Mel Lasher grew up in Maryland as one of five girls in an athletic family. From childhood through high school, she was a competitive swimmer but took a break in college when she received an academic scholarship.
She and her husband started training at their local CrossFit gym during grad school. They moved to Memphis in 2014 for her post-doctorate program at St. Jude. She holds a PhD in exercise science-applied physiology. “When we moved to Memphis, we found a local CrossFit gym and immediately had a community with like-minded people. We quickly made a lot of friends.”
In 2019, she shifted her focus from CrossFit training to triathlons. After completing her first, Memphis in May Olympic Triathlon, she was in love with the sport. However, her momentum would soon be challenged. In that same year, after experiencing some debilitating GI symptoms, she was diagnosed with celiac disease.
“My husband and I had followed the paleo diet in the past, so the dietary lifestyle changes were a little easier. My friends were very supportive as we all learned what I could and could not eat to manage my disease.”
Just as she was adjusting, she began having new symptoms. In May 2020, at the height of the pandemic, she experienced a series of medical problems that led to hospitalizations on multiple occasions. She endured episodes that left her with left-sided weakness in her body. After six months, she was diagnosed with her second autoimmune condition: lupus. It was her 34th birthday.
Mel never took time off from training, and cycling became a critical component in her rehabilitation, building movement and strength on her left side.
“I had to relearn how to run and ride a bike due to my impairment and weakness. I used cycling in my rehab and leaned on my training and fitness to get through it.”
“Every day is an unknown. I never really know what new symptoms will arise or how I will feel from day to day. It makes training really challenging. Not many people understand lupus in athletes and how training needs to change based on the day’s lupus symptoms.”
Mel is a devoted triathlete nonetheless and currently trains at BPC Performance Inc. with Dale Sanford. “We have both learned so much as I have continued to train for triathlons after my diagnosis.”
Mel has competed in Memphis 70.3, Blue Ridge 70.3, USAT Sprint and Olympic Nationals, Dragonfly Triathlon, and Rocketman Aquabike and was on the She 2 Sea team this past year.
Just this year, she has participated in and placed in the Tupelo Triathlon (first place age group), USAT Multisport Festival (3rd place in Aquabike, 3rd place in super sprint, 2nd place mixed relay), Memphis in May Sprint Triathlon (overall 1st place female), and Annie Oakley Buffalo Bill (overall 1st place female). She has plans for RocketMan Aquabike and World Triathlon Age Group World Championships in the aquabike and mixed relay events in Spain.
Mel has never let her physical limitations break her stride. “Consistency and resilience will get you through everything life will throw at you. You just have to take it one day at a time.”
By Amanda Tompkins
Photo by Tindall Stephens
