Stacey – Swimming

• name: Stacey
• age: 31
• occupation: Swimwear & Apparel Purchasing Manager for Adolph Kiefer & Associates
• sport: Swimming
• currently live: Antioch, IL
• workout favorites: Fun but comfortable swimsuits (I especially like flashy competitive swimwear)

At a young age, Stacey wanted to be just like her big brother, who was on a local swim team. She joined a team too and was already competing by the age of 5. Growing up, she swam for club teams: Racine Aquatics Club (RAC), Southeastern Aquatics (SEAY) and then Southwest Aquatic Team (SWAT) as well as competed in high school at Racine Case and in college at Carthage College. Currently, she swims for Wisconsin Masters Swim Club as part of the Carthage Masters Branch. If you can’t tell by now, Stacey loves to “swim, swim, swim!”

Right now she is in training for the US Masters National Swim Meet in Atlanta in May and the 2010 triathlon season (from June through September). This will be a busy season for Stacey as she gets ready for open water and pool events, triathlons, aquathons and road/trail running races. To her, being fit is her lifestyle. “It means feeling healthy & strong on a daily basis.” She loves to work out in the morning as a jumpstart to her day. Currently, she trains 7 days (putting in 11+ hours) a week. She gets company from her husband and several friends who also compete in triathlons and swim.

Some of her proudest moments are being ranked on the US All American list for the triathlon and just being able to find the time to work out and be competitive as an adult. As a wife and a mother of two (Ginger almost 5 and River almost 2), it’s an accomplishment in itself to still be able to compete in the sports she loves. As a family, they love to incorporate swimming into their trips and vacations, “playing at the pool or beach and just being able to hang out.”

As a purchasing manager for Adolph Kiefer & Associates (“Kiefer Swim Shop”), she gets to incorporate her passion for swimming every day while she’s at work. “I couldn’t imagine grinding away at a job all day that had no impact on my life and the things I care about. I believe that it’s important to make sure that whatever you’re doing; whether it’s work or play, to enjoy yourself.”

Workout advice from Stacey:
Try not to cut workouts short, you’ll be proud of yourself and feel great after you complete your whole workout. It’s a mental game.