Welcome Mikhail & Ellie - Power Team!
At GORP Headquarters, we get inspired by so many people. Some are friends and family, some are famous, and MANY are athletes. For this reason, Colleen decided that GORP should start sponsoring athletes, given it's right up her alley - having dabbled in triathlons, running and obstacle race herself. She knows the importance of putting the right things in our bodies, to get the energy we need to fuel our athletic adventures!
While we have a solid handful of amazing athletes that we sponsor (which you will hear all about soon!), we'd like to start with our newest power team, Mikhail Gerylo and Ellie Schwartz! Mik & Ellie stopped by the GORP headquarters this week for a meeting and we all hit it off right away! They are sweet, fun and SUPER ambitious (which is SO inspiring!). Mik and Ellie met in 2013 and have been training and racing together ever since! You know what they say... the couple that trains together, stays together! (and now, the couple that GORP's together, stays together?? :p )
Check 'em out!!
How awesome are they?! Here's a bit more about them:
Mikhail Gerylo
Age: 26
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
Occupation: Physical Education Teacher
Sport of Choice: Obstacle / Spartan Race
How did you get into the sport?
{MIKHAIL} I did my first half marathon (Mantioba) IN 2012. Coming from a Kinesilology, multi sport and personal training background, I was able to train but still surprised myself when I came in 13th overall that day running a 1:20 half! I enjoyed training towards a race and the feeling of competition along with pushing myself past limits on race day. Although I enjoy running, I strive for a balanced functional fitness mindset when training. After the Marathon I decided to look into obstacle racing knowing this would test each part of my mind and body. Soon after I found Spartan race and the community behind it! Spartan offers obstacle races ranging from 5k-50+ so I decided to sign up for the Ottawa Beast (27k) that summer. Thanks to Garbage hill and lots of functional fitness training I was able to podium in Ottawa. This is where I realized the great community, competition, challenge and enjoyment of Spartan race and obstacle racing! Obstacle racing guarantees to bring out any physical and mental weaknesses you have but it also gives you feelings of accomplishment and pride when you cross the finish line, no matter if you come in first or 500th.
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
Definitely a Dingo. This animal is cooperative, agile, loyal, restless, a runner and lives outdoors. Plus I’d be able to live in Australia!
What's your favourite flavour of GORP bar?
PB-Apple or Cocoa, Hemp and Almond!
What are your favourite hobbies?
Trail Running, functional gym circuits, teaching, coaching, reading, biking.
Your Hero or Inspiration?
The words of Eric Thomas inspire and motivate me on a regular basis. Bear Grylls is a man of no excuses, hard work, passion, adventure, learning and strength.
How have GORP Clean Energy Bars helped you?
Training for the Ultra Beast (Spartan race) in Sun Peaks while training and in race GORP helped fuel me mid and post-race. They also help me along with long training sessions.
To follow Mikhail on facebook, check out https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mikhail-Gerylo/492863814202305
Or his athlete page at: http://www.athlinks.com/athletes/193204849
Ellie Schwartz
Age: 22
Hometown: Born and raised in Winterpeg, Manisnowba. I mean Winnipeg, Manitoba!
Occupation: Program Coordinator - Residential Campaign for the Manitoba Heart and Stroke Foundation
also: Teaching Barre classes on Wednesdays 7PM-8PM and Sundays 12PM-1PM at Awesome Hot Yoga and Barre!
Sport of Choice: Obstacle / Spartan Race
How did you get into the sport?
{ELLIE} The summer of 2013 I decided to do Mud Hero and the Dirty Donkey race, immediately I was hooked on the mud, the running, the adrenaline and the all around fun. When I first started seeing Mik later that year, we were talking about what is out there to push ourselves and he mentioned that he had looked into it and wanted to register for the Spartan Beast 7 months away. He asked me if I wanted to do it as well and I said "why the heck not!". You should have seen the looks we got when we told people we had gone from Dirty Donkey to registering for our first Spartan, the 28KM, 32 obstacle, mountain obstacle race, the beast. I will never forget the moment I crossed that finish line. I knew at that moment that we had found something special. It made it all the more memorable when Mik, who had finished 2 hours ahead of me, walked me to the car only to open the trunk and show me the large cheque and trophy he had received for placing 3rd. I would have loved to see the faces of those who doubted us for deciding to "go big or go home" at that moment.
If you could be an animal, what would you be and why?
If I could be one animal it would be a Raven. Ravens are powerful, creative, intuitive, fast and mysterious. In many cultures the Raven signifies knowing one’s self inside and out and staying true to who you are, something that I believe in very strongly.
What's your favourite flavour of GORP bar?
Cocoa, Hemp and Almond!
What are your favourite hobbies?
I love to do Yoga. Without Yoga my physical body would not be able to keep up with my mental body. I also love to read. Reading has always been an escape of mine. From a fantasy that takes me into the depths of Middle Earth to learning the ways of the world from Malcolm Gladwell, nothing beats a good book.
Your Hero or Inspiration?
My hero is my Mom, she is a force to be reckoned with. Between managing my big busy family, fueling my love of the outdoors, and working to change the world she is someone who is a role model to many.
My inspirations are the people I surround myself with. I chose to surround myself with fierce strong men and women who inspire me to be better person every day.
How have GORP Clean Energy Bars helped you?
My body and my mind have not always gotten along. My mind may want something; want to be able to do something that my body won’t allow it to do. I found that one of the strongest ways to connect the two was by using physical activity and nutrition. Finding GROP bars was like a breath of fresh air, finally a bar that I can eat and pronounce all the words on the ingredient list, not only can I pronounce them all, I know what they all are! GORP fuels my mind, body, and taste buds to keep doing the things that I love.
To follow Ellie on online, check out @roseellie on Instagram or @elishevahS on Twitter
Or her athlete page at: http://www.athlinks.com/athletes/203924763
As you can tell, we are SUPER excited to have them representing GORP and we can't wait to be with them on their amazing adventures! Welcome to the family Ellie & Mikhail!
Upcoming events for E&M:
North Face try a trail series (Birds Hill) 22km -Aug 29th (Mikhail)
Electric Donkey - September 3rd, 2015
Swamp Donkey - September 19th, 2015
Spartan Ultra Beast - September 26th, 2015
Spartan Sprint (Sun Peaks) - Sept 27th
Obstacle Racing World Championships - October 17th, 2015
Good luck & kick butt!! :)
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