432. Shayla Martin, Breast Cancer Survivor

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Run, Health & Fitness, Women, Inspiration, Runner, Entrepreneur, Sports, Fitness, Health, Running

4.9 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 14 October 2021

⏱️ 82 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

“In my gut, I knew my life was about to change.”

Shayla Martin has a lot to celebrate right now. First, her 43rd birthday. Then, a spontaneous experience dancing onstage at a concert with Diplo. And, perhaps most importantly, her three-year anniversary of being cancer-free. On this episode, meet two-time marathoner Shayla Martin, a woman who is always joyful, smiling, and seeking a good time. But in 2017, at just 39 years old, Shayla's world was rocked when she found a lump in her breast that turned out to be breast cancer. Here, Shayla shares her cancer story, which included a mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and three breast reconstruction surgeries. She talks about how cancer changed her relationship with her body, and why, in her forties, she decided to pursue therapy for the very first time. She talks about living her best life at Burning Man, about a low point in her life last summer, when she was arrested on her way home after a run, and about why she thinks "life should be lived in a tutu." Shayla lives in New York City where she works in hospitality sales for GrubHub.

SPONSOR: AfterShokz — Visit ontherun.aftershokz.com for 15% off wireless headphones.

What you’ll get on this episode:

On dancing onstage with Diplo and Jess King, and going to Burning Man (3:00)
What Shayla’s life was like before her cancer diagnosis (15:30)
What it was like being diagnosed with breast cancer (19:50)
How Shayla responded to chemo and radiation (35:00)
How Shayla’s relationship with her body has changed since getting cancer, and what it was like being told she was cancer-free (44:55)
Therapy talk (54:00)
Shayla’s experience getting arrested last summer while walking home after a run (1:04:00)

Check out:

The Pink Agenda

Black Burner Project on Instagram @blackburnerproject

Follow Shayla:

Instagram @sdotmartin05

Follow Ali:

Listen & Subscribe:

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This episode of The Alley on the Run Show is brought to you by Aftershocks.
0:04.6	Go to ontherun.aftershocks.com to save 15% on all wireless headphones.
0:15.7	Welcome to The Alley on the Run Show. I'm your host Allie Feller and every week I talk with people
0:21.4	who are doing exciting things on the run and beyond. We all share that love for running and that's
0:27.6	what brings us all together. But of course there's more to life than what happens on the run itself
0:33.3	and this show is about those in-betweets. The water stops, the bathroom breaks, the moments and
0:39.3	decisions that have shaped who we are today and the wise. Why do we do what we do and how does
0:45.4	getting sweaty factor in? My guest today is Shela Martin. I met Shela back in 2014 when we were
0:52.4	both working out with November project in New York City. In Shela, oh my gosh, what a ray of sunshine.
0:59.9	She could make anyone smile and make everyone laugh even at 6am in the dark in some random park
1:07.1	in the city. Shela was always smiling but when the workout started this woman was fierce. She was
1:14.7	fast. I was always trying to keep up with her and never quite could. Then in 2018, Shela's life changed
1:22.7	forever. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. Not even 40 years old, healthy as ever, a marathon
1:30.0	runner. Last week, Shela hit a very exciting milestone. Three years cancer-free and she is here
1:39.0	today to celebrate with all of us. On this episode, Shela shares her breast cancer story,
1:45.7	her running story, and her stories of denial, resilience, and soul searching. She talks about
1:53.1	living her best life at Burning Man and about why she thinks we should all wear tutus way more
2:00.0	often. I am all for that by the way. You are going to love this woman so please join me in welcoming
2:06.4	Shela Martin to the Alley on the Run Show. All right, we are so lucky because we have probably the
2:19.2	most fun person on the planet. Today on the Alley on the Run Show, Shela Martin is here. Shela,
2:25.6	thank you so much for joining us. Welcome to the Alley on the Run Show. I was so happy to be here
2:30.7	when you sent me the message and said, what I missed is you and you said, oh, I was just going to
	...

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