Rachel Lunam's unstoppable Ironman journey

Rachel at the athlete village of Ironman Ottawa

Scoop Stewart

Paris Independent Columnist

Paris native Rachel Lunam - Sweeney, 56, is no stranger to setting high goals and tackling them head-on. As the eldest of four children and mother to five (Mandie, Amber, Denny, Riley, and Molly), this self-proclaimed Type A, "go big or go home" athlete has completed 10 full Ironman triathlons, all while secretly battling a debilitating and rare vascular condition. Her incredible journey culminates in a historic comeback at the 2025 Ironman Canada in Ottawa, exactly one year after lifesaving, reconstructive surgery.

Born and raised in Paris, Lunam always led an active lifestyle. Following success in bike racing, a move to triathlon felt like a "natural progression." Her first season in 2012 proved she was a natural, securing the Multisport Canada Overall Series award after winning the short-course try-a-tri in Coburg and achieving three other top four finishes.

"After my first season of short course races in 2012, I set my goals high for the following season. Admittedly, most athletes take a longer/slower build to the full Ironman distance (usually years); but I tend to have the 'go big or go home' mentality lol."

The goal she set was the Ironman—a grueling full-distance triathlon consisting of a 3.8 km swim / 180 km bike / 42.2 km run, which must be completed in under 17 hours. After 12 months of training, she self-coached her way to the finish line of her first Ironman in Mont Tremblant, Quebec (2013).

Just months before her first Ironman, Lunam experienced the initial symptoms of claudication—muscle pain caused by a lack of oxygen—in her right calf. Initially attributing the pain to the sheer training volume, she persevered. However, the symptoms spread over the next decade, appearing in both calves while running and even in her quadriceps while cycling. The pain was so debilitating it forced her to step away from training with her friends and leave her role as a founding board member of the Brant Cycling Club.

For years, she sought answers, enduring a misdiagnosis of chronic compartment syndrome and spending "thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours" on treatments like physical therapy, acupuncture, and massage. Nothing worked. Lunam continued to race the longer, slower endurance events, finding the symptoms marginally more manageable, completing a remarkable roster of Ironman events:

2015: Niagara Falls Barrelman & Ironman Lake Placid, NY (Coached by Jeff Kehler)

2017: Ironman Mont Tremblant & Niagara Falls Barrelman (Coached by Angela Quick)

2018: Ironman Chattanooga, TN (Coached by Angela Quick)

2019: Ironman Cozumel, Mexico (Coached by Angela Quick)

2021: Ironman Chattanooga, TN & Ironman Arizona (Coached by Angela Quick)

2022: Ironman Cozumel, Mexico (Self-Coached)

2023: Ironman Chattanooga, TN (Self-Coached)

The breaking point came after the exceptionally painful Ironman Chattanooga in September 2023. Weeks later, she hit a wall, unable to walk more than 100 meters without severe claudication pain extending from hips to toes.

A vascular ultrasound, ordered to rule out peripheral artery disease (which her mother suffers from), revealed a shocking truth: a complete occlusion of both external iliac arteries. After Googling her symptoms, Lunam discovered an article about External Iliac Artery Endofibrosis (EIAE), or "cyclist's iliac syndrome," a rare disease primarily found in young, elite male athletes. EIAE is not caused by plaque but by the thickening and fibrosis of the artery wall, believed to be triggered by the hyper-flexed hip position in cycling.

Referred to one of the few Canadian specialists, Dr. Prasad Jetty at the Ottawa Civic Hospital, Lunam’s diagnosis was confirmed. Her case was unlike any he had seen: the disease had affected both sides bilaterally, and the entire length of both arteries were completely occluded. Dr. Jetty admitted he had "absolutely no idea" how she had completed an Ironman.

On July 24, 2024, Lunam underwent a high-risk, 6-hour surgery—a complete aortobyfemoral bypass. Surgeons replaced the full length of her diseased iliac arteries with synthetic dacron arteries, a procedure that came with a 10% risk of amputation, paralysis, or death.

Released from the hospital on August 3, 2024, Lunam immediately set her sights on the inaugural Ironman Canada in Ottawa scheduled for August 3, 2025—exactly 365 days post-op. Despite acute nerve trauma in her right leg and months of painful setbacks, she accomplished her goal.

"Nothing will ever replace the first time I rode my bike or laced up my running shoes and could exercise again pain-free!!... Having my family and friends at that finish line was the best feeling in the entire world."

With 10 Ironmans completed, Lunam is considering her long-term goal of 12 to qualify for the Kona World Championships Legacy program, while remaining mindful of her health. However, her new, pain-free body is already tackling new frontiers.

She recently participated in her first 10km trail running race and has been given the green light by Dr. Jetty to sign up for a 50 km ultra trail running race in Tennessee next November. She also has a 20 km swimming race around the island of Key West on her radar.

Lunam is now dedicating herself to advocacy, educating health professionals on EIAE to ensure other young, healthy athletes don't suffer the same decade-long diagnostic delay. Her message aligns with her ambassadorship for "Rent Rich Threads": "Paying dues and Reaping rewards.

"This life is rented and we pay our dues in discipline, patience, resilience and hard work when no one is watching. There are no shortcuts and no handouts; and the rewards are earned through sweat, grit and pure determination."

Rachel Lunam's triumph is a testament to determination, family support, and the enduring strength of the human spirit. She is a true Paris sports hero. 

Always a pleasure, 

Scoop Stewart