Page 146 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

story by Cherie Ward
photos courtesy of Apryl Handy
Apryl Handy has built a life around doing tough things.
Whether she’s racing across soccer fields, logging miles on ultramarathon trails,
or climbing mountains on a bicycle, the Gulfport athlete has always been drawn to
challenges that test both her body and mind.
But her greatest challenge wasn’t crossing a finish line—it was learning to let go of a
dream so she could start anew.
Handy was immersed in sports from a young age. She played soccer, softball, track,
and cross country, inspired partly by watching her father compete in triathlons.
Weekend mornings often began well before sunrise as her family traveled to races,
planting the seeds for her lifelong love of endurance sports.
Soccer was her first passion until an ACL injury in high school ended her dream of
playing professionally. She redirected that competitive drive into distance running,
eventually becoming an accomplished ultramarathon runner and qualifying for the
Boston Marathon just 10 months after giving birth to her son via C-section.
Years later, another injury forced her to make another tough decision. A persistent
calf injury convinced Handy it was time to step away from running, the sport she had
identified with for years. “It almost felt like the death of my identity,” Handy said.
Instead of quitting competition, she chose a different path as a cyclist. Just weeks later,
she was tackling one of the Southeast’s toughest endurance rides, discovering that the
determination she built as a runner could carry her just as far on two wheels.
Then another setback appeared. Years of back problems eventually developed into a
severe herniated disc, requiring surgery and months of recovery. For an athlete used to
pushing her limits, recovery meant slowing down in ways she never imagined.
She started with what she jokingly called “stroll walking” for just 10 minutes, four
times a day. These short walks gradually grew longer until she was walking four hours
a day before finally earning the chance to ride again. “It taught me patience,” Handy
said.
When she returned to cycling, friends from the Gulf Coast cycling community
welcomed her back by creating a shortened route so she could ride alongside them
while rebuilding her strength. As her miles increased, so did her confidence.
Today, Handy’s schedule includes some of the Southeast’s most demanding
146 | September 2026 www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living