A triathlon is something I had mentally told myself I just couldn’t do…that is until Susan Cox challenged me. Her encouragement, and the fact I was approaching my 50th birthday motivated me to think…yes, maybe I can do this. With the help of a local bike shop loaning me a rental, I signed up for Tri For Sight. I thought I had a head start on this thing called triathlon because I swam on the high school team. Nope. Susan watched me plow thru the water at the Y, and there were about a thousand things wrong with my swimming form. This was not going to be easy. Now three years later, I have finished my 17th triathon including one Half-Ironman, and this past August I qualified to compete in Nationals at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It was a really good year with races in Memphis, South Carolina, Illinois, and Kentucky. To top it off, I was fortunate to qualify for Worlds in Budapest next September. Wow! My passion for this sport has only grown, and it has taught me so much about life. I have been introduced to a whole new set of people who are positive and encouraging. As Susan says…triathlon can also be your ticket to travel. I owe this passion and accomplishment to Susan’s mentoring, to my coach Eric Atnip, and to the loving support of my wife Noelle. She has cheered me on at nearly every race, and has now completed 2 triathlons herself. She also brings to our Swim Bike Run of Kentucky team great skills in marketing and sales. She and I are dedicated to growing this sport in Kentucky, and are eager to help more people enjoy that moment when they cross the finish line at their first triathlon. We’ll see you at your next race!

We are thrilled to have some one of Eric’s caliber and experience directing the operations at Swim Bike Run of Kentucky. His qualifications are unmatched in this area: USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach and Certified Race Director, Certified Team in Training Triathlon Coach, and U-S Masters Swimming Coach. Eric also has a MS in Health Promotion at UK. He’s an advanced triathlete who has competed in many Ironman and triathlon races across the U-S. Coach Eric has worked with athletes of all ages and abilities. At Swim Bike Run of Kentucky,  Coach Eric will help you reach your athletic goals, and have fun! We think that’s important. He’s passionate about training and competing, and so are we!

Beth Atnip started training and competing for her first triathlon in 2002, after meeting her husband, coach Eric. During the first year of competing, she completed her first Ironman and has been in love with the endurance sport scene since crossing that finish line! Since then, she has competed in multiple Ironman races, Ironman 70.3 races and also continues to compete in sprint and Olympic distance events across the nation.

Beth is currently a Level 2 Certified Triathlon Coach and USA Triathlon Certified Race Director. She started coaching endurance athletes in 2006 and coaches athletes at all ages and levels, from the true beginner to the elite triathlete. Beth also enjoys being a Race Director, and currently serves as the Race Director for the Susan Bradley-Cox Tri For Sight Triathlon/Dualthon.

Beth received her B.A. in Education, M.S. in Health Promotion and MBA from the University of Kentucky. She is also is a National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) and holds a Primary Group Fitness Certification from Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA).