By Erica Schwartz
Theodore’s Books in Oyster Bay hosted local author and blogger, Hilary JM Topper, for a conversation with Emily Nitzberg, a cerebrovascular neurosurgery physician assistant, from Mount Sinai Health on Thursday, July 18th at 7:00 p.m.
The event focused on Hilary’s latest book, From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete, as well as her recent brain aneurysm. Emily Nitzberg joined Topper at the event to provide further insight into brain aneurysm prevention and information.
Coming from a background as a public relations professional, Topper recently became an author. Topper’s debut novel chronicles her experience becoming an endurance athlete at 48 years old while working full time. She says she turned to the gym and began running after struggling with self-esteem in the workplace.
“I was working 60-70 hour weeks and often went home feeling like everyone else was important except me,” she said.
Since beginning her running journey, Topper has participated in a 5k, the Brooklyn Half Marathon, the New York City Marathon and Olympic triathlons. She says that when she signed up for her first triathlon, she didn’t know she would have to bike and swim in addition to running.
“I don’t know what I was thinking,” she said. “I had to learn how to swim at age 53 and also re-learn to ride a bike. I hadn’t ridden since I was a kid!”
Topper wasn’t deterred by her lack of knowledge and continued to train.
“This year, I plan on swimming a marathon swim in Michigan and a half ironman aqua bike in Montauk with EventPower Long Island,” she said.
While the event will mostly focus on Topper’s book and journey to becoming an endurance athlete, Nitzberg and Topper will also be discussing Topper’s recent brain aneurysm as a form of awareness and prevention. Topper credits her awareness of her late sister’s brain aneurysm with saving her life.
“I found out about the aneurysm because my sister passed away from a brain aneurysm,” she said. “My sister saved my life”
Topper is not letting her brain aneurysm stop her and continues to train. She said that, at first, getting back into her day-to-day routine and training as hard after her surgery. However, she continued to train after her recovery period.
“A flow diverter was placed in the back of my head to flow the blood away from the aneurysm,” she explained. “Everything was slow going in the beginning but I built it back up and feel great doing what I love to do.”
From Couch Potato to Endurance Athlete are available to purchase at Theodore’s Books.
