Ilene Boyar an obstacle racer with osteogenesis imperfecta

Obstacle racing has always been about testing limits, both physical and mental. For some, those limits are defined by time goals or placement on the leaderboard. For others, the challenge goes much deeper. One racer who truly embodies the spirit of perseverance is Ilene Boyar, an obstacle course athlete living — and thriving — with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), more commonly known as brittle bone disease.

According to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, OI is a genetic bone disorder that causes fragile bones that break easily. The term literally means “bone that is imperfectly made from the beginning of life.” People born with OI live with it their entire lives, but for Ilene, this diagnosis has never been a reason to step back. Instead, it fuels her drive to take on challenges most would think impossible.

According to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation, OI is a genetic bone disorder that causes fragile bones that break easily. The term literally means “bone that is imperfectly made from the beginning of life.” People born with OI live with it their entire lives, but for Ilene, this diagnosis has never been a reason to step back. Instead, it fuels her drive to take on challenges most would think impossible.

Before the race even began, Ilene told me she was already racing with a stress fracture in her tibia and ankle. For most people, that alone would have been enough reason to sit this one out. But Ilene? She showed up. She smiled. She raced.

This wasn’t her first obstacle course race, but it was a special one. The Tampa Special Ops course combined the usual Spartan challenges with stadium twists: endless stairs, fewer mud pits than we were used to, and plenty of high walls that made falling on the concrete floor a real concern. But this event wasn’t about chasing podiums or PRs. It was about something bigger — the true meaning of THIS IS WOR - Women of Racing. It was about courage, support, and proving that community makes us stronger.

At the starting line, announcer Dustin Dorough drew the crowd’s attention to Ilene, and you could feel the energy shift. This wasn’t just another race — it was a movement. Watching our team rally around Ilene and watching her push through each obstacle reminded me that OCR is about so much more than medals. It’s about resilience, inclusion, and the belief that pain is temporary, but quitting lasts forever.

The Tampa race gave us more than just another finish line to cross. It gave us a lasting reminder of why we race — to push limits, to lift each other up, and to celebrate the unbreakable spirit of athletes like Ilene Boyar.

About this Author

Elizabeth Rivera is the founder of THIS IS WOR - Women of Obstacle Racing, WOR PRO Team, WOR Battle Buddy, and Women of Racing, living in San Antonio, Texas. She has been obstacle racing since 2013 and continues to inspire others to push past limits, embrace their power, and celebrate every victory.