I am an adventurous Eastern European who decided to visit America and came to study in South Carolina on an athletic scholarship.
Growing up in the Czech Republic, instead of the mandatory Pioneers, I was allowed to attend Orienteering, running with a map and a compass in the woods, looking for checkpoints. I ran track in the winters.
I represented the College of Charleston on their NCAA Cross-Country Team.
Frequently injured in college with the increased mileage and running on hard surfaces, I added biking and swimming to the mix when I finished my studies. I also started practicing yoga.
After competing in triathlon leisurely for five years in the sprint and Olympic distance, I attempted my first half Ironman (to win overall to my surprise) and New York City Marathon.
A year later, I completed my first Ironman and earned my ticket to Hawaii, the World Championship. Overwhelmed with gratitude to be able to participate in this world-class event, I raised funds for Trekking for Kids, a charity working with orphans in various parts of the globe, as my way of giving back. I also work with Back on My Feet, an organization helping those who have lost their homes due to alcohol and other addictions, to get back on track by incorporating running into their lives. I am a strong believer that sports communities are life-transforming.
I went back to Hawaii to represent the Zoot Ultra Team the following year.
In 2014 I became the Captain for the newly expanded Team Zoot North East and decided to race as a professional. This proved to be a tough year, juggling the demands of a pro athlete lifestyle, alongside my full time corporate career in New York City.
In 2015, after deciding to compete in triathlon full-time, I also became certified as a yoga teacher and became proficient at recovering from my voluminous training with this practice, particularly yin yoga. In 2016, I organized my first Cycling/ Yoga Retreat in the South of France and went on to win Ironman Nice, completing my 5th Ironman.
I love to share my knowledge of sports nutrition, yoga recovery, meditation or visualization as they relate to peak performance through my health and lifestyle coaching program.