Thanks to parents who began racing triathlons in her early youth, Hallie grew up around the world of multi-sport and competed in her first triathlon around the age of 10. Triathlon remained an off-season hobby as she ran cross-country and track and dove competitively through both high school and college. Graduating from the University of the South in Sewanee, TN in 2006 and looking toward medical school in the fall of 2007, Hallie began a new chapter of her life in academics and finally shifted her athletic focus specifically toward triathlons. She will graduate with an MD/MPH from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in May of 2012.
Recently completing only her fourth year of focused triathlon training, 2011 was Blunck’s strongest season yet with 4 overall amateur wins and 2 top-3 finishes in elite amateur races. In 2008, 2010, and 2011 she has earned the USAT All-American distinction. After several years of Olympic distance racing, Hallie is looking forward to shifting her focus to the 70.3 distance for 2012 season.
| Hometown:Mobile, ALCurrently residing in:Birmingham, ALEducation: B.A. in English from The University of the South; MD/MPH from the University of Alabama at Birmingham expected in May 2012Athletic Background:gymnastics, 1M and 3M diving, cross country, track and fieldTriathlon Career Highlights: 2011: USAT Collegiate Nationals 6th Overall; 2nd Elite Amateur at 5i50 St. Anthony’s Triathlon; 3rd Elite Amateur at the 5i50 HyVee Championships; Overall Female Amateur at Augusta 70.3
Season Goals: become a stronger swimmer; focused training/racing for the 70.3 distance; a strong performance at the 2012 70.3 World Championships; stay healthy and continue to have fun doing something I love. Favorite Workout: long ride with lots o’ climbing … What gets you out of bed in the morning? Coffee !!! … And those other people I promised to meet in the pool, at the track, or on a bike at some ridiculously early hour. |
What/who inspires you? My parents … the embodiment of a hard work ethic driven by an intense love and passion.What insights/advice would you like to share with aspiring triathletes? Be humble yet courageous enough to surround yourself with people who know more, have more experience, or are more talented than you … you can not help but to grow and improve. After that … want it the most and never sell yourself short!Why do you race triathlons? Of course the obvious and popular answers are the people, the places, the love of competition and pushing myself beyond what I think I am capable of … but more personally, because I love to sweat … because it makes me feel raw and real and whole … and this sweating becomes a bodily editing; a daily reassessment of that unfinished work in progress we all possess and are always capable of improving.What has been your biggest challenge in triathlon? The swim … both physically and mentallyWhat is your greatest strength in triathlon? Despite feeling like running was my first love, I have to own up to loving my bike a little more these days and feeling like a strong bike split has been responsible for some of my better performances. On the other hand, I’ve left a bit too much out there on the bike course a time or two. Still working on that balance.Shout out to: the Blunck orbit … thanks Dad; Bob’s Bikes; Eskridge and White Physiotherapy; all the coaches (Galle, Barb, Heitz, Max, Craig), teammates, and training partners over the years who have pushed me to be both a better athlete and person. It’s been an awesome journey so far, and here’s to future adventures! Other Interests/Hobbies: cooking with my mom, being a coffee shop junkie; rock climbing, Wendell Berry prose and poetry, family style dinners; dark chocolate; Camp Rap-a-Hope; going back to the mountain … Yea, Sewanee’s Right !! Website: hopefully very soon |
