Coach Carrie McCoy is a woman of many talents. Born in Littleton, Colorado, this former Coloradan turned Hawaiian is not only racing this Saturday, but also helping empower local youth with life skills.
Followed her father’s footsteps and started running with him at the age of five. After running cross country in High School and for Ohio State, Carrie felt the desire to try triathlon. With the support of Team In Training, she competed in St Anthony’s where she placed on the podium. Her athletic career took off and she began racing as a pro. Carrie found a way to train on the big island through the hospitality of a host family. She found a connection to the island and a local group of children who stole her heart. The kids became her calling and she created a youth foundation named Kona Kids.
Kona Kids is an after school program founded to help children that live in Ulu Wini transitional housing. They provide the children with valuable learning experiences and developmental resources through education, exercise, and leadership. Her goal is to give her kids the tools they need to be successful, from school supplies to education and empowerment.
We caught up with Coach McCoy and twenty kids that she drove to the King Kamehameha hotel to swim in Kailua bay. Carrie explained that they are teaching the kids to swim in open water. She is hoping it will teach them skills that will give them confidence and life saving skills. When we asked the kids what they liked most about Carrie, they said it was the activities like swimming and playing catch with a football.
Carrie is racing the Ironman World Championship as an age-grouper this year, and many of her kids will be there with us to cheer her to the finish line. After Kona, she plans to requalify for her pro card at Ironman Arizona. Good luck, Carrie! We’re all cheering for you!
For more information, check out https://konakids.org/ and http://www.justtri.net/
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