Amputee Life – Emily Harvey

Muddy Princess

This past weekend I participated in The Muddy Princess, which is an all-women’s mud-based event that is 100% about fun, teamwork, and getting outside your comfort zone! Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! There were over 15 women on our team, and we stuck together to help each other out of the mud pitsContinueContinue reading “Muddy Princess”

Fighting my way off the Struggle Bus

Confession: I’ve really been in a tough place with my running since the Ironman last summer… My legs haven’t wanted to move very fast and I haven’t felt like I’ll ever be able to get back to where I used to be with my running – physically or mentally. Before today, I had done twoContinueContinue reading “Fighting my way off the Struggle Bus”

Returning to Where it Began

selfie of me with cutout of the founder of ROTG 7K, who is wearing green tights and a jacket

Last weekend I ran the Runnin’ of the Green 7k in Denver. There wasn’t anything particularly special about this race – it wasn’t my longest or fastest – but it was a great time to reflect back on the 6 years that have passed since I first walked the Runnin’ of the Green 7k inContinueContinue reading “Returning to Where it Began”

The Girl with the Robot Leg

Toddler Sam and Young Emily wearing roller skates and sitting on the sidewalk

I have always loved reading, and consequently, I’ve always loved books. However, as I’ve written about before, media generally does not do a great job of accurately portraying characters with limb loss/difference (with the exception being Harry Potter, at least in my opinion). I think this starts with media geared towards young ages, such as pictureContinueContinue reading “The Girl with the Robot Leg”

Costa Rica Surf Retreat

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Santa Teresa, Costa Rica for a surf and yoga retreat with a bunch of other rowdy women. Surfing isn’t really something I ever thought I would want to try, but my friend Nicole DeBoom is really good at talking me into things… Going to the beach andContinueContinue reading “Costa Rica Surf Retreat”

2019 Race Goals

Silhouette of me and Jenn posing in front of a lake facing the sunset

Last December, I posted here that my goal for 2018 was to complete my first Full Ironman, and as you know if you’ve been following my journey, I am proud to say that I accomplished that goal! Now, what’s next? In 2019, I have penciled in a season that, if I am lucky, will buildContinueContinue reading “2019 Race Goals”

8-year-old Me

Photo of me running down the sidewalk in an amazing polka dot outfit with text below that reads: "Nothing slows Emily Billey down even though she wears a prosthesis on her left leg."

I was recently looking through old photo albums and I came across an article about 8-year-old me that was published in The Shreveport Times on February 28, 1993. How funny it is to look back at how this reporter captured my attitude towards being an amputee even at age 8! The story starts out byContinueContinue reading “8-year-old Me”

What We Can Learn about Disability from Harry Potter’s Amputee Characters

I listened to the Harry Potter books on Audible this summer as I trained for the Ironman and watched all of the movies recently as well. I had read the books when they first came out, but I realized during this go-round that we can learn a few things about disability by examining the charactersContinueContinue reading “What We Can Learn about Disability from Harry Potter’s Amputee Characters”

Stepping onto the Red Dot and out of My Comfort Zone at TEDxCherryCreek

“If you always do what is easy and choose the path of least resistance, you never step outside your comfort zone. Great things don’t come from comfort zones.” ― Roy T. Bennett Last Friday I got to stand up in front of 500 people (and who knows how many others through live-streaming) at TEDx CherryContinueContinue reading “Stepping onto the Red Dot and out of My Comfort Zone at TEDxCherryCreek”

Adventures in Trail Running

Me and Jessica crossing the creek at mile 8.5 of the race. Photo credit: Zach Harvey

I purposely didn’t put any races on my calendar after Ironman Boulder this year because I knew I’d need a mental break from intense training and I didn’t know how my residual limb would react to that amount of exercise (mostly the running) in one day. I’m glad I was smart about this because forContinueContinue reading “Adventures in Trail Running”

Strategies to Try to Stay Ahead of Major Stump Issues

Nicole, me, and Jen holding my legs up for the camera. I'm not wearing a prosthesis, but have my stump held up to my knee so I look kind of like a flamingo.

My stump (residual limb is the more proper term, but I call it my stump and so that’s what I’m going to call it in this post) is generally fairly compliant and, even when not compliant, at least somewhat predictable. I know the problems I’m likely to have when exercising for long periods of time,ContinueContinue reading “Strategies to *Try to* Stay Ahead of Major Stump Issues”

48 Seconds

Me with my PC award at Athlete Village the day after IM Boulder 2018

I FINISHED THE BOULDER IRONMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still telling this to myself over and over today because I still don’t believe it, and I still look at an Ironman as an insurmountable feat even though I just did one yesterday. I think it’s going to take a while for the gravity of what I justContinueContinue reading “48 Seconds”