Hi! Athletic pursuits have been my passion since childhood. Somewhere around the age of four, my dad (long a top fast pitch softball pitcher) bought me a Detroit Tigers baseball uniform for my birthday - but my mom made him take it back, saying "I want a GIRL". A few years later, my Mom AND Dad gave me a football helmet and I wore it to BED!

So it has been ever since (I out grew the helmet so can't sleep with it anymore). I started running with the local AAU team - the Michigammes - at the age of 15, won letters in volleyball and basketball at University of Michigan, won letters in track and cross country and earned first-ever track scholarship to Michigan State, won the first-ever Dexter-Ann Arbor Run (and five more of them along the way), and then found the sport of triathlon. Ten national age group titles, five world titles, and eight finishes (highest finish was 8th female overall) at Ironman Hawaii. later, it is still what drives me - and I'd like to think I could pass some of my passion - and my experience - on to you.

I've actually been producing events for nearly as long as I've been competing in them. The first all-women's race in Michigan (1978 in Ann Arbor), the first half-ironman triathlon in the state (1983 in Waterloo), the first kid's triathlon (Tri-Kids, 1987-1991), the first off-road duathlon (the Fat Tire Biathlon - held before the word "duathlon" was even invented). My husband and I started the Ann Arbor Triathlon and the current Waterloo Triathlon - and I helped him produce the Dexter-Ann Arbor Run from 2002 through 2006.

We'd love to have you give our events a try - and if you do, we promise to make it a great experience. We will give you something unique, we will sweat the details, and we guarantee fun. Your fun!

Be Fit, Be Well, and Keep Smiling,
Karen

Greetings! I am thrilled to be able to share my passion for multisport racing with others by bringing new, unique, and exciting races to our community.

In 1995, shortly after my second child was born, I completed my first triathlon. I had always been intrigued by the sport of triathlon, but never had the confidence to enter one. One day, after pushing my Baby Jogger and pulling my Burly several miles, I got the courage to enter a triathlon. I trained, did the race, and loved it! I was hooked.

Since then, triathlons have been the highlight of my summers. While I love triathlons as something that I do for myself and without my children (my kids have since outgrown the Baby Jogger and Burly) I also love sharing the sport with others. I have met some of my closest friends through training and racing. The camaraderie felt in this sport is second to none. Aside from my own training and racing, there is nothing like promoting the sport that I love and helping others reach their goals whether it be finishing a sprint triathlon or setting a personal record.

Our races are designed to be appealing to all - from first timers through elite athletes. Our races are not just another triathlon - they all have a unique and fun spirit that you will feel from your training to the finish line. We offer clinics for all levels of triathletes during the off season. We offer tips on our website and in our mailings. Sign up on our mailing list so you won't miss out on these. Any nervous first time triathletes can contact us and we will make sure you are in the proper program to finish the race feeling great. EST Events does not just put on the race, as I said earlier… we are there for you from your training to the finish line.

Karen and I decided to do this together because we found that we share similar interests, values, athletic ability (only kidding), and work ethic. We care about our community and the environment. We work hard to bring you what you want to see in a race. After twenty years of working as an elementary school teacher, I know that details matter when organizing large groups of people! We put an incredible amount of thought and effort into all decisions we make about our races. All of our decisions are made based upon what is best for the racers and the environment- we are open to input from others so feel free to shoot us an e-mail.

Be Fit, Be Well, and Keep Smiling,
Eva