Michelle Harburg and ACHIEVE Kids Tri

CycleLife sponsored elite female triathlete Michelle Harburg is a true ambassador of the sport. While we were aware of Achieve Kids Tri, it was Michelle who truly spearheaded our involvement in the camp. Recently, we asked Michelle to tell us the story of how she became involved in the program ... 

I started training for triathlons in 2007 when I realized that my knees could use a break from running and I wanted some cross training. I immediately fell in love with the sport. During the summer of 2008 I joined as a coach at new camp called ACHIEVE Kids Tri. I loved the program and so was pleased to be asked to come on board as year-round staff to help develop the program and increase awareness for the mission, which is to promote healthier lifestyles through the sport of triathlon.

I am now the Program Director for ACHIEVE Kids Tri. In a nutshell it is a free six-week summer camp for low-income youth ages 9 – 14. The camp teaches the children to swim, bike, run, strength and flexibility skills, along with nutrition and lifelong exercise habits through the sport of triathlon. Since the first camp opened in 2007, the camp has grown to six camps in 2011 with four camps in Washington, DC, one in Houston, TX, one in Waterbury, CT. Finally, with increased funding, there will be potential camps opening in Atlanta and Chicago in 2011!

Working as director of ACHIEVE combines my passion for health equality and fitness education, as well as the multisport lifestyle.

So, why do I stay involved? I grew up in an environment where TV was discouraged and playing outside was encouraged. I had access to a bike and mentors to teach me how to ride the bike. Healthy food was available at my home and unhealthy food was taught to be a rare treat. These lessons have stayed with me throughout my life and thus positively influenced my overall health. I do not take for granted that I rarely become sick and enjoy the benefits of exercise. I recognize that this is because I was given the tools at a young age and learned how to make exercise a regular part of my life.

I am inspired to instill these values of health and fitness in youth at an early age because I know that it will have a positive effect on the rest of their lives. Not only does exercise and health increase efficiency, it builds discipline and a sense of accomplishment that will increase youth’s motivation and confidence to succeed in other areas of their life. It is an injustice for youth everywhere that obesity levels are on the rise and healthy living skills are not taught, thus the cards become stacked against these kids from the beginning. My goal is to help alleviate the current problematic issues of youth nutrition, health and obesity by providing youth the lessons of a lifestyle of health and exercise through the ACHIEVE Kids Tri program.

Cycle Life USA has generously supported ACHIEVE with a donation of a Zipp Wheel as an auction item at the First Annual ACHIEVE Benefit. Second, they have donated the staff time of Personal Trainer Colin Shah to be the Head Coach at ACHIEVE Barry Farm. Finally, they are providing all the bike maintenance for the ACHIEVE bikes throughout the camp. ACHIEVE is very grateful for their support.

To learn more about this program, volunteer or donate, please visit http://achievekidstri.org/