The Trimarni coaching and nutrition business became official on January 2nd, 2012.
After receiving my Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from FAU (Davie campus) in December of 2005, I had no money and was living with my parents in New Port Richey Florida. Karel and I met on a blind date (by a mutal friend/training partner) on May 31st, 2006 (my 24th birthday). Karel was working at Gearlink - one of the first online cycling retail stores - and participating in bike races when he had the time. I was working as the wellness director of a YMCA and training for my first Ironman. In 2008, I decided to go back to school to earn my RD credential. Karel was offered a job at the Trek Concept store in Jacksonville, FL and it felt like we had won the lottery. Karel was making ~$29,000 a year. Sadly, much of Karel's salary was used to help us through a lengthy and very expensive immigration process so that Karel could get his green card and to support my advanced schooling. For the next 3 years, the road to becoming a dietitian was a lot of work (and money - which we also borrowed and repaid to my parents) but in June 2011 I was finally able to call myself a Registered Dietitian.
Finally, in 2012, Karel received his long-awaited Green Card and for the first time in 12 years, he was able to travel home to see his hometown and family. And I got to go with him for my first trip to Czech.
For three years, I was was working PRN as a clinical dietitian at Baptist Medical Center Beaches. I was coaching a few athletes and as a newly credentialed RD, I was starting to expand my personalized nutrition services. I received a little extra money from various magazines and websites for writing articles but most of my "work" was free. I did a lot of public speaking and writing. We were living paycheck to paycheck and it was a very stressful time for us financially.
In the fall of 2013, Karel was placed in a difficult scenario. With a change in upper management at the Trek corporation, his 6-year position as the GM of two Trek concept stores in Jacksonville, FL was in jeapordy. If he kept his job, he would be under new management and no longer working for his exceptional boss and good friend Jeff Kopp.
With all the changes at Trek, it felt like the right time to take a big scary risk. Karel was 36 years old and I was 30 years old. Karel quit his job (which brought us to Jacksonville, FL in 2008) and began working for himself and Trimarni. He bought the RETUL bike fit system from his boss Jeff and with an exceptional bike mechanic reputation in and around Jacksonville, FL, Karel was able to hustle for a few months as I continued to work PRN as a clinical dietitian, coach a handful of triathletes and provide local nutrition consults.
With nothing keeping us in Jacksonville, we desired a new place to call home. We heard about Greenville, SC from a Trek Travel rep and coincidentally, I was working with a nutrition athlete who lived in Greenville, SC. In January 2014, we took the 5.5+ hour trip to Greenville to check out the area for 2 days. It was a cold and dreary weekend but we quickly fell in love with the European vibe of the downtown. And we felt a sense of calm when we saw the mountains while enjoying our morning coffee. It was the only place that we visited in our "search" for a new place to call home. Greenville felt right.
By mid March 2014, we were convinced that Greenville was the right place for us. In April we made it official by traveling back up to Greenville for 24-hours to sign the lease on a rental home. This rental house was in the upper range for our monthly housing budget. We were taking a huge risk. We moved to Greenville in May 2014. A few weeks later and 3 days before my 32nd birthday, my dad passed away from a 10-month fight with cancer. For the next few years, Karel would travel back to Jacksonville every month or two with the RETUL equipment for bike fits. Because we didn't have a reputation in Greenville, he needed to rely on those who trusted and appreciated his knowledge and experience.
This May we will celebrate 10 years of living in Greenville. Ten years ago we made the scary decision to leave everything that we felt was stable in our lives - jobs, friends, routine.
Karel and I always make sure to take time to reflect on the past. We do this regularly as we never want to take for granted anything that we have worked so hard for. We have been faced with insurmountable challenges. Loss of our fathers, loss of loved ones, loss of pets. Immigration setbacks. Financial struggles. Fear of the unknown as small business owners.
And this doesn't include the agonizing years when Karel was working 2 or 3 jobs a day to pursue his American dream. Speaking very little English and leaving Czech in 2000 with only a backpack and a small amount of cash, Karel did the unthinkable. He didn't tell anyone (not even his parents) that he would not be taking his return ticket after a "a short trip to the US." He was willing to do anything to pursue his American dream. He left everything to start with nothing. To be offered a real job at the Trek Concept store in 2008 meant so much to us as it felt like Karel finally made it in America.
We've always kept our hopes and dreams small and realistic in every stage of our life. Even when the obstacles and challenges that stood in our way were unconquerable, we never gave up.
In May this year, Karel and I will have been together for 18 years. To get to where we are right now in our life, we've never been complacent. Cambridge English Dictionary defines complacency as 'feeling so satisfied with your own ability and situation that you feel you do not need to try any harder.'
Whereas we spent much of our life working hard because we had to, our current hustle is now because we get to. We get to help others through coaching, bike fits, nutrition consults, group and private camps and so much more, because it's what motivates us, energizes us and sparks our passion for life.
Taking risks is an important part of living a full and meaningful life.
Karel took a risk coming to America in 2000 to pursue the American dream.
We took a risk when Karel left his stable job to help me grow the Trimarni business.
It was risky to move to Greenville after we had an established network of friends and connections in Florida.
Although taking risks comes with a lot of unknowns, doubts and failed attemps, taking a leap of faith and following a dream is necessary to open life to new opportunities.
Over the past two years, we have gradually transitioned away from conventional long distance triathlon racing (after a combined 35 Ironman distance triathlons) in an effort to explore new challenges, travel internationally and to find new adventures. I suppose the risks that we took early on have helped us develop the resliency needed to step out of our comfort zone while seeking (and embracing) discomfort.
Last year we completed the 7-day Haute Route Alps (cycling event). This year, Karel participated in two off-road cycling events - the 5-stage Oregon Gravel Grinder and the 6-stage Breck Epic mountain bike event. I participated in two XTRI events (Canadaman and Icon) and at ICON (Livigno, Italy) I qualified for the 2024 XTRI World Championship Norseman. Karel will be making his attempt at XTRI in 2024. In 2023, we participated in over 14 events (each) including off-road triathlons, gravel biking, mountain biking and trail running.
Life is short. Don't settle for a life that's les than one you are capable of living.
As we begin a New Year, I want to send a huge thank you for your continued support of our small business. Karel and I don't take it for granted. Your loyalty is greatly appreciated. Regardless if you are new to Trimarni or you've been with me/us since the beginning, Karel and I are incredibly grateful for your support.