When I was a junior in college, I attended my first National Team training camp. Fifty athletes from across the country arrived, all competing for just four seats in a boat: two starboard and two port. I was the smallest athlete there by several inches and had never made a Junior National Team. The room was filled with women whose accomplishments, experience, and pedigrees far exceeded my own. I was a good athlete at my school, but standing among these women, I felt completely outmatched.

That summer, we lived in a gym, slept in bunk beds, and pushed ourselves to our limits every single day. On my very first night, I wrote the words “Never Give Up” on a Post-it note and placed it on the bunk above me. Each night, a few more athletes were sent home. After nearly two months, I was still there, earning my place on the team and a ticket to race at my first international regatta.

What I learned during that experience changed me forever.

Over the years, I represented the United States on five additional World Championship teams, won a World Championship, and set a world record. Eventually, I transitioned into coaching, dedicating my career to helping athletes pursue their biggest dreams while continuing to chase my own in the sport of long-distance running.

Through it all, I’ve learned that success is rarely about being the most naturally gifted person in the room. It’s about showing up consistently, embracing the process, supporting your teammates, and refusing to give up on yourself or the people around you.

That experience planted the seed for NGU Coaching.

I started NGU because I believe athletes achieve far more when they are part of something bigger than themselves. My vision has always been to build more than a coaching company. I want to create a team, a community of athletes who challenge, support, and inspire one another as they pursue goals they once thought impossible.

Together, our coaches and athletes have built something far greater than a private coaching practice. As NGU continues to grow through coaching, competition, and sharing our story, we remain steadfast in the belief that our very best race is always still ahead of us.

No athlete should have to chase big dreams alone. Welcome to the team.