AME Athlete Highlight

August 30, 2021

Meet Grace!

Grace began her multi-sport journey in 2018. She began with a duathlon in 2018, completed numerous triathlons in 2019 and one aquabike in 2020. This year, Grace has completed and PR’d in three aquabike events!

Grace started with AME in March. Through consistent effort and hard work, she has surmounted her greatest bike and swim distances, both in the pool and open water.  Grace has also made significant gains in speed. Since March, she has improved her swim speed threshold by 15% and improved her bike speed threshold by 21%.

In March, she had a newly diagnosed hip injury which caused much discomfort and prohibited running. Through a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach of stretching, strength training, cross training, working with her doctor and PT, she is slowly and progressively working towards running injury free. Looking ahead, she wants to crush the Olympic distance aquabike at Atlantic City Triathlon in 2022, among her other goals.

Grace has a passion and love for multi-sport and endurance events. She even encouraged her boyfriend to participate in a race this year, he crushed it and made the podium at his first event. Grace’s dedication and perseverance are apparent through her training, headspace through injury and the tough race courses she chose to complete this year.

We are THRILLED Grace chose AME to share in her journey!

Q & A with Grace:

What got you into triathlon and endurance events?

I first got into running in 2013 because I wanted to do the Peachtree Road race 10K that took place in Atlanta every July 4th. In 2016 I broke my foot and couldn’t run so I decided to try biking and swimming and do a triathlon and I have loved it ever since.

What is your favorite event and why?

My favorite event is the women’s Philadelphia triathlon. It is a popular race with a lot of beginners and the energy is really positive. I’ve met a lot of other women in the transition at this race and everyone has always been so fun and encouraging.

What about triathlon and endurance sport brings you the most joy?

The part about triathlon that gives me so much joy is meeting other competitors and training with them. I’ve met people from all walks of life and they have all been wonderful and encouraging. I also love testing myself and feeling accomplished outside of work.

If you could choose anyone to do a triathlon with, who would it be?

I already train with Maureen Lehr which is so much fun. But if I could train with anyone else it would probably be my mother. Hopefully my constant peer pressure will get her to try a little one one day.

Pick your pain, a two loop swim course with buoys that are consistently moving out and adding yards beyond what should be the total swim distance OR taking a wrong turn on the run course and adding ¼ mile to the total distance?

I would choose the moving buoys. I have already done a race with moving buoys which felt like the finish line was moving farther and farther away. But I survived that. And I am a terrible runner and would not want to run one more foot that I had to.

What is your favorite part of training?

My favorite part of training is feeling strong and accomplished and a little less stressed. (But my real favorite part of training is eating brunch after.)

What is one thing you want people to know about you?

I want people to know that triathlon is not a natural talent for me but I work really hard and enjoy it.

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