Juggling multiple roles is par for the course for Alison Kreideweis—athlete, entrepreneur, and mom of three active boys. As co-founder of Empire Tri Club in New York City alongside her cousin Jessica McDonald, Kreideweis and her team of coaches empower athletes to achieve their individual training goals, such as completing everything from short-distance triathlons and marathons to full Ironman Competitions and World Championship events.
Kreideweis's journey into the world of triathlons began with her first race at the age of 17, while a student at Northern Highlands Regional High School. Since that time, getting race-ready has become her passion, and Kreideweis has dedicated herself to both her personal growth and that of her client athletes, one race at a time.
Chasing Success
A USAT All-American and 3x member of Team USA, Kreideweis has been adding to her medal collection for the past 25 years. She prefers the more adventurous races, describing two that top her list of favorites. The first, Survival of the Shawangunks in new paltz, NY, is an eight stage triathlon starting with a 30 mile bike, followed by a run, swim, run, swim, run, swim, run that she completed alongside her sister. She recounts, “After a 30-mile bike ride, you're in the woods for the rest of the race. You swim across the lake, run to the next lake, and on and on, until it ends with a .7 mile run up a hill to the top of a tower.” Phew! The second is Escape from Alcatraz, a nod back to the notorious prison-break escapades from the famous Alcatraz prison off the coast of San Francisco. Athletes arrive at Alcatraz Island via boat, then jump off and swim 1.5 miles to shore, followed by a challenging bike and sprint up and down hills, through deep sand, and across a long, challenging sand ladder.
Life events seem to spur Kreideweis's energy, fueling her drive for success. At just 12-weeks postpartum, Kreideweis competed the World Championships, crossing the finish line with her newborn. When asked, “How did you manage that?” she replies, “You just do it.” Adding, “In order to be the best version of yourself for others, you have to carve out time to focus on what makes you a healthier or better person.” This decorated athlete understands the power of investing in herself and is currently celebrating another big win—"I just found out that I qualified for the World Championships. I accepted my spot for Team USA, and will be going to Australia in October!”
Building Community
For Kreideweis and her family, triathlons are a normal part of life, and Empire Tri Club athletes have become extended family. With bike and run workouts taking place in Central Park, Empire Tri Club provides a sense of belonging in an often lonely city. Kreideweis shares, “New York City can be an overwhelming place, but when you find these smaller communities within the big city, it makes it feel much less daunting.” Oftentimes, Kreideweis states, athletes keep coming back for more. “People sign up for one triathlon, but by the end of the season, they do five and have made great friends.”
To squelch the fear newbies might feel when embarking on their training journeys, Empire Tri Club offers 12-week community-focused sessions where athletes learn the basics needed to cross their first finish line. They also offer discounted memberships for advanced swimmers with Red Tide, a master’s swim team, and open water swim clinics for beginners. One of these newer athletes—someone who had been afraid to put her face in ocean water— became Kreideweis's greatest success story when she completed a triathlon with a half-mile open-water swim. Kreideweis proudly shares, “It was a super short race, and she wasn't winning it, but we took somebody who had this really big fear and helped her conquer it.”
Empire Tri Club prides themselves on their ability to provide 1:1 support to their athletes and customize training plans to suit the needs and timeline of each individual. While most training takes place in New York City, coaches also work virtually to cater to clients all over the world. They offer destination training camps in places such as Mallorca, Bermuda, Colorado, and Martha's Vineyard as well. In some of these training camps, many people share a house and the responsibilities that come with it. In addition to participating in three daily workouts, both trainers and trainees prepare all of the meals. “Someone cuts peppers; another marinates chicken. We want people to be part of the process.” Kreideweis continues, “It’s a big team-bonding experience.”
While Empire Tri Club workouts are intense, Kreideweis stresses the value of balance. For example, a 60-mile bike ride might end with some laughs at a beer garden. She notes, “You can train hard and be super competitive but also have fun, live in the moment, and focus on your community and the people it draws you toward.”
Kreideweis's Winning Formula
If you’re looking to train for your first—or next—race, follow Kreideweis's tips for success.
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Partner up. Surround yourself with a supportive community. You’ll be far more successful working with friends, family, a team, or a coach than if you go it alone.
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Keep your eye on the prize. Focus on your training. Personal goals, such as weight loss, will come naturally. They’re an added bonus.
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Take baby steps. Don’t jump to the finish line. Pick a realistic training goal and take small, measurable steps to get there. As Kreideweis explains, “You wouldn't sign up for a marathon without first running a 5K.”
Following these tips will help you tackle any race with ease. But, as Kreideweis reveals, “The metal you get at the end of the race is the icing on the cake. It’s a reflection of how you've transformed your life over the past 12, 16, 20 weeks of training to become a better version of yourself.”
“People sign up for one triathlon, but by the end of the season, they do five and have made great friends.” - Alison Kreideweis
“New York City can be an overwhelming place, but when you find these smaller communities within the big city, it makes it feel much less daunting.” - Alison Kreideweis