Mountain biking fanatic Rebecca Phillippo’s life hit a major obstacle when she was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36. Thanks to Pilates, she’s back in high gear.
Growing up as the middle child of three kids in sleepy hollow, NY, my life was all about sports and being active. By the time i was five, i was obsessed with being able to ride bikes with my older brother and his friends.
I’d ride my blue Schwinn banana-seat bike over curbs, steps and my brother’s makeshift jumps, trying to imitate him. Throughout school, i played soccer, baseball and field hockey, swam competitively and took theater classes.
HEADING WEST
I started mountain biking in high school and continued in college, first in Vermont, then at Colorado state, where i transferred in 1994. i loved riding the big mountains. i stayed on in beautiful Colorado for eight years after graduation, becoming a travel agent. i then moved to San Diego for another five years, where i continued riding and doing many other outdoor sports, from hiking to snowboarding.
OFF TO THE RACES
But by 2007, i decided to move back east to be closer to my parents, brother and sister. i soon joined the Westchester Mountain Biking association, and on a group ride, another biker said to me, “You’re really fast, you should race!” it struck a chord because i’ve always been competitive. so i entered my first mountain bike race. it was fast and twisty, and i came in second! immediately, i wanted to get better and faster. over the next couple of years, i won a bunch of local races.
By February 2010, everything was wonderful. i had just turned 36, my boyfriend had moved in with me, and i was in love with life. when i felt a lump while doing a breast self-exam, i figured it was just a cyst. i had been training hard all winter for the upcoming racing season, and i didn’t have time for anything to be wrong with me!
i waited almost two months for the lump to go away. it didn’t.
A BIG BUMP IN THE ROAD
This story is from the September - October 2016 edition of Pilates Style.
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This story is from the September - October 2016 edition of Pilates Style.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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