Claire, an Aussie transplant living in State College, didn’t know how to swim when she started out with us training for Happy Valley 70.3 in late November 2022. She threw herself in swim lessons at the State College YMCA. She overcame that hurdle and then committed to overcoming her fears of open water. She has driven to almost all our open water swims (almost an hour one way every week) and has made huge gains. At the Independence Olympic Triathlon she stuck with it and finished that swim. We only see good things in her future and are excited to see her perform at the Happy Valley Half.
Here is what Claire says:
“I am honored to be a part of the Rise Up Racing team and to be given this added boost of support as athlete of the month makes me even happier and more enthused. Last December I couldn’t run a mile under ten minutes and couldn’t swim a lap. I could not have imagined I’d have gotten through an olympic tri (even if it was a big terrifying in the beginning). I used to own a gym and still teach two fitness classes a day, but nothing has been as energizing and motivation as joining this team. Everyone was ahead of me at the last team race, but that just made me the lucky person who got cheered on at the end – people use the word ‘community’ too lightly, but this team really is a community. There’s an unquestioning sense of inclusion and support no matter what level you’re at. I feel I’m training with and for the team, and I love checking what everyone has done on Medal Monday!”
