Athlete returns with unfinished business

SANDUSKY — A year ago, Allison Kirby was taking her first painful steps after emergency surgery for cervical cancer. This weekend, the 39-year-old will plunge off a ferry into Sandusky Bay to begin the Ironman 70.3 Ohio. For the 41-year-old middle school teacher from Liberty, Missouri, Sunday's race is more than a test of physical endurance. It is a return to a course that broke her three years ago and a tribute to the father who fueled her passion for the sport. In 2023, following the death of her father, Clarence Kirby Jr., Kirby tackled the Sandusky course but suffered a grueling setback. Heat exhaustion and a lack of electrolytes forced her to stop at mile 6.5 of the run. She left feeling defeated and vowed to return. Those plans derailed in March 2025. During a routine checkup, she was diagnosed with rapidly growing stage 1B cervical cancer. Opting for immediate surgery to halt the spread, she lost her racing season and a hard-earned spot in the aquathlon world championships. Recovery began with slow walks around the block. By September, she was cleared to resume training under coach Kris Swarthout. Getting back in the pool was a revelation. "If my body was able to swim 1,000 yards three months after a major surgery and beat cancer, what else can it do?" she said. Armed with a master's degree in positive psychology, she recognized she needed to practice what she preached to her students. The anxiety that plagued her 2023 race gave way to grace, a reliance on positive self-talk and a renewed trust in her training. When she races through the farmlands and downtown Sandusky on Sunday, she will proudly wear her family name on her triathlon kit in honor of her father. She has set aside competitive time goals, choosing instead to relish the journey. "I'm crossing the finish line for my faith, family and friends who have believed in me before and after cancer," Kirby said. "The comeback will be greater than the setback."