From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete

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 to undergraduate and graduate students. 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 Galloway-certified 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.

“Anyone can be a triathlete. It’s one thingto say this, however, and another to make others believe it. In From CouchPotato to Endurance Athlete, Hilary Topper proves that anyone can be atriathlete by sharing her own journey from the sofa to the start line andbeyond. If you think you’re too out of shape, too unathletic, too old, tooheavy, or too anything to become a triathlete, this inspiring book will changeyour mind.”–Matt Fitzgerald, author of Life Is a Marathon“Hilary manages to convert a personal storyinto a must-read insight on the power of embracing a journey in performance.Her inviting and accessible narrative highlights her bravery, but also thefabric of what a performance journey entails. Through challenge, fear, andadversity, Hilary emerges to amplify her health, performance, and life,becoming an inspiration to many. If you are one of those people who believe youcould never or shouldn’t, then read this book and get going on your own journeyof excellence.”–Matt Dixon, IRONMAN Master Coach, CEO and founder of PurplePatch Fitness, former professional triathlete, and author of Fast-TrackTriathlete: Balancing a Big Life with Big Performance in Long Course Triathlonand The Well-Built Triathlete“Hilary Topper discovered the empowerment of endurance exercisethrough triathlon training. She developed a blog by taking notes about everyrace and found that the training process helped her deal with personalchallenges. Her writing celebrates the achievements of those who were not bornwith the talent to win races. In her new book From Couch Potato to EnduranceAthlete, Hilary relates the many training and racing experiences thatenriched her life. She knows that the sport of triathlon will be there to helpher process the next challenge that comes along.”–Jeff Galloway, running coachand creator of the Run Walk Run® method“Hilary Topper’s book is inspiring on so manydifferent levels. For an experienced Ironman like myself, I found the races tobe exciting. For someone who is still sitting on the couch, it encourages andmotivates you to go beyond your comfort zone and do something that is extraordinary.This is a must-read for both current triathletes and those looking to trysomething new.” –PeterShankman, best-selling author and two-time IRONMAN athlete“Whether you have been an athlete your entirelife or sport is something new, this book will resonate with and inspire you. Thoughmaybe for many of us victory is about winning medals and being first, FromCouch Potato to Endurance Athlete captures the power of the most meaningfulsuccesses of all. The wins are not measured by your place at the finish line, butrather by those that allow you to conquer your own personal, limiting beliefsso you can be the best version of yourself. Hilary’s powerful story willtransform you and empower you to push yourself beyond the imaginable.”–NinaSadauskas, three-time Olympian swimmer, CEO and founder of Delfina Athletics“Hilary Topper has written a must-read foranyone willing to undertake the seemingly impossible task of completing theirvery first triathlon. Reading From Couch Potato to Endurance Athletetransported me immediately back to the blood, sweat, and tears I experienced asa first-time triathlete. Hilary delivers a delightful guide packed with rich emotionaldetail, unvarnished truth, and the practical step-by-step information toencourage any reader to push outside their comfort zone and reach for thestars.”–Julie Moss, IRONMAN Hall of Fame and SATriathlon Hall of Fame inductee,author of Crawl of Fame, race announcer, and keynote speaker