Kari Bradley

Kari Bradley grew up in a small town outside of Flint, MI. playing a wide variety of sports including softball, volleyball, basketball, skiing, cheerleading, track, and cross country. Post high school she walked on to the track and cross country team at Eastern Michigan University where she experienced how determination and good old fashioned hard work pays off.  Kari learned that she could push her mind and body further then she ever thought possible, and improved enough to earn a scholarship by her second year of competition.  She was a 4 year varsity letter winner in Cross Country, Indoor Track, and Outdoor Track, and was awarded the Athletic Directors Honor Roll for academic achievement. Post graduate she began to focus on road racing and competed in several marathons, which opened the door to the new sport of ultra running-- and several 50K ultramarathons. Kari had the honor of competing in two big anniversary events – the 100^th running of the Penn Relays and the 100^th running of the Boston marathon.

After so many years of running she began to get a little burned out. Kari always wanted to attempt a triathlon, and at the encouragement of her husband, bought a bike in July of 1999 and completed her first triathlon that fall.  Kari was completely hooked on the sport and focused on triathlon for three seasons.  Realizing her cycling potential she decided to give competitive road cycling a try. Challenged yet again by a new sport she raced Cyclocross, road, and track achieving Cat 2 status by the end of her first season.  In her second season she raced and Cat 1, competing in several NRC races.  These races included the Philly Liberty Classic (with the infamous climbs up Manayunk), Joe Martin Stage Race, Tri Peaks Stage Race, Athens Twilight, International Cycling Classic Superweek, and Masters Road Nationals.

After a little over 3 years and a few bad crashes Kari decided to return to triathlon where she has competed in every distance from sprint through Ironman. She has raced 6 Ironmans and is training for #7 in 2012.

Kari's coaching education matches her athletic experience.  She has a masters degree is Exercise Science and Sports Administration from Eastern Kentucky University, and spent one year as a graduate teaching assistant (strength training).   She volunteered as the track and cross country coach at Auburn University, and spent a year as a graduate assistant track and cross country coach at Eastern Kentucky University. After moving to Atlanta in May of 1996 she completed an internship with the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee, as she continued my running with the Atlanta Track Club Women’s Competitive Team.

Always looking for her next challenge, her most recent “need for speed” hobby is racing her modified 1994 Miata in Autocross events.