The Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend will kick off on January 8 and run through January 12. During this weekend there will be several events from 5ks to a full marathon.

This year a woman recovering from a survived hippo attack is going to join in the fun.

I saw this story and had to cover it because it was such an unusual story and I love her attitude!

On December 1, 2018, Kristen Yaldor and her husband Ryan, went on a real Jungle Cruise level adventure when they went on a canoeing trip on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe.

While canoeing the guides noticed hippos on the one side of the river and instructed guests to paddle toward the opposite side, away from them. But one of them came up under the canoe.

Kristen told WFTS ABC Action News:

“It came underneath the canoe. It gave a big thud. Ryan and I got launched into the air. I fell towards the deep side and he fell backwards towards the shallow side.

I tried to grab for its mouth to pry it open knowing that I am not strong enough to do so, but at least to try and provoke it and get it to loosen up and let me go.”

She did get away but she broke her femur and required a skin graph. Since the incident she has mobility issues and goes to physical therapy. This was after she spent weeks at various hospitals and had one surgery in December. Looking ahead she told ABC that she still needs at least 10 more surgeries to correct the damage.

Even after all of that she isn’t giving up and she’s keeping her sense of humor!

What did she do? She decided to participate in a runDisney 5K

“So to me, setting a goal and having that achievement and something to work towards gave me that progress to fight for during this healing time,” said Yaldor.

Prior to the accident Kristen was an athlete who participated in half-marathons and triathlons. The runDisney race was a great goal and way to get back into running again.

She and her husband Ryan will be running in the 5K on Thursday. She will be wearing a shirt with a hippo on it saying “I survived 12/01/18” and her husband will be dressed as a hippo.

The Hippo pictured is a photo she took on her safari.

Her words of advice:

“”Just bring some fun and as much humor as we can to look past it. Whatever the situation, you still want to live to the fullest. You want to enjoy your time and your life.”

I love how she overcame this and how they can try to look at the situation positively and with humor. Sometimes you need to do that.  It’s a message worth sharing.

If you are running in the runDisney 5k next Thursday watch for Kristen and Ryan as they run as well.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!

Source: WFTS ABC Action News