Chris Holley ~ Ironman, Husband, Friend & Coach

Tragically the world lost an incredible light on February 19th, 2022. Christopher R. Holley was a friend, swim coach, triathlete, health champion, dog dad and husband among many other wonderful titles. Chris suffered a shocking medical event while biking - one of his passions in life. There has been an incredible outpouring of emotional support to his wife Corine which she is utterly grateful for. If you've stumbled across this and don't really know "the story of Chris", let us fill you in.........

The Chris of February 18th 2022 had completed multiple Ironman events, taught adults how to swim in open water to ready them for competition, volunteered as a triathlete coach positively impacting hundreds of athletes, worked diligently at his job and stood side by side with Corine as they moved across the county to build a life in Huntersville NC where they recently purchased their first home. Chris is the man that would drive for hours to cheer for a fellow athlete at an event that he wasn't even participating in. Chris always looked forward to volunteering at events to help competing athletes. Chris deeply believed that ANYONE could dig down deep and fight to become the best version of themselves possible. Chris believed this because he KNEW it to be true. He had quite literally lived it. You see, Chris wasn't always an Ironman and endurance athlete.

As Chris wrote in The Silver Linings Storybook where he was a contributing author, "I used to be the stereotypical American male. At 30 years old I was tipping the scales at over 380lbs (that's when I stopped looking at the scale). My diet consisted of easy, fast, and convenient food. I worked 60 + hours week after week, and I had no energy left afterwards to be active or even run a mile. Finally, I had reached a tipping point where something had to change, there had to be more to life. I didn't want to become what so many others before me have done, and that's wake up every morning and take a cocktail of medications for health problems that could easily be changed with diet and exercise. I didn't want to have to get weight loss surgery, when I could make those simple yet hard choices without cutting into my body! Almost 10 years later with a weight loss of 200lbs through diet and exercise, I'm no longer facing that cocktail of morning drugs just to make it through the day. I've become much more active by finding more time to do things that make me happy. These changes have lead me to complete several half marathons which have led to completing 2 full distance IRONMAN triathlons."

 

Chris went on to compete in 2 MORE Ironman events after the books publication and went on to coach and support hundreds of other athletes. The gutting irony that Chris' life was cut short while doing what he loved is beyond heartbreaking.

Chris overcame his demons by believing in himself. He took that fuel and energized so many others to believe in themselves. He was the ultimate comeback kid and success story. The willingness Chris had to share his vulnerabilities with people was a testament to how much he cared about others and wanted them to succeed.

It is said that the best coach isn’t always the one with the best players, but that the best coaches are those that do more with less, change the lives of their athletes for the better, and teach the importance of character.

There could not be truer words that connect directly to Chris.

Outside of coaching, Chris was an amazing husband and partner to Corine. He never shied from adventure or adversity even when they abruptly packed up their home in San Diego and moved across the country to settle in their first home together in Huntersville North Carolina. Chris was a pillar of support always lending a hand with good humor and lifting Corine up. He was the ultimate race Sherpa, the household dishwasher, the morning dog walker, the meat chef, and we can say with full honesty, Corine’s true love and soul mate. They were undeniably happy together and made each other better in every way. Any loss of a spouse is devastating, but sudden and unexpected loss leaves a hole like no other. Marty and Biff are missing their dog dad and Corine is being wrapped in love and care by so many of the people who love her and loved Chris.

Any support during this tragic time is sincerely appreciated and if you have an anecdote, memory or a funny story to share please do so as it would mean so much right now. With so much thanks and appreciation, our hearts are full thinking about all of the amazing people who have reached out thus far.

 

-Pamela Coward and Jillian Light, Corine’s sisters