Episode
Ankle Weights and Stackable Wins | Jay Freyensee
- Published
- May 6, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3186
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://share.transistor.fm/s/f39cc3d5
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/parkinson-s-an-athlete-s-journey-7665054/episodes/ankle-weights-and-stackable-wins-jay-freyensee/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/parkinson-s-an-athlete-s-journey-7665054/ankle-weights-and-stackable-wins-jay-freyensee.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
Jay Freyensee has always moved through life as an athlete. Cycling, mountain biking, martial arts, Muay Thai, cross-country skiing, running, and Spartan-style events have all shaped how he understands effort, progress, and identity. His athletic life has never been about one discipline. It has been about staying active, learning what a sport asks of him, and finding the next way to challenge himself. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in his late 40s, Jay had to rethink what it meant to stay competitive and keep trusting his body. Kickboxing remains a key part of his training because it demands power, speed, coordination, reaction, and focus in the same session. He runs with ankle weights to help reinforce his gait, keeps strength work in the week, and uses races like Spartan DECA as a reason to keep building. Jay gets into his diagnosis, adaptation, clinical trials, support groups, and the importance of finding people who understand young-onset Parkinson’s. He also shares what he would tell someone newly diagnosed: get tested, stay close to the research, keep exercising, and do not try to handle it alone. Key Takeaways ➡️ Training became the anchor after diagnosis. Exercise shifted from athletic routine to daily structure, giving him a way to stay capable, measure progress, and keep fighting back. ➡️ Adaptation became part of the athlete’s job. Jay uses tools like ankle weights, kickboxing, strength training, and Spartan DECA goals to keep challenging his body while adjusting to what Parkinson’s changes. ➡️ Community made the diagnosis easier to carry. Finding people who understood young-onset Parkinson’s gave Jay support, perspective, and a place where he did not have to explain every part of the experience. ➡️ Newly diagnosed people need action, testing, and con…