Forrest Stump
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Whether she’s biking down the west coast, taking her message to D.C., or climbing a volcano in Ecuador, Nicole is running around the world to make amputees’ voices heard!

Check out Nicole’s latest posts and follow her @RunForrestStump:

runforreststump
Feels SO GOOD to be back at it and close to 100% h Feels SO GOOD to be back at it and close to 100% healed up! Although being an amputee can come with its ups and downs, it certainly makes me a more grateful person. The moments I’m not in pain, I cherish. My mobility means everything to me, and I know what it feels like to have that taken away whenever a sore appears. I think that’s part of the reason I pursue my athletic potential to the amount I do. I want to get as much out of my mobility as I can. It’s me paying respect to a gift I feel so blessed to have. Thank you all for the kind thoughts, warm wishes, and notes for a speedy recovery! They meant the world to me and definitely sped up my recovery process. 🙏🏽 Much love, and I hope this is a reminder to love what your body does for you! #grateful #gratitude #jumpforjoy #nature #natureismedicine #athlete #disability #amputee #prosthetics #access #advocacy #healthcare #disabilityrights #bladerunner #nevergiveup #saythanks #goals #run #iloverunning #runner #moveyourbody #keepgoing #neverstop #dontquit #love #triathlon #triathlete #teamcaf #lifewithoutlimitations #usaparatriathlon
What you see on the outside doesn’t always match What you see on the outside doesn’t always match what’s on the inside. I have found it interesting - and quite frankly, offensive - to hear words like “bionic,” “superhuman,” and “unfair advantage” thrown around in relation to amputees and prosthetics. These labels are often based on people’s perception of what a prosthetic leg can do. But these perceptions are false, and unknowingly simplify the struggle most of us go through to just try to be “normal.” They don’t highlight the real limitations of the “technology” we use, the pain we endure, and the enormous barriers we overcome to be active. This past week was a reminder of that for me. As much as I consider myself not having a disability, it was a week like this past one that reminded me I’m still disabled. I was going into a significant training week for triathlon, working on a build before my first race in March. But on Tuesday, I noticed a blood blister starting to form under my skin just above my tibia on my stump. I immediately knew this wasn’t good and was prepared for the intense pain that was about to commence. It might seem like... a small sore... what’s the big deal? But a small sore like this is debilitating for an amputee; you are literally pressing your entire body weight between the sore and your prosthetic socket, and it is extremely painful. I tried to push through it like I always do, but after consulting my coach (who is also an amputee and understands these issues), I realized that I could potentially jeopardize my race in Sarasota if I did further damage. So, I had to do what I didn’t want to, and that was to stop training and leave my leg off for the next two days to let it heal. Not having my leg on... it’s extremely limiting, depressing, and causes a lot of anxiety. When is it going to heal? When can I get back to walking? Running? This isn’t a one-off issue for amputees. This happens all the time. We aren’t superhuman; we aren’t bionic; and we most certainly don’t have an unfair advantage. We go through a lot of pain and suffering just trying to be normal. Here are more pictures to show: what you see on the outside doesn’t always match the inside. #runforreststump
If I were the sun and you were the sky I’d neve If I were the sun and you were the sky I’d never set. I’d hover above the edge of the water waiting for you to shine your stars on me so I could become bigger than what I am. I am brighter when I’m with you. #quote #christyannmartine #valentinesday #love #heart #lgbtq #proud #mylove #❤️ #runforreststump #oregon #sand #beach #amputee #athlete #swim #bike #run #prosthetic #celebrate #life
Who else is grinding with me this week? 💪🏽🚴🏼‍♀️ Also let me know in the comments... if you could give your #sweatfactor (i.e. how much you sweat in a workout) a name, what would it be? For example, @natharold is a “sparkly glisten” ✨ and I’m “Niagara Falls”! 🌊 😂 Special thanks to @genucan UCAN Hydrate for helping me replenish my electrolytes and stay hydrated after some hard work. Favorite flave is watermelon! 🍉😛 #bike #triathlon #cycling #zwift #training #athlete #train #amputee #prosthetic #bladerunner #ucan #hydrate #electrolytes #iamspecialized #watermelon #shiv #indoortraining #swim #run #triathlete #usaparatriathlon
What do bubble gum walls and physical therapy have What do bubble gum walls and physical therapy have in common? 🧐Forrest Stump!! 🌲🦿 When I look at this photo I see 1) I’m smiling, 2) I feel balanced, and 3) I’m moving my body in ways I enjoy and make me happy! But it wasn’t always this way for me, especially before my running blade. I was in a lot of pain and in physical therapy 2x per week for my back. And I was only 26! Running on a leg not built to run (since insurance believes running is not medically necessary... #bs) is painful and creates major asymmetries in your body. I am super thankful to the physical therapists who have continued to help me as an amputee and want to know how they can help this community more! That’s why I’m super excited to share that Forrest Stump is partnering with Lake Washington Physical Therapy @lakewashingtonpt to host a public screening of #1500Miles and relaxed Q&A next week in Kirkland, WA. The screening is on Thursday, February 6th at 7:30pm, and a link to RSVP is in my bio (space is limited)! If you can’t make it and still want to support, head over to @lakewashingtonpt page. They will be donating $1 for all Instagram/FB new follows for February and $10 for all Google reviews. Hope to see you there! #bubblegumalley #slo #amputee #athlete #advocate #film #screening #disabilityrights #access #physicaltherapy #mobility #freetomove #runforreststump #happy #smile #play #gum #yoga #balance #triathlon #swim #bike #run #biketour #seattle #kirkland #lwpt #lakewashington
#wcw goes out to this amazing woman right here! To #wcw goes out to this amazing woman right here! Today was a super long day and I wasn’t able to fit in my triathlon training until 8:30pm tonight, which included a brick 1hr30min bike ride followed by a 20 min run. I knew I had the physical energy because I seem to be bouncing off the walls at night lately, but wasn’t sure about the mental grind it was going to take to get it done. I’m super lucky to have this amazing partner who made dinner, stuck by me while I sweated all over the living room floor on my bike trainer 😂, and even accompanied me to the gym to get my run done. 🏃🏼‍♀️💪🏽 I’m honestly not sure how she puts up with me... 😛 I count my blessings every day! 🍀 #wcw #womancrushwednesday #love #partner #blessed #triathlete #swim #bike #run #goals #triathlon #zwift #training #pushyourself #dontgiveup #brickworkout #amputee #lgbtq #lovewins #hawaii #lahaina #gf
While I was in Hawaii, I gave a talk entitled “H While I was in Hawaii, I gave a talk entitled “How Do We Expand Access to Prosthetic Technology From the 1% to the 99%?” and it was covered by the @themauinews. No, I didn’t give that talk in my swimsuit (pictured here: at the free public lap pool in Lahaina getting in my triathlon training in between conference sessions)... but now that you’re reading this, I hope you’ll read the article too. It’s just as fierce as me in a swimsuit! 😛💪🏽🏊🏼‍♀️ ➡️LINK IN BIO.⬅️Thank you to Kehaulani Cerizo for her great reporting and bringing our challenges to the forefront. 🙏🏽💡 The focus of my talk was to bring to light the fact that mass media has glamorized prosthetic technology, and Fortune 500 companies have profited by aligning their brands with prosthetic success stories and devices, meanwhile the majority of us do not have access to what we need to live. Some media reports have even gone as far as to question whether people would willingly amputate in order to gain a bionic limb.😳😔 During the conference I asked: “Who here would trade any of your limbs for any of the prosthetic technology you’ve seen during this conference? There is no technology out there today that can fully replace a human limb, and it is alarming that our country is more concerned with the unfair advantage of a small amount of people than the unfair disadvantage the majority of us face on a daily basis.” Share if you agree, and raise up your voice to what is really going on! I want to bring this talk and our film to even more places to raise our level of consciousness. Let me know how we can partner. We must understand the problem if we want to fix it! The time is now! #advocate #riseup #speakyourtruth #access #awareness #disabilityrights #representation #inclusion #healthcare #physicalactivity #amputee #athlete #triathlon #triathlete #swim #bike #run #swimming #1500miles #hawaii #maui #lahaina #lifewithoutlimitations #teamcaf #runforreststump #freetomove
“Strength and growth come only through continuou “Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle.” 2019 was my first year competing in the sport of #paratriathlon and it was truly one of the most incredible years of my life!! I learned a lot about myself as an athlete, my body, and the sport. I pushed myself harder than I’ve ever pushed myself before, and I know I still have a lot more to give and a lot to learn. That’s why in 2020 I’m committed to expanding my athletic performance by engaging areas beyond the gym... areas like #sportspsychology, #physicaltherapy, and #nutrition! I’m super grateful to have @hkstrickler_sportsrd on board as my dietician and to @genucan UCAN as my energy sponsor. Honestly in 2019, I gave zero thought or effort to what I was eating or recovery. It was so much new information training at a level I’d never been at before, I could only consume so much at once. But now that I have a year under my belt, I realized I’m making some major mistakes and doing my training a disservice. UCAN has helped simplify my fueling and recovery process with some absolutely incredible products, and Heidi has taught me “you can’t out-train a bad diet.” The biggest thing I’ve noticed so far is the stability in my mood and energy levels... before I was having extreme highs and lows of energy, and constant cravings, that would leave me feeling depleted before I’d even begun my workout. Now, thanks to UCAN that’s in the past!! I look forward to sharing more posts about what I’m learning along the way. If any of what I’ve shared has resonated with you, or you want to know about specific product, feel free to reach out with any questions! #growth #mondaymotivation #sponsored #athlete #learn #adapt #diet #ucan #energy #performance #endurance #triathlete #triathlon #swim #bike #run #runner #iloverunning #amputee #disability #access #bladerunner #treadmill #training
January 21 marks 18 years without my left leg and January 21 marks 18 years without my left leg and being cancer free. On the day of my surgery, it was Martin Luther King Jr Day. It wasn’t until I started Forrest Stump that I realized the significance of that connection. 18 years have passed and nothing has changed for 99% of amputees. Waterproof limbs are still considered a convenience. Running is considered a luxury and not medically necessary. Ankles that bend are a vanity. And technology that has been around for 20+ years is being denied at higher rates than ever before, insurance stating that it’s still experimental. A very small % of amputees have access to what they need to live a life where they have the freedom to move. Less than 1%. Most people are shocked to realize this, but even fewer dig deeper to understand what this actually is: DISCRIMINATION. Pure and simple. Wake up people! It’s discrimination! No form of innate human mobility is a luxury; to say otherwise is purely discrimination. Having a leg you can get wet is a convenience? Running is a luxury? Having an ankle that bends is a vanity? For whom is this a convenience, a luxury, a vanity? Explain to me how we can continue to hide behind these justifications that prevent access. We should be disgusted! We should be outraged! We should not be tolerant of this treatment. Dr. King made a huge impact on our world, teaching us to stand up to injustice and to show others how we want to be treated: equally. Let’s not forget the discrimination that still hides in plain sight today. Let’s not continue to do nothing for the disability population to achieve justice. It’s been over 50 years since MLK passed, and the lessons he taught us still ring true more than ever: “It is not possible to be in favor of justice for some people and not be in favor of justice for all people.” - Martin Luther King Jr 📸 cred: @davebrenner #mlkjrday #martinlutherkingjr #equality #treatment #disability #humanrights #speakup #speakyourtruth #healthcare #access #movement #discrimination
It’s been three, amazing years with this beautif It’s been three, amazing years with this beautiful person and I count my blessings each and every day that she is in my life! On our first date, I took her for a five mile walk in the arboretum in Ann Arbor. I realized halfway through that I hadn’t told her how far we’d be walking. So I stopped and asked “Will you be able to keep up?” Three years later and she’s still keeping up with my crazy shenanigans! Nat is truly the most supportive partner. She is my teacher, my coach, and my best friend. I can’t wait for many more adventures to come. 🌈👩‍❤️‍👩 #love #anniversary #lovewins #lgbtq #blessed #thankful #girlfriend #partner #bestfriend #adventure #buddy #date #storytelling #goals #loveislove @natharold
A tough end to 2019 with a groin injury on my righ A tough end to 2019 with a groin injury on my right leg that had me stop running, but I’m glad to be back on the treadmill and slowly working my way back up! Super thankful to @lakewashingtonpt for being my physical therapy partner in this adventure and identifying some of the root issues to this problem: a tight IT band (right leg), weak glute (right side), and as a result, a few body mechanic issues while running. It might also be exacerbated by a delaminating @ossur running blade which isn’t providing as much energy return as before. My right leg is taking a beating, overcompensating for my amputation. After talking with other unilateral BK amputee athletes, I’ve found these are pretty common body discrepancies (tight IT band, weakness in the sound side glute). But they are also discrepancies that can be worked on and overcome!! Thus showing the importance for all amputee athletes to have a physical therapist be part of their treatment long term. When I lost my leg at 10 y.o., I received only 6, 1-hour appointments of PT to relearn how to walk... and that was it! Relearning to run? I did that all on my own. Of course, every amputee has to put in the time and energy outside of PT to relearn to walk and run; there is no getting out of hard work. But, I do believe having a partner in this journey to identify issues before they turn into serious injuries is a huge piece lacking for amputees and other athletes with disabilities in our healthcare system. Having an amputation does not have to be a disability, but it will inherently come with disabling issues if not treated properly! #physicaltherapy #lwpt #runforreststump #amputee #athlete #disability #overcome #advocate #change #advocacy #healthcare #policy #pushyourself #prosthetics #bladerunner #groin #injury #heal #2019
The best way to spread Christmas cheer is cycling The best way to spread Christmas cheer is cycling loud for all to hear!🎄🚴🏼‍♀️ . . . #elf #quote #cycling #christmas #iamspecialized #triathlon #training #offseason #swim #bike #run #runforreststump #zwift #family #michigan #indoor #ilovecycling #cyclist #biking #shiv #xmastree #lights
#mondaymotivation This little girl gives me hope! #mondaymotivation This little girl gives me hope! A hope for a day when all people inherently acknowledge our differences - whether its our ability, race, religion, sexuality, or gender - with RESPECT and KINDNESS rather than immediate pity, fear, subordination, anger, or disgust. Every human deserves equal respect, free from judgment, bias, or stereotypes. When I met this little girl her immediate reaction to my leg was “cool!” and she wanted to take a photo together where we said “cheeeeese”. Then we made silly faces and she gave me a hug. This is how we should treat all people that are different from us! I’m taking this lesson with me into the holiday season. How can I spread more kindness and respect towards others? #sagangranfondo #lesson #disability #ability #amputee #prosthetic #hope #kindness #compassion #triathlete #athlete #swim #bike #run #cycling #petersagan #ilovecycling #biking #bikingadventures #cool #smile #respect
So much to be thankful for this holiday season... So much to be thankful for this holiday season... family, nature, mobility, and views like these! 🗻 Absolutely beautiful 6.8 miles (2,040ft elev gain) for our #OptOutside hike on #blackfriday with @natharold and her twin sis @stephharold!! So thankful for these two in my life. 🥰 Clear skies and sunshine allowed us to see 5 Cascade volcanoes at the summit of Silver Star Mountain: St Helens, Rainier, Adams, Hood, and Jefferson! It was truly breathtaking. Thanks to @descenteathletic and @usaparatriathlon for the new gear that kept me warm to the top! Big year ahead in Paratriathlon... USA! 🇺🇸 #nature #peaks #summit #rainier #sthelens #hiking #amputee #prosthetic #triathlon #offseason #swim #bike #run #keepmoving #goals #newyear #letsgo #beauty #snow #views #bladerunner #disability #mobility #access #mountains #thanksgiving #thankful #gratitude
This sweat sesh dedicated to @team_catapult and is This sweat sesh dedicated to @team_catapult and is one of my #gratitude posts for this week! I am incredibly #thankful to have this organization behind me in my pursuit of paratriathlon gold 🥇🏆, working to be the best athlete I can be. CATAPULT is removing barriers - whether financial, coaching, training, education, community - to help athletes with disabilities overcome adversity and embrace endurance sports. Based in Houston, Texas, this organization is becoming a leader in adaptive sports in the Gulf Coast and I’m honored to be part of their team!! Check them out.💪🏽 What are you thankful for this week? 🦃 #thanksgiving #teamcatapult #texas #houston #disability #adaptive #athlete #amputee #prosthetic #sweat #workout #goals #triathlete #swim #bike #run #ilovebiking #shiv #iamspecialized #trainer #indoorcycling #goals #faster #further #stronger #ride100percent #paratriathlon
When I say FORREST, you say STUMP! FORREST...STUMP When I say FORREST, you say STUMP! FORREST...STUMP!! FORREST...STUMP!! 💪🏽🌲 Had an absolute blast on Friday leading an assembly with 800 students at Spanaway Middle School in Tacoma, WA followed by a breakout session... a mountain bike ride with their bike club, thanks to @outride and their teacher @birdseye253! 🚵🏼‍♀️ And @natharold was there too to join in on the fun! Through storytelling from our Forrest Stump journey, I had 4️⃣ messages for them on Friday: 💥 Believe in yourself... 💥because YOU ARE WORTH believing in. 💥Stand up for others...💥because we can all be heroes 🦸🏼‍♀️🦸🏽🦸🏿‍♂️in how we teach the world how we deserve to be treated. 🌍 💥Reframe/Pivot ... 💥because the only difference between an obstacle and an opportunity is how you look at it! 💥Never, ever quit!...💥because you’re just one more try away from success. These kids were awesome and asked so many amazing questions during our Q&A!!! All of their hands shot up and I wish I had time to answer all of them. They especially liked when I took my leg off to show them how it worked. 😂 And shout out to Jaslene who gave me an incredible drawing she made with the sweetest note on the back! 🥰 Looking forward to more opportunities to work with these bright and caring minds, and future middle schools! #speaker #assembly #middleschool #mondaymotivation #inspirational #believeinyourself #standup #reframe #pivot #neverquit #goals #faster #further #stronger #bike #ridingforfocus #outride #teens #message #empower #athlete #mountainbiking #learn #grow #runforreststump #amputee #disability #overcomeobstacles #opportunity
The world lost a mighty and gentle soul, and #Forr The world lost a mighty and gentle soul, and #ForrestStump will never be the same without him. Lyle was @natharold’s uncle, and I was lucky enough to be adopted as part of the family. To say he was one of Forrest Stump’s biggest fans is an understatement; he was truly part of the team, and our unofficial paparazzi. ☺️📷During our 1,500 mile trek, Lyle and his wife, Deb, came to support us at every possible opportunity, including our Sharkfest swim in San Francisco, riding through Paso Robles and Morro Bay with his grandson Gio, and when we finished in San Diego at the @cafoundation. His beautiful photos will live on forever. Attending his memorial service yesterday was an honor and brought back so many memories of his unending support. Lyle was always the first to donate to any fundraiser we held and chime in with a word of encouragement. His commitment to justice, kindness, and respect of all people is something we have embedded in our work and will always carry out in Lyle’s memory. I’ll never forget when we presented Lyle with a signed and framed photo of myself and Natalie standing at the summit of #cotopaxi with @rompglobal, an initiative he eagerly supported. When he opened it, Lyle broke down crying and told us how proud he was of us. This was the man he was; selfless, fatherly, and a true role model to so many. He will be deeply missed, never forgotten, and always part of our Forrest Stump team. Rest easy Uncle Lyle! #gratitude #memory #RIP #disabilityrights #amputees #awareness #veteran #advocacy #support #teammate #photographer #legacy #prosthetic #athlete #sharkfestswim #uncle #swim #bike #run #bladerunner #cause #love #neverforgotten
My little sister Kylie @kylie.verkuilen has always My little sister Kylie @kylie.verkuilen has always been my best buddy, before cancer, during cancer, and after when I lost my leg. Kylie never looked at me as any different throughout all of it, despite me ending up with a disability. I was always her sister and she wanted someone active to play with! In many ways, my successful rehabilitation was because of her, motivating me and driving me forward. I had to keep up! Eighteen years later, Kylie doesn’t sit in my lap anymore (I sit in her lap now, lol!), and she’s a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin @uwbadgers studying journalism and writes for her student newspaper, @dailycardinal. I could not be more proud to share that their entire team decided to dedicate an entire issue to DISABILITY!! #ForrestStump was honored to partner with them and I’m so proud of what Kylie has written to shine a light on the challenges amputees face, specifically looking at legislation with the @amputeecoalition (thanks to @shawnfaessler) in the state of Wisconsin. It means the world to me that they decided to honor and recognize our stories and do it with empathy, inclusivity, and respect. Their staff really poured their hearts into this project and not only shared stories, but called for change in language, policy, and education to better the disability community. They give me hope that change can be made and that every person has the opportunity to be seen, heard, and valued in our society!! Check out the link to Kylie’s article and another one with my story, link in bio!!! #madison #wisconsin #gobadgers #gratitude #badgers #inclusion #disability #thedailycardinal #ability #journalism #respect #beauty #learn #intersection #policy #change #write #inform #goals #power #college #amputee #cancer #runforreststump #advocacy
“Strength does not come from physical capacity. “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” -Mahatma Ghandi When faced with my cancer diagnosis, my biggest fear was that I would die. But, I never gave up hope. At 10 years old, I said: Bring on the chemo, the needles, the puking, and surgeries. Bring on the amputation, morphine, and rehabilitation. Because life is beautiful and amazing, and it is worth fighting for. Within me, I always knew my will to live was the strongest part of me. Even when I was at my weakest, I was still strong. #mondaymotivation #perfectionintheimperfection #strong #will #live #survive #cancer #beatcancer #thrive #amputee #athlete #hiking #sedona #quote #ghandi #adventure #keepgoing #fight #lifeisworthliving #disability #prosthesis #access
That time I outsprinted Peter Sagan... 😏 . . . That time I outsprinted Peter Sagan... 😏 . . . 📸 cred: Erick Gonzalez #photofinish #petersagan #makesprint #cycling #cyclist #fondo #teamcaf #ridingforfocus #ride100percent #runforreststump #amputee #advocate #disabilityrights #sport #access #ilovecycling #sprint #goals #pushyourself #keepgoing #nature #california #socal #socalphotographer #ride #bike #athlete
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