and train so as a family they get to enjoy some amazing things that Idaho has to offer.
 As a fun tradition to add to the Spartan, the family has made it their goal to find the best burger in each city we visit. So far their favorites are the Lodge Sports Grille in Kirkland, Wash., and Fire Rock Burgers and Brews in Big Bear, Calif.
 The Estes family is currently competing in two different Spartan series. The U.S. National Series: five races where they tabulate points to qualify for the World Championships in Tahoe. The series just finished 2 weeks ago in Utah.
 Rick placed seventh, Justin took third, and Michelle was able to earn first place. With the placing the family all qualified for the World Championships in Tahoe that will be held the last Sunday in September.