Guelph Triathlon Club coach inspires athletes one step at a time

From the couch to a triathlon?

It’s not only possible, but doable says Therese Gregorio, a coach from the Guelph Triathlon Club.

It just takes one step at time to get there.

“If you have the heart and the commitment to do it, then you can. It doesn’t matter what size, shape or age you are,” Gregorio said.

“You can achieve anything if you set your mind to it. And I’m living proof of that.”

Following in the footsteps of her older sister, Gregorio is a triathlon and endurance running athlete.

“My sister was a runner, turned marathoner, turned triathlete,” Gregorio said. “When she started running, she was challenged by someone who said, ‘I bet you can’t run 5 km’. That turned into ‘I bet you can’t run 10 km’, and then ‘I bet you can’t run a marathon’.”

Little did Gregorio know she would face the same challenge.

“My sister said I bet you can’t run 5k. And I said well, I don’t know if I can,” Gregorio said.

“She helped me through it, from huffing and puffing after 5 minutes, to running for 30 minutes. And then, running became my goal.”

Gregorio went on to train for her first road race event in 2006. Since then, she has participated in over 20 marathons, including the Boston Marathon and many other shorter distance road races.

“My goal was just the same as my sisters' which was to make it to Boston, and then switch to triathlons.”

About five years ago, Gregorio’s sister was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“She went through surgery after surgery. As a former marathoner and triathlete, she realized that she wasn’t done yet, and she pivoted to lifting weights. She could no longer do endurance sports and activities, so she turned to body building and ended up doing very well,” Gregorio said.

“I do all of this because of her. She helped me and inspired me. And she still inspires me today.”

Gregorio’s journey into multi-sports began with a duathlon in 2006.

“My sister was quite instrumental in that journey because she also competed in the world championships for duathlon. And so I did the same thing," Gregorio said.

“Transitioning to triathlons, however, I knew I had to learn how to swim, but I so was afraid of the water.”

Despite feeling very uncomfortable in the water due to a swimming accident as a child, Gregorio set a long-term goal to complete a triathlon one day.

In 2015, with the help of Guelph Triathlon Club’s (GTC) head coach, Miguel Vadillo, Gregorio faced her fears, and felt encouraged by fellow members to race in her first Try-a-Tri and sprint triathlon. That summer, she completed in an Olympic distance triathlon, and a year later, completed her first 70.3 Half Ironman Distance Triathlon.

“Miguel encouraged me and inspired me. He swam across Lake Ontario. I wasn’t a strong swimmer, but I got better and better. I just kept practicing,” Gregorio said.

Qualifying for the World Championships in South Africa was a dream come true for Gregorio.

"This had opened so many opportunities for me, both personally and professionally," Gregorio said.

Now 55, Gregorio, a certified triathlon coach at GTC, is passionate about helping athletes of all abilities achieve their fitness and performance goals.

Leading several learn-to-run programs from 5 km to marathon distances, Gregorio studied personal training with CanFitPro, completed the National Coaching Certification Program (NCCP) in 2015, and began coaching with GTC in 2016.

“I do have a passion for it and I love to coach. If see a fellow participant struggling with cycling up the hill, I will help them, give them skills and techniques for uphill climbing or uphill running. These are my strengths. I’m still not a strong swimmer, but I have definitely improved over the years. I want to help others do the same,” Gregorio said.

Her passion for fitness motivates others including her own family and friends.

“I have two cousins in my triathlon club and my daughters have also ventured into marathoning and triathlons,” Gregorio said.

“My youngest daughter got into triathlons and qualified for the World championships a few years ago as well. She and her partner are also trying to qualify for Boston and then venture into triathlons.”

With a sister who survived breast cancer and a brother who has a very rare condition known as Kennedy's disease, Gregorio says she feels blessed to have her health.

“I am the child in the middle and who has evaded illness. I just feel very lucky that I can do this, that I can push myself and also inspire others to help meet their goals,” she said.

The Guelph Triathlon Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong health, fitness and happiness for its members through the provision of safe, affordable and effective triathlon training.

It supports all our members, at every level, to train and compete in triathlon competitions.