Cancer survivor Jenn Sommermann's triathlon journey continues as she prepares for 100th race

Jenn Sommermann, a former resident of Freeport, is not only a triathlete with 98 races under her belt but also a cancer survivor and a tireless advocate for ovarian cancer awareness.

Sommermann, 59, was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer — often referred to as a silent killer — shortly after her 42nd birthday in 2006.

“You know what’s normal for you,” she said, emphasizing the importance of being attuned to one’s body. “You know where you gain weight, you know your bathroom habits, and you know how you feel.”

Her own vigilance and persistence in seeking answers led to the discovery of a tumor, which saved her life.

“I went to my doctor and really fought and pushed my doctor to figure out what was wrong with me,” she said.

“And unfortunately, there’s no definitive test for ovarian cancer. It’s a misnomer, and it’s another thing that I really push with women … I pushed for my doctor to have more medical tests that would rule out other things. They ultimately discovered an eggplant-size tumor in my ovaries and in my abdomen.”

Upon receiving her catastrophic cancer diagnosis, Sommermann refused to resign herself to the worst-case scenario of what could have been an agonizing and untimely death.

While receiving chemotherapy treatment in 2006, Sommermann was flipping through the no longer published Triathlete Magazine, and found a two-page spread detailing a women’s triathlon series to raise money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance.

A triathlon is a race event consisting of swimming, cycling, and running over distances which vary depending on the race type.

“I said, ‘Well, I love a dangling carrot, I’m a true triathlete,’” Sommermann said.

“‘I need a goal. I need a reason to get into the pool at 5:30 in the morning. I will do these races when — not if — when I finish my treatment,’ because … even though I knew what my statistics were, somebody has to be that other five percent of people that live. And why shouldn’t it be me?”

After beating cancer, she found a way to turn her story of survival into action. In 2009, she set an ambitious goal and discussed with the head of the Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance to complete triathlons in all 50 states, raising money and awareness for ovarian cancer research along the way.

“I said, ‘No, I’m going to do this. I’m going to do it by the time I’m 50 years old, (I’m going to race in all 50 states) and I’m going to raise $100,000,’” Sommermann said. “So the campaign became known as the 50-by-50-by-100.”

Sommermann actually exceeded her goal; raising $107,115 for ovarian cancer research by the time she crossed the finish line in Kona, Hawaii for her 50th race in 2013, just prior to her 50th birthday.

But Sommermann’s journey didn’t stop there. She continued to race, advocate, and inspire, and she has now raised close to $250,000.

Now that she has been cancer-free for 18 years, she’s preparing to complete her 99th and 100th triathlons — both in Florida — before her 60th birthday, which is on Christmas Eve.

In between races and her advocacy, Sommermann has thought about the lives she’s impacted, knowing that her efforts have contributed to early detection and life-saving diagnoses for other women.

“I know there are women out there that took this information, told their mothers, told their daughters, told their nieces,” she said. “And I know that lives have been affected, and that feels really good to me.”

Sommermann is now preparing to take part in the Ironman 70.3 Jones Beach race on Sept. 28, marking another chapter in her journey. While she’s only participating in the swim leg of the competition this year, 1.2-counter-clockwsie miles, the event holds special significance.

“I lived in Long Island for many, many years,” she said. “I’ve got a whole tribe there of people that I used to train with and race with. Freeport is part of my husband’s DNA. He was a commercial fisherman out of Freeport for a number of years.”

Sommermann lived in Freeport from 2003 to 2015, and her husband, Don Harris, worked as a boat captain, running charters and fishing boats out of Jones Inlet.

She recalled living on East Second Street, in a house nestled along one of the village’s canals, where they enjoyed a close-knit community.

“Freeport was great,” she said. “We loved it there. We had a house right on one of the little canals, and we really loved our neighborhood and our neighbors.”

Although Sommermann now lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, her husband spends part of each year back in Freeport to continue his work on the water.

Her longtime friend, Ann Strickland, who encouraged Sommermann to participate in her first triathlon more than 20 years ago, reflected on her friend’s journey.

“She’s fierce,” Strickland said. “She was so determined to give back after her diagnosis ... I know she saved people’s lives.”

According to Strickland, her friend’s influence has touched countless individuals, from the women who found early detection through her advocacy to the many who have been inspired by her unwavering spirit.

Through it all, Sommermann has remained focused, driven and passionate about raising awareness for ovarian cancer. She continues to share her story and spread her message through her blog, which can be found at jennsommermann.blogspot.com.

“I’m always training,” Sommermann said. “I’m always doing something, (I never really took) time off. I want to be the 80-year-old woman on the podium.”