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.