EF Spotlight

August - Cheryl and Elijah Shaw

Cheryl and Elijah's Story

Triathlon has proven to be quite the family sport, just ask Elijah and Cheryl Shaw. Elijah has already been involved in the sport for three years, while his mom Cheryl has only recently started with the Endorphin Fitness Adult Tri Team. Cheryl got involved after watching her husband and 3 out of 5 children enjoy the sport for a few years. Her goal was to try it out when she turned 40. In less than 4 months Cheryl has made great improvements in her speed, strength, and endurance. Coach Harlow says of his athlete, "It has been a lot of fun working with Cheryl and watching her make improvements so quickly."

With three disciplines in one sport, Cheryl doesn't have time to be bored. That is her favorite aspect of triathlons - she isn't doing just one thing for an extended period of time. Instead, she says, "There is always something new to learn and to work on. I've enjoyed being on the EF Tri Team because I have learned proper technique and met a lot of great people. Also, having the balance of three disciplines has helped old injuries subside." Cheryl is also able to spend more time with her family because of their shared love for training.

Elijah, now 13, first took an interest in triathlons because he was looking for something fun to do. Since then he has grown athletically, racing in multiple events each year and constantly improving his personal bests. He has also grown into a leader and role model for the younger kids on the team. "I like being able to pass my passion on to others," says Elijah. "I just love learning more about the sport and getting to know other kids who enjoy it." Coach Harlow could not be more impressed with his dedication to the sport and to the team. "Elijah has really stepped up this year and given back to his team by being someone the other kids look up to. This is exactly what I've always envisioned for the youth athletes we coach. We want them to improve in the sport, but also to grow as people." Elijah has certainly advanced quickly and participated in his first adult sprint distance triathlon earlier this spring. With an impressive time of 1:09:33, Elijah snatched second place for the 10-14 age group.

Both Cheryl and Elijah love the challenge of going after their personal records. We can't wait to see how they do in the last part of the 2008 season!

July Youth - Emma McFeely

Emma's Story

After being diagnosed with leukemia, Emma McFeely spent a year and a half of her life in and out of the hospital undergoing intensive chemotherapy. Her doctor's said she had a 50% chance of being cured, but only if she could survive the treatment. Emma will be 9 years old in August. She had not even had her 1st birthday before the diagnosis. This strong little girl is now 7 years off of treatment and is in remission. Most would consider that the accomplishment of a lifetime, but Emma said, "My run at the Powerkids Triathlon is my greatest accomplishment. Running used to be my least favorite part, but now's it's my second favorite. My favorite part is riding my bike. I really like going down hill, up hill - not so much!"

Her mom Holly explained, "Emma doesn't remember being sick, so it hasn't impacted her very much. It was, of course, a horrible time in our lives. So while Emma doesn't remember, the rest of her family does. It was fabulous to see her cross the finish line, especially with her arms up! It epitomizes her little eight-year-old life."

The Powerkids Tri on May 31, 2008 was Emma's first triathlon. Coach Sally said of Emma, "She is an awesome girl, filled with more energy than anyone I know!" Energy is without a doubt something Emma is not lacking - she walk, ran, and skipped the Monument Ave 10K, and as soon as she finished the Powerkids Tri she went straight over to the Moon Bounce display to jump around with the other kids.

When asked why she wanted to get into triathlons, Emma said, "I thought it sounded fun and I wanted to do it because I knew my family would be proud of me." Emma certainly accomplished that goal. Congratulations, Emma - you are a true inspiration!