Madi DiBattista, 25, discovered she had a life-threatening heart defect after completing the Flying Pig half marathon in Cincinnati on May 3, 2024.<br /><br />Despite achieving a personal record, Madi struggled with fatigue and shortness of breath after the race.<br /><br />Tests revealed she had an anomalous left main coronary artery, which can be fatal if untreated.<br /><br />She underwent open-heart surgery on August 16, 2024, to correct the defect.<br /><br />Madi, who had fainting episodes as a child, credits running for helping her detect the condition, which was previously undiagnosed.<br /><br />She’s now recovering and slowly returning to running.
