The Marathon After the Miracle

From YouTube's automatic captions, so a few words may be wrong.

00:01 This is not a comfort podcast. This is a confrontation. If you're looking for soft motivation, easy answers, [music] or permission to stay the same, this isn't for you. This is for those who've been overweight, addicted, broken, finally tired of making [music] peace with their own excuses. Here, we choose discipline over comfort, faith over feelings, action over intention. We train the body, sharpen [music] the mind, and rebuild the spirit one hard decision at a time. This is where the

00:32 old you ends and the strong one is earned. This is the Body by Phil podcast. Welcome back to the Body by Phil podcast. This is Phil. I'm so excited about today's episode. I have my dear friend with me today, uh Jillaine. And I want to share a little bit about her story. It's absolutely incredible and inspirational. But first, I want to talk about how we met and um couple years back,

01:05 she belonged to uh a gym, her and her friends, and the gym closed. And they were displaced. And you know, they work out all the time, and they're very sad that they didn't have anywhere to go. So, they found uh Body by Phil. Uh they came in, and um she's been here ever since. One thing about Jillaine that that kind of struck me right away was uh not only her physical appearance, because she's she's very fit. She looks very cut, and I come from a bodybuilding background, so of course I notice these

01:35 things right away. And I remember asking her, you know, do you compete? Because she looks like she could actually take the stage uh in a week if she needed to, you know. But we struck up a really nice uh conversation, which turned into a a lifelong friendship. And I was always so impressed by not only her work ethic, but her her nutrition, how she does everything I try to talk to everybody about about turning fitness not into a fad, not into some kind of fast-paced gimmick, but make it into a

02:06 lifestyle, something you look forward to, not dread, something that you do for you, something that you just do because you enjoy it, it becomes a part of who you are, and um make it a lifestyle instead of something that's just kind of a flash in the pan. Uh the one thing that I was always really impressed with her was her her sound nutrition and her expertise in nutrition. I mean, she knows more about nutrition and food than than I do, and I was I was really impressed by the the good quality of food she would eat and these recipes that she'd give me these

02:37 really cool recipes to go try that I had never even thought of, and it was really really cool. Um so she's coming up on a 1-year anniversary of something that is of monumental significance, and I'm not going to segue into that. I want you to hear from this woman what her 1-year anniversary is all about. Joanne, first I I want to thank you for coming on Body by Phil Heath. Um this is

03:07 uh I know um maybe difficult to talk about, but um the people that are going to see this and the people that you're going to reach and inspire uh is going to make a difference in people's lives. So again, I appreciate you uh talking to us today. >> So tell us what What is this 1-year uh anniversary that you you had? >> So in October of 2024, I found a lump in my left breast, and I went to the doctor.

03:39 Doctor didn't seem overly concerned about it. Um it was soft, it was mobile. It didn't have any of the telltale signs of a tumor, but I could feel it. I was concerned about it. So, the doctor sent me for an ultrasound. Ultrasound came back. Radiologist read it as a cyst. Which is what I was hopeful. >> Right. >> And they said, "Well, we are going to do a biopsy just to be safe." This was the beginning of November of 2024.

04:10 Results came back and it was cancer. I was completely floored because I've been fit. I've been active. And it wasn't at all what I expected. And so, I was faced with a choice of doing a lumpectomy or doing a bilateral mastectomy. And you know, I kind of went back and forth, but the location of it was a little farther back. >> Yeah. >> The doctor said to me, "I'm not certain

04:40 that we can get all of it with a cleat cuz they have to get like a clean margin around it um being as far back as it was." And so, it I just really thought I'm young. I was only 45 at the time. And or 44, I guess, at the time. And it just felt like I have two children, a husband. I I need to be aggressive with this. I'm not taking any chances. >> [snorts] >> And so, I opted to have the bilateral

05:12 mastectomy and 2 and 1/2 weeks later I had the surgery 1 week before Christmas. >> Wow. Um I remember that day when you came in and you know, everybody loves you here and when you you broke that news to everybody, what an emotional moment that was for everybody because you know, I get here early and I every day I'm here by 4:00 a.m. at the latest. >> [clears throat] >> And I'll be writing programs and doing my thing and she'd come in Jolene is a

05:44 was a half marathon runner turned into a marathon runner and she would come in and be practicing on the treadmill in these absolutely grueling programs, and I'd see her. Now, with men this is before she would actually do her her scheduled class at what, 6:00? She'd come in, you know, 4:00 5:00 5:00 and and just start pounding that treadmill on these absolutely grueling programs, and she's in her own little world just doing her thing. And it was just so inspiring and then go and do an hour of high intensity uh

06:14 class at my hit training. So, I used to see her doing all this, and everybody, you know, would see her every morning in here. Um but I remember the the day that she broke the news to everybody that she was going to have to leave for a while and have this done, and it was a a tremendously uh hard day for you for you and for for everybody involved, and I'd trained your mother. >> Mhm. >> And and um you know, the talks and everything uh we shared with that was super super emotional. But um

06:44 I wanted to ask you, all right? Coming from and this is something we never really talk about you and I. We never really have. Uh being this fit person, okay? And living this this right life, you know? You're fit. You're healthy. You're consistent. You diet. You eat right. You know, you do all the things right, okay? When you got Now, you would almost expect this, and I I don't want mean to put it that way, but if somebody's eating crap all their life or they're an alcoholic like like I was or they're binge eating on

07:15 fast food, again, like me. I don't think I would have been shocked. I don't think I would have been really shocked if somebody said, "You you have cancer because of your choices in life or whatever, you know?" How did that hit you? >> Oh. It was so hard. I remember I actually took my mom and my friend Rachel went with me to the doctor. And >> [snorts] >> I just remember having this I hate to call it a woe is me moment, but I had it. And I told the doctor, I said,

07:48 "What did I do wrong?" >> Yeah. >> I said, "I eat healthily, I exercise, I I feel like I do everything right. I have no one in my family that has had this. It's I'm not predisposed for it. It was just what did I do wrong?" And you know what he said to me? "You're a woman." >> Wow. >> He said the statistics that he gave me were absolutely staggering. And I told him, I said, "But I I'm eating like healthy food, organic. I'm not eating anything processed. I

08:18 definitely don't eat anything that ever came out of a wrapper." >> Right. >> You know? And he said, "But you can't control the soil. You can't control the air. You know, there are things that are out of our control." And he said, "And some sometimes it just happens." But I did have that moment of I can't believe that this happened to me. Like, I've done all the right things. >> Right. I think you're absolutely entitled to have that why me situation. I mean, because, you know, you're uh the personification of fitness and

08:49 what I try to teach uh people to do. You live every single day. And that took years of discipline and years of training your mind and your body to be a certain way. Did you think um what what did you think about being able to get back into the fitness game? It may have been a million miles away from you. I know you were practicing for races and and runs and everything. Um do you think that How First of all, how long did it take you out of the game? How long before you could like be fit again? >> So, hit the gym again.

09:21 Believe it or not, the very next day I'm lying in the hospital bed and my husband George was sitting in there with me. And the doctor came in, the surgeon, to do my follow-up. And he said, "How are you feeling?" And I said, "I feel okay." Like, my pain level felt manageable. And he said, "Do you have any questions for me?" And I said, "Sure." I said, "Hit me." I said, "When can I run again?" >> [laughter] >> And he said, "Yeah." "Seriously?" >> Yeah. >> I said, "Seriously." I said, "This is how I'm getting back to where I was.

09:52 This is who I am. This is a lifestyle for me. This isn't a fad." >> Right. >> "And this is how I'm going to get better." >> Right. >> He said, "Get your tubes out." Because I had to have drains for the >> Right. >> you know, for the surgery. So, he said, "Get your drains out, and then we'll chat." So, I went back. Since I was a week before Christmas, I didn't go back until after New Year's, so it was two two weeks that I had the drains in. And as soon as they took them out, I asked her, "When can I run again?"

10:23 >> Yeah. >> She said, "Well, I'd like to you to do like a return to run, and uh it was a walk run walk run, almost like a couch to 5K." >> Right. >> And she said, "If you can build up to 10 minutes with no pain, then I say you're okay." So, for the first, I'd say three two and a half three weeks in January, because I went back and I walked. I did between two and a half and three miles three days a week at home on the treadmill. >> Right. >> Just a walk run walk run.

10:53 >> Okay. >> And January 28th, so six weeks to the day, was my first day back in the gym. >> Right. And I remember when you came in, I mean, the place just went crazy. We we were all cheering and crying and hugging. It was just like a just a great great moment uh to have you back. And then I remember you started uh training not long after that uh for your first marathon. >> I did. >> And that to me is so monumentally important. I'll tell you why. I run into so many

11:25 people that have had far less of a situation come up like that that mentally took them out of the game completely. It took them out. They had a setback and that was the end. This woman did the opposite. Not only did she want to come back and run, she wanted to do something she'd never done before. She could have easily thrown in the towel and say, "I'm never going to be right." Cuz I know that trying to run again the way you were took a long time to get you back to where you were. I She come in here and then I remember watching her

11:55 before her her situation where she would be running and pounding and everything. And then when she came back after everything and um you know, the most simple things on the treadmill were were very taxing and very very difficult. >> Mhm. >> But she wouldn't quit. You know, she wouldn't give up. She just kept going and then training for her first full marathon um had to be pretty spectacular. You mentioned that you have children, okay? And you have a daughter. >> I do. >> Um can you talk to me a little bit about

12:26 She had to This had to affect her greatly. And can you share with me a little bit about how all that transpires? >> Sure. So, two children. One is 22. The oldest is 22. And my youngest is 13. And my oldest at the time was finishing up his senior year of college. And so, this obviously was toward the very end of the year, the end of the semester and I thought, "Do I call him? Do I tell him?" Like, I

12:57 didn't want to ruin his semester. I knew he was studying. It was stressful. And then the youngest we are very close. We are kind of attached at the hip, if you will. We love to do everything together and I thought, "I don't know how to tell her because she's going to be scared." >> Yeah. >> And so, I just kept praying about it. Okay, Lord, how do I tell her? What is Give me the right words to say. And I kept waiting and waiting and I think she she could just sense it.

13:28 And then finally she came up to me one day. We were sitting on the couch. She was like, "Mommy, do you have cancer?" >> Wow. Wow. >> Yeah. I mean, she just knew. I didn't even tell her. >> She knew. Yeah. >> And so I said I do. But I am believing that it's something that I'm afflicted with and I'm not owning it. I'm not saying I have it. It's not mine. We're getting rid of it. We're moving forward. >> go. >> And so uh we had a nice long conversation and then I did tell her. I

14:00 said, "Please don't tell your brother. I want to wait till he comes home." >> Sure. >> And so he came home after he finished his final and I told him. And he handled it really well. You know, and his first question to me was, "Is it terminal?" And I said, "It's not and I'm kicking it." >> Yeah. >> And he said, "Okay, good." >> Good. Good. >> Difference between >> Right. >> older and younger and male and female. >> Well, they have to be so used to seeing you as this, you know, strong, powerful

14:31 woman, a strong, powerful mom. Um so I'm I'm sure that, you know, the concern uh had to just be unbelievable. Let me ask you this. Um do you How do you feel that your shape going into your your cancer diagnosis and your treatments affected your recovery? >> I think that it 100% affected how I recovered. Um I took no pain medication. >> Wow. >> Didn't need it. Um I feel like I slept better. It just all of it. I

15:03 felt like my body My body I I think the thing that I really struggled with the most was fatigue. >> Okay. >> I expected pain. Yeah. I didn't expect the fatigue. And I didn't get the the the pain. I mean, it was there, but it was manageable. But the fatigue, that was what was really hard for me to to bounce back from. But my husband said to me, "Could you imagine the fatigue if you weren't fit?" >> Right. >> And I said, "You're right." I mean, just

15:34 the immobility and the, you know, for me at home, by I was off work for 6 weeks, but by week two, before I could get on the treadmill, I was walking up and down You live in a ranch, so we had a long hallway. I was walking up and down the hallway. I just couldn't sit still. >> All right. So, when you started training for your first marathon, >> Mhm. >> all right? Going through all this physical and emotional trauma that you've just been through, I got to ask you, how on earth did you

16:06 mentally get yourself checked back in to that? I mean, because I know that you were really struggling there. How did you do that? And And talk to me about what your experience was What What it was like during that marathon and how you felt during the marathon and after. >> Okay. So, I I used a training program, and it helps that I'm surrounded by the best friends and the the best running community, the best fitness community.

16:36 Not only do I love to come here, you know, to feel how I feel after I exercise, but also that camaraderie. There's something special about the fitness community and about the running community. >> Right. >> We have a great fitness and running community here. And so, that helped. Um I had a wonderful training program. I had a wonderful experience at physical therapy, which I did uh for 12 weeks, and that really helped.

17:06 But just it really does require you to get your mind in the right place. >> Yeah. >> So, when I first came back, I had a goal of running the Pittsburgh Marathon. I had signed up for it the previous year. It's one It's the one race that I do every single year without a doubt. And I've run it six times, seven times. And I had signed up for it in May of 2024. So, I had a goal of I'm getting back and I'm going to run Pittsburgh. So, that really helped me

17:38 get myself in the right place because I had a race scheduled. I've run several half marathons. Believe I've run 12. So, I knew what it you know >> No, for people who don't know, how long is a half marathon? >> That's 13.1. >> 13.1, okay. >> So, I knew what it took or what it takes to prepare for half marathon. So, I knew that I could do it and I had a good training schedule, a good crew to run with. So, but when I stopped think about it, I'm like, well, that's really only 5 months from my date of surgery. I'm

18:09 doing it. I can I know I can do it. >> Wow. >> So, I got to mile 12. So, I did it. >> Yeah. >> Got to mile 12. I struggled a little bit. And um I listened to music when I run and a specific song came on that I had listened to frequently before my surgery. That kind of got me through. And I got a little bit weepy and I thought people were running by me thinking, what is wrong with this [laughter] lady? >> Yeah. >> Sobbing at mile 12. But I crossed that finish line and I thought,

18:39 wow, thank you, Lord. You got me through it. I ran a half marathon 5 months from my surgery. It was a It was a look what you've done moment. >> Absolutely. That's >> So, after that, >> Right. >> that's when I decided, well, we're just going to kick this up a notch. >> All right, why not? >> I'm going to run my first full. >> Does the train How hard the training is train How long is a full marathon? And if that's 13.1 Cuz 26 is a full, so you're going double double pace there, double the distance. So, the training has to

19:09 change completely. >> It does. >> Okay. Now, let me ask you this. So, you're 5 and 1/2 months or so out of your surgery, and you did your your first half marathon, which you probably had doubts that you could even do at at some point or even if you wanted to do it. Did that finishing that really give you that confidence and say, "Okay, I'm going to I'm going to see if I can amp this and try to go a little further." That's incredible. How bad was the training for that? How different was the training for the full? >> So, the runs, the long run, is the difference. The fueling, I had to learn

19:40 so much more than what I did before. And I talked to several runners, one of which that I work with is an elite runner, and he ran Boston last year. So, I went to him and asked him, "Okay, what do I need to change?" I'm not a fast runner by any means, but I knew I was going to finish, but it still required me to change how I ate, how I worked out, how I feel during those runs, how I hydrated. And talking with him really was a game-changer.

20:11 >> Got you. >> So, but that long run on Saturdays, I do mine on Saturdays, some people are Sundays, some people do it during the week, the mileage builds up a lot faster, and then you start finding that you're running half marathons >> Yeah. >> on the weekends. Where before, that's what I was training for. >> even imagine that. >> And that that training >> I'm not a runner. >> That training would take me, you know, you would never really run over 10 miles. Well, it got to the point where I was running, you know, 13, 16, 18. And

20:42 then there was one weekend that we were up to 21. That's the longest you run. >> Okay. >> So, every Saturday, my family knew I was gone until lunchtime. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, all right. So, you're running the marathon now, your first ever. You had to be nervous as all get out. >> nervous. >> Okay. Now, at what point during that marathon did you think, "Oh, man." I mean, did it Did you have a moment of was "Maybe I overshot this." >> Oh, 14 and a half. >> At 14 and a half. Okay, not I understand were the those conditions really bad that they were so

21:13 >> awful. >> I was talking to >> So, we had gorgeous weather for months. >> The Saturday before was perfect, and then the Monday after was perfect. That particular Sunday poured. And I hate to use the term monsoon lightly, but there were a few brief heavy downpours. We hit I ran the Columbus Marathon. So, we were right around mile 13, which is around Nationwide Arena, and at one point we were in water up to our ankles. Not only that, the temperature dropped the entire

21:45 race. So, not only we were soaked, we were cold because the temperature dropped into like the 50s. And then once we got up around Ohio State's campus, there's new buildings to block the wind and it's windy. But at mile 14 and a half, after we had just gone through that, everything tightened. Partially, I think it was due to weather. But my hip flexors, everything just kind of contracted. >> Wow. >> And so, we get there and I could I just felt awful. And I was with my friend Mary Katherine and Rose, and I remember

22:17 I said to them, I started crying and Mary Katherine, she said, "Nope, not yet. Nope, we can't do this yet." And I just said, "I didn't think that I would feel so terrible so soon." >> Yeah. >> And then I started getting in my head. >> Okay. >> And but we fought through. >> Right. >> And >> Well, I have a picture here. This is a picture of uh Ghislaine during that race, and I just I think that this picture says it all. I mean, to me this this picture just shows, you know, as bad as that race was with the elements and everything, the smile in her face

22:50 because of everything that she had to overcome to get to this point. And she could have easily just said, "You know, I think I'm done. I don't think I could do this, you know." She was battling this fatigue and the whole nine. But to come back and not only go ahead and do another half, but to test those boundaries, you know, really kind of against the odds there, I think, and to to finish a race like that and do your first marathon, I think is absolutely incredible and, you know, a huge inspiration to so many people. Um, I know it inspired me because I am

23:20 not a runner and I would watch you in here and see you and see how hard you push not only before, but there was something different when you came back. I mean, there was absolutely a fire. There was like a like a quest to to do this, you know, and everybody was just so so proud of you for being able to to complete that. What would you say to to families or or women that may be watching this or listening to this that are went through what you went through or going through what or you you went through and they're scared and they they

23:51 don't know how how to rise above this challenge and they feel completely defeated. What kind of advice could you give to those people that need it right now? >> Just don't quit. Not only for yourself, but for your family, for your friends, and pushing really made the difference for me. When you have a purpose like that, I feel like that purpose is what gets you through and I know you know that. >> I absolutely do. Yeah, we're very like-minded there. Purpose got me through and saved my life, you know, and I even write, you know, in my book that

24:21 um, through pain I I found purpose and I think that's a profound statement. In fact, Jolene actually read my book, the the black sword, and gave me one of my very first reviews on it, which is really good and I appreciate that for you. And you said there was something about the black sword book that didn't you really like about >> And it felt very applicable to everything I've been going through for the last year. You said that you can't open new doors with old keys. And when I read that, it was like a like one of those aha moments. Like,

24:53 this is so applicable to everything that I'm, you know, feeling and thinking and all of these new things that I want to do and accomplish. You know, I'm just I remember that feeling of being defeated and the woes me. >> Yeah. >> And then it was a wait, this doesn't define me. Breast cancer doesn't make me who I am or who I was or who I'm going to be. And having breasts doesn't make me who I am. Who I am is a wife, a daughter, a friend, and you know, my fitness and my

25:25 health, that is important to me. And even, you know, me and my faith is very important to me. >> Important. >> That's also another thing. When I hop on that treadmill, it's a thank you, Lord, for this body that you've given me that's capable of doing these things. And by doing this, this is a form of worship to you, and I continue to take care of my body that I've been given. And help people along the way. >> That is powerful stuff, Jolene. That is powerful stuff. Um again, I I think what you've gone through and what you did and

25:56 the example that you show, not only to yourself, okay? Uh you proved it to yourself, but your children, your husband, the people that are closest to your family, your friends, everybody here. You know, you rose above a situation that could have taken you out of the game, you know, and you refused to quit. You just would not let that take you or beat you. And I find you absolutely uh courageous in in what you do. And again, I I appreciate you you talking here today because I know some of the stuff is not easy to talk about, but like like

26:28 me when I share, you know, a little bit about myself to other people, yeah, it's difficult sometimes to talk about, but people get something from it, you know? >> Right. >> They feel like there's hope in their situations, too, that maybe I too can rise above these challenges. You're right, it doesn't define us. Our our past problems and adversities or health issues because uh there's more to us. And I I I told somebody today because I saw somebody fighting so hard today. And it's you know one thing I've learned being a trainer here is there is absolutely no measuring tool for the will of the human desire. You just can't

27:00 measure this you know when you have that fire and that drive to conquer something and a support system helps you know you have people around you supporting you and picking you up on those hard days when you stumble or fall helps us go the rest of the way but again I just wanted to thank you for coming on today and leaving us with this positive message of hope and inspiration. So guys remember you know like Julaine said our past and our problems don't define us and we can rise above and never ever give up regardless whatever you're going through

27:31 have belief have faith in yourself have faith that things will get better and stay strong stay healthy do the right things and even when you do the right things and you're handed a bad deal that does not have to be how things end for you there's always more fight in us believe in yourself don't give up thank Julaine. >> add one thing? >> Please do. >> Just from a woman's perspective too know your body. >> Yeah. >> Know yourself and fight for yourself be your own best advocate because I went to

28:01 the doctor and they didn't think that it was what it was. >> Right. >> But you you know yourself and you know when something changes or doesn't look right. >> Don't ignore it. >> Don't ignore it. >> Right. >> And just continue to push and fight for yourself. >> Absolutely. >> And that's really what I would love to do moving forward is to take my message and help women because I know I didn't really know anyone who had gone through this when I first found out I kind of felt alone and thankfully someone I know got me in contact with someone that you

28:33 know they knew and they were willing to be open about their journey and it kind of gave me some information and so if I can be of help to anyone that's going through it and making a hard decision you know I would love to do that and moving forward, you know, health, fitness, nutrition, all of it. Feel like I have a lot of on the horizon. >> Sure, absolutely. >> Some big ideas and big plans, so >> Beautiful. Beautiful stuff. Powerful stuff. Thank you for tuning in to the Body by Phil podcast. Talk to you soon.

29:05 >> Thank you.