Our ambassadors are athletes who inspire and encourage others and are active in their local communities. The participate and volunteer at events, and are active on social media. The French Creek Racing Ambassador team is open to anyone training and racing at any level, any distance. If you love endurance sports, are enthusiastic about training and racing and can encourage others to join you, we want you on our team!
Ambassadors are members of the swimming and multi-sport community who live an active lifestyle. They are coaches, bloggers, motivators, and athletes who love to train and race. They will enthusiastically promote French Creek Racing events as their preferred races and are active across social media to help us spread the word. Ambassadors are also athletes who are active in their swimming and multi-sport clubs/groups.
My first FCR event was River Day in 2021 where I completed the 5k, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile. In 2022 I raced all three events and was touched by all the people who remembered me. I have felt very connected to this community and regularly make the Amtrak trip from DC to swim with French Creek Racing. FCR is doing great work to make open water safe and accessible to all.
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I am a lifelong pool and open water swimmer raised on the sub-tropical Sunshine Coast beaches of Queensland, Australia. I’m currently based in the Seattle area, where the local active OWS community braves the cold waters of gorgeous PNW lakes, Puget Sound and surrounding islands.
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I started swimming with the team around November 2020. Team practices were at Lawrence Park Swim Pool. There was a lot of flexibility in practice times throughout the week. Also, I was able to attend team events in order to get to know my team mates even more.
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Was an avid runner for many years. Took up triathlon in my 50’s but did all my swimming as breast stroke as I was terrified of the swimming portion. Over time I stopped doing tri’s and went back to only running. Then in 2020 met some folks from FCR at a local Y who convinced me to try swimming again. It was a life-changing experience. Swimming with FCR was empowering a and joyous. They inspired me to get back to triathlon and enter many swimming races.
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I ran cross country and track and field at Temple University where my love for endurance sports began. I took a lifeguard class my senior year and essentially learned how to swim as an adult. That summer I raced my first triathlon, and as they say the rest is history. Outside of sports I am a lifelong Philadelphian and incredibly passionate about food. You can find me cooking and hiking with my dog and husband in the Wiss when not training or racing.
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For Bill, French Creek Racing is about so much more than training and racing — it’s about connecting with a community of like-minded people who support each other in and out of the water. Bill is U.S. Masters and former Division I swimmer who is now focused on bringing the love of the sport to fellow swimmers of all ages and abilities. When not in the pool, you’ll find him swimming in rivers, lakes, and oceans, running the occasional marathon or ultra, or wrangling a bunch of bees as a backyard beekeeper.
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I’m a member of the United States Open Water National Team and longtime friend/training partner of FCR owner John Kenny. I’ve been competing in FCR open water events since 2015.
Racing Accomplishments:
Lifelong swimmer and lifeguard for over 30 years. I’ve been swimming with FCR for about 10 years. I run a full-time safety company teaching CPR, First Aid and Lifeguarding.
Racing Accomplishments:
Denise started with FCR in 2019 as a budding triathlete, attending coached swim and open water clinics and swim race events and never looked back. She attended tri camp under John Kenny in the Finger Lakes prior to completing her first 70.3 distance triathlon in 2021. Denise enjoys spending time with other athletes, snuggling with her fur babies and watching her sons grow into adulthood.
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I am happy to be a FCR Ambassador for the second year in a row. I am a USAT Associate Coach. I am also lifeguard certified by Shoen Safety. You will see me pool side coaching our Master swimmers at Lawrence Park Swim Club and Villanova University. I am also a certified group fitness and personal trainer, and currently lead strength training classes at Ellis Athletic Center, and lead strength training sessions for FCR and STC members. I also enjoy endurance open water swims along the Jersey Shore. I started my triathlon career at age 57 and I feel that I have many more years of swim, bike, run, to enjoy.
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I’ve been recreationally cycling and winter mountaineering as an adult. I planned to hike the Appalachian trail when a surprise company acquisition meant losing the personal leave benefit, I would need to do it. Then I turned my attention to endurance cycling, challenging myself with rides of up to 280 miles in 2 days. That has evolved into wondering what else I’m capable of. I took on a half marathon with no training, and 2023 brought me to multisport and the French Creek Racing ecosystem. I’ve recently completed USAT Associate coaching program and am considering taking on USAT’s Level 1 program.
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About five years ago, I decided to take the deep dive into triathlon training. I enjoy meeting new people, learning from others, and attending events with teammates. I’ve been involved with FCR the past couple of years. I have participated in the OWS swim races, the Harvest Hare, and Frozen Hare events. I’ve also volunteered at the triathlon, swim fest, and the Bender swim. I’m really excited and grateful for the opportunity to be a FCR ambassador!
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Kari is an open water ultramarathon swimmer, masters swimmer, and part-time runner. She has been racing with FCR since 2019 and training with the open water group in the Schuylkill since 2020. Kari recently joined in on the Tuesday morning pool sessions coached by co-ambassador Rob Bedford.
When not in the water, Kari is at home caring for her adopted rescue and foster animals.
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Danielle is an endurance athlete local to the Philadelphia area. She began her triathlon journey in 2019, and started training with FCR in 2021. Danielle is a three time 5k swimmer and aiming to complete her first 70.3 in 2024. She’s excited to be on the French Creek Racing team for a second year and is passionate about bringing new athletes into endurance/multi-sport.
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Michala is a lifelong athlete playing collegiate softball at Syracuse University as well as competing in Crossfit competitions, Spartan Races, and various other endurance events. This will be her first triathlon season in 2024 with the ultimate goal of racing in Ironman 70.3 North Carolina. She is excited to be a French Creek Ambassador for the 2024 Season and to be apart of the French Creek Racing community!
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Rob is from Philadelphia and has a competitive swimming background. He was an All-American and 1984 US Olympic Trials qualifier at the University of South Carolina where he was a grad asst. coach. More recently Rob is a top 10 US Masters swimmer and defending SCM sprint Nation Champion in Freestyle and Backstroke. Rob is a founding Board member of the iSwim4 Foundation which helps people recover from alcohol and substance abuse disorders via swimming and fellowship.
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Wild and crazy college English teacher, published writer, and poet turned to endurance sports for what they could teach and morphed from runner to swimmer. After getting hooked on master’s swimming, I participated in several different master’s swim groups, i i found French Creek Racing to be just the right fit. It’s been almost ten years since that first practice with John Kenny, and I’m grateful every day that i joined, not only for the great coaching but for the lasting friendships.
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Lelané (Lanie), was born and raised on the east coast of South Africa. Although she did not grow up swimming competitively, Lanie decided to join a masters swim group in 2007 and since then hasn’t looked back! Having to swim in the cold Atlantic ocean, Lanie’s love for cold water swimming grew fast. Lanie has been living in the USA since 2009 & currently resides in Newark, DE with her hubby Jay. Lanie taught swim lessons and coached swim team at her local YMCA for 8 years. Lanie is currently pursuing her degree in Textile design & Printmaking. She is an avid member at the Newark Arts Alliance where she also teaches Linocut printmaking classes. When Lanie isn’t swimming, painting or baking, she likes to cheer on her fellow athletic friends and celebrate their achievements with them! She looks forward to being an ambassador for French Creek Racing in 2024 where she hopes to create a nurturing environment for all athletes.
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