My Story!
I grew up knowing I would be a triathlete. My parents raced in the Bud Light Triathlon Series in the late 80s and our house was full of neon Oakleys and the walls were decorated with posters of Joanne Ernst and Dave Scott.
My mom was a professional downhill skier and my dad grew up swimming and lifeguarding, so naturally my younger sister and I spent our winters on the slopes and our summers in the pool.
Eventually, I started swimming year round (my mom favored the less injury-prone sport). From humble beginnings at the Bozeman, Montana Swim Center I kept at it, eventually qualifying for Nationals, Olympic Trials, and landing myself a spot on the University of Georgia swim team.
Swimming at UGA was one of the greatest experiences of my life and I learned so much about competing both as an individual and as part of a team that was always in the hunt for a National Championship (and we actually won my sophomore year!)
Post-graduation I headed into the “real world” after taking a job at a Public Accounting firm in Atlanta, Georgia. I thought I was done with sports, but within a week my boss had convinced me to sign up for my first marathon. He gave me a training plan, I followed it, and I beat him by a minute. Luckily, instead of firing me he encouraged me to keep running and even take up triathlon.
In 2007 my roommate’s brother convinced me to start swimming at Dynamo Masters and a year later I was one of the first people to join their newly formed Multisport Team. Through the guidance of Coach Matthew Rose and with the support of some amazing teammates and training partners, I managed to move through the age group ranks, including a couple trips to the Big Island to race the Ironman World Championships.
In 2013, I took the leap to racing professionally, leaving my accounting job in April of that year and winning my first pro race at Ironman 70.3 New Orleans two weeks later. My rookie pro season was highlighted by a 5th place finish at Ironman Brasil, 8th at the Ironman North American Championships in Mont Tremblant, Canada, and a trip to the 2013 Ironman World Championships in Kona where I was the first woman out of the water and finished 24th overall.
My biggest breakthroughs came at the end of 2014 when I spent a month in Brazil, winning both Ironman Fortaleza and Challenge Half Florianopolis. These races left me so thankful for the incredible support of family, friends, coaches and sponsors and excited to keep the momentum rolling in 2015.
I love racing, but I also love the multisport lifestyle. I love the people I get to be around. I’ve met so many amazing people at races and even through blogging and Twitter. It’s such a healthy and happy community and I’m so grateful to be included.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Haley. I love you. You’re such an inspiration!!! So proud of how far you have come.
Haley..so nice to meet you at Dynamo yesterday. I felt like a giddy kid after I left and called all my coaches with Team in Training and was told I should of taken a pic when I meet a pro. Maybe one of those TYR Kona caps autographed to quite the disbelivers.
Hope to see you at Dynamo again and keep up the great work.
I will be tracking you also in the future.
Haley,
Congratulations on ALL of your accomplishments!
One of our Bozeman Masters Swim Team members posted your blog on our Facebook page and I was happy to read how well and how far you’ve come from your “humble swimming beginnings at Bozeman, Montana Swim Center.” I’ve been swimming in that pool for 23 years now. Thanks for remembering and recognizing the Swim Center! Pretty cool. Take Care and God’s blessings upon you as you continue to compete as a Pro athlete! BTW, even though older, I just signed-up for my FIRST Ironman which will be in Lake Tahoe, Sept. 21st, 2014! I am also on a board of directors to get an indoor Rec/Aquatic/Ice Center built here in my home town of Big Sky, MT. Hope you’ll come and swim here sometime when it’s all said, done, and built!
Attn: Haley Chura #Professional #Triathlete
From: Darin Armstrong #TeamLIVESTRONG
***Special #FollowFriday #Shoutout To: @Haley Chura #Professional #Triathlete (#Swim #Bike #Run) http://HaleyChura.com
Hello Haley,
The above is what your #Twitter #FollowFriday #Shoutout will look like next Friday should you do a ‘mutual’ following with me on twitter. If you want changes made above, not a problem. (‘Smart Individual Marketing/PR’)
Just a quick message to ask if you would be interested in a ‘mutual’ following on twitter that will benefit you. (Ex: I am providing ‘Anytime’ #RT’s for all #Ironman #Triathletes #Cyclists #UltraRunners #Marathoners #FitnessProfessionals who follow me on Twitter and have something important they want mentioned for support…Over 41K folks at your access. ‘5x #Ironman #Champion @HeatherGollnick is one of our biggest supporters’…). I am currently following you now and am awaiting your follow-back…
All the very best for the rest of 2013 & beyond Haley. Look forward to hearing from you…
(PS. Haley, should you follow back, I’ll be giving you a ‘Stand Alone’ #FollowFriday #Shoutout including your ‘website’ this Friday…)
Darin
twitter.com/DarinArmstrong
#TeamLIVESTRONG
Hi Haley,
Yet, despite that, I’m gonna go for it anyway. Reading the new article with your story feels like a sign and confirmation that I can do it. Gonna join the Atlanta Triathlon Club this week. My goal is to complete my first sprint triathlon in May. Will definitely be glued to your blog for tips and inspiration! 
We were both featured in the Best Self Atlanta magazine article and met at the photo shoot. I forgot you were a triathlete. Since the photo shoot I’ve set a goal of doing a sprint triathlon this year. This is a secret dream I’ve had for a few years but since I can’t swim and don’t have a bike I didn’t think it’s possible!
Dear Haley,
It was so nice to meet you today. Thank you so much for the swim clinic today at Belews Lake. I really liked it and learned so much about open water swimming. Thank you for coming to Winston Salem- Good luck in you upcoming races. I look forward to following you!
Best, Kathy
Hi Haley
I think it’s amazing what you do and are blessed to do in life! I see you were an editorial resource for the August issue in the article on Girls Fitness.
If you would like to talk about a possible ad with you and your sponsors, let me know ~ it could be placed close to that article…….
To being our Best!
Sandy Henson 571-265-6431
I wanted to invite you to this event, which will be filming for ESPN on Thursday. I f you give me your e-mail address, I’ll send you the Media Alert. Thanks!
— Kevin Wilkerson
(310) 990-4020
——
You are invited for behind the scenes VIP experiences, interview opportunities and catered lunch or dinner at the televised BattleFrog Collegiate Championship Obstacle Course Race (OCR), airing on ESPN later this summer.
This televised show is an extension of the popular BattleFrog obstacle course race series which features 44 events throughout North America. The event will feature 16 of America’s top college co-ed obstacle course racing teams going head-to-head to capture the coveted Trident Cup and a grand prize scholarship.
The BattleFrog Obstacle Race Series is one of the nation’s fastest growing outdoor fitness events. Expertly designed by Navy SEALs and SeaBees, BattleFrog is heralded as one of the top OCR companies by industry publications and is widely considered the most challenging Elite Points Series events in OCR.
WHO: Sixty four top-tier athletes from colleges including West Point, Syracuse, and Georgia, and cities such as New York, Atlanta, and Chicago (and MANY MORE) will be competing for the BattleFrog championship; attendees will also include ESPN and its subsidiaries, brand ambassadors, and VIPs like you!
WHEN: Thursday March 17 from 8:30 am to 6 pm
WHERE: Lake Lanier Resort, Lanier Islands, GA
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Hi Haley!
I just heard your story on our SVTC recorded Zoom call, where you were the monthly speaker. It was awesome! Thanks for sharing your story, and inspiring us. I’ve been dealing with an overactive left QL for the past 18 years, and finally shut down cycling and running (due to it waking me up at night with back/hamstring pain)…..but hoping that I’ll be able to get back out there with lots of PT, Pilates and swimming. Your story and comeback from the bike accident is inspiring! Thanks for all that you do!
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