Tris4Health (Michigan Endurance Holdings, LLC.), is a multi-sport event management company based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For over ten years, Tris4Health has been honored to bring top-notch endurance events to West Michigan. We have had the privilege of witnessing individuals set goals, adopt healthier lifestyles and break their own barriers when they stepped up to our start lines. Our events cater to beginner age-groupers through experienced & elite triathletes while providing an unparalleled racing experience.
The faces behind your races.
LEVEL I USAT CERTIFIED RACE DIRECTOR
As an active member of the West Michigan triathlon community since 2012, Jon is focused on ensuring that all participants and spectators have a top-notch race experience, be it their first event or hundredth. Jon’s first race was The Grand Rapids Triathlon in 2012 and he has done every triathlon distance from sprint to ultra, in addition to numerable running races and marathons.
Jon supported the Michigan race community prior to event directing through his endurance apparel company, Drivn Threads, with race designs and promotional work. As a small business owner and Ada resident, Jon is serving his second term on the Ada Business Association Board of Directors, is the committe chair for Ada’s holiday event, Tinsel, Treats & Trolleys and is also on the Mary Free Bed YMCA Advisory Board.
In his spare time, you can find Jon coaching on the soccer field. He is going into his 21st season coaching his sons in club soccer. He and his wife Amanda, also a retired ultra-distance triathlete, reside in Ada with their 5 kids, 2 dogs & 1 cat.
Phone: 616-920-9345
Email: [email protected]
LEVEL I USAT CERTIFIED RACE DIRECTOR
In 2011 John signed up for the Riverbank Run to raise money honoring a friend from high school. At the time he was 100 pounds overweight and unable to run for 30 seconds. Fast forward a year and he was down 70 pounds, had successfully completed the Riverbank Run, and raised a few dollars for a worthwhile charity. Like many triathletes he transitioned to multisport as an injured runner and has since completed all distances, from a sprint up to the full. His favorite discipline is cycling, and he can often be found trying to talk his friends into doing questionable things with him, such as signing up for Michigan Coast 2 Coast, a 210-mile one day gravel race across the State.
John is also a USAT Level 1 Race Director. He and his wife Dawn live in Rockford with their two kids and two dogs.
Phone: 616-551-7385
Email: [email protected]
I joined the Tris4Health team in 2019 and it has been a crazy ride ever since! While I have never officially competed in a triathlon myself, I have been around the sport for years working behind the scenes in communications and social media and traveling around the world to see some pretty epic triathlon races! One of the most memorable triathlon moments of my career was witnessing Gwen Jorgensen win the very first Gold Medal for USA at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. After finally getting to experience my first Grand Rapids racing scene in 2021 and seeing how amazing the community is here, my goal is to once and for all step up to my own triathlon start line in 2022!
I signed up for my first sprint triathlon in 2019. Prior to that I was a runner and had never swam in open water and had to buy a bike. A friend convinced me it was a good idea. I struggled through the swim but did well enough on the bike and run that I ended up first place in my age group. I decided then this was something I enjoyed enough to keep doing. I signed up for a masters swim class and really started to work on my swimming. Once I got through the swimming fears I truly fell in love with the sport and the atmosphere of race day. Since I have added the Olympic distance and the half distance. My future plans will be to do a full distance one day. Needless to say working for Tris4Health allows me to work in an industry I love and be surrounded by amazing and inspiring people.
This is my third year working for Tris4health and I couldn’t be more excited. I have volunteered and been a champion for 5+ years with the GR TRI & Michigan Titanium Triathlon. I also asked to be part of the team at the Dirty Mitten because they are some of the most amazing people I know and a fun time is always guaranteed. I will still be retaining my title as “Sno Cone Jill” but will be shifting my focus to getting the awesome volunteers needed to support athletes at the races.
This is my very first year as a part of the Tris4Health team, and I’m so excited to take a more active role in all the incredible races that are happening! I was first introduced to the triathlon community in 2012, when my dad competed in the Grand Rapids Triathlon for the first time. I’ve been to countless races since then, both cheering people on from the sidelines and helping out behind the scenes, and while I’ve never completed one myself, who knows what the future holds?
I signed up for my first sprint triathlon in 2016. Prior to that I had never swam a lap, touched a road bike, or ran more than a 5k, so the thought of all three at once was terrifying! A friend talked me into signing up and I wasn’t sure I was going to live through the swim. After A LOT of training and helpful advice from friends, I survived and only crashed once! (you will have to ask me about that in person)
My next race was a half distance followed by a full distance two years later. Needless to say, I was hooked! I fell in love with the magic of race day which is why I joined the tris for health team. I want everyone to love triathlons as much as I do so I joined the amazing team that makes that possible!
I love the water! I love swimming! I’ve swam more events than I can count; including swimming around Mackinac Island. Mom had me swimming before I was walking which led to comfort in the water. I gained swimming ability with consistent swim lessons through middle school and again as an adult. I love sharing swimming and triathlon with others by coaching with Athletic Mentors. My two boys enjoy swimming as well… My husband, eh, not so much.
I place high value on safeguarding others. As a lifeguard on Lake Michigan, I was taught diligence and focus for life safety. Building on the lifeguarding of my teenage years, I began my career as a Firefighter / Paramedic in 1999, right out of high school. (Read: I’m not really THAT old.) Athletic Mentors encouraged renewing my Lifeguarding certification which led to volunteering as a lifeguard for Tris4Health.
Tris4Health emphasizes safety across their events and the swim portion is no exception. With the support of Athletic Mentors, I’m eager to partner with Tris4Health as their Swim Safety Coordinator. We’ve already implemented improved training for Guards prior to race day, and we will continue to build additional improvements. Working together with local Sherriff’s, Firefighter’s, and Diver’s, we’ll provide a rock solid safe swim experience.
I have always been someone to strive and try something new and have become encompassed in the endurance world and being outdoors. I started running in 2006 with my first race being Fifth Third and then into Ultra Running and then moving onto triathlons with Grand Rapids Triathlon in 2011 and always find myself returning for this race whenever I can. I was able to meet the John and Jon at my first Ironman and build a relationship from there and continuing into completing in several other Triathlons. I have recently expanded onto mountain biking and gravel riding.
I have been active with community awareness for Michigan Special Olympics by participating in polar plunges and being an active member of the Law enforcement Torch Run Central Route. I have also participated with Make A Wish Bike Ride. I am a firm believer in “you get what you put in!”
I love my role as Bike Courses Lead because my passion for cycling goes well beyond competing in triathlons. I would definitely call myself a bike nerd and others have called me a bit of a bike hoarder. In my spare time I enjoy spending time in my shop repairing and refurbishing bikes. When I am not working on bikes I love riding them on and off the road on some of the nicest trails our great state has to offer.
Sports and physical fitness have always been an important part of my life. While on vacation a few years ago, I was discussing with my sister how it has always been a goal of mine to complete a triathlon, even though I had anxiety about open water swimming. A few months later, I connected with athletes in the endurance community, found a swim coach, learned how to swim and within a few months started training for my first triathlon. I’ve been hooked ever since! Over the past couple of years, I have gone on to complete several tris, River Bank Run, many ½ marathons, MSU Grand Fondo, The Marine Corp Marathon, IMOhio – Half Ironman, and have competed in USAT Age Group Nationals. When not competing, I love to give back to the community that has embraced me, by volunteering for My Team Triumph in addition to assisting aspiring athletes. I am a firm believer in anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
I have been a staff member for Michigan Titanium for a number of years, in charge of the Bike Aid Stations. Since Jon & John took over Tris4Health, I have worked many of their events, helping the team with set-up and teardown of numerous races.
As an athlete, I enjoy cycling and doing mud races. I’m also very proud father of a Western Michigan University graduate.