UpGrade Lifestyle Coaches

Educational & Athletic Biographies

Sarah Hart

Founder and President of UpGrade Lifestyle
HFFA Triathlon & Multi-Sport Director
Health Promotion & Wellness Specialist NESTA
ITCA Triathlon Coach
Personal Fitness Trainer NESTA
Metabolic Conditioning Specialist NESTA
Online Personal Trainer NESTA
Fitness Nutrition Coach NESTA
Biomechanics Specialist NESTA
Lifestyle & Weight Management Specialist NESTA
Core Conditioning Specialist NESTA
Sports Injury Specialist NESTA
HFFA TRI Swim Coach
CPR/AED | First Aid

Sarah Hart has excelled as a world class athlete throughout her life. Sarah began swimming competitively at the age of 6. At the 1989 US Olympic Festival she became the first female athlete to win 6 medals (2 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze). In the 1990s, she became a US National Champion, American record holder and ranked Top 16 in the World in sprint freestyle events. Other honors include NCAA All American and USA National Team Member for 6 years.

After an extensive back surgery due to a physical deformity (scoliosis), Sarah and her husband welcomed their two beautiful daughters into the world. As a young mom, Sarah started running in the Run for Your Life Grand Prix Series and in 2006 competed in the Elite Division of the NC Triathlon Series. That same year, Sarah finished 3rd in the Thunder Road Marathon in Charlotte, qualified for the Boston Marathon and earned the Bon Excellence Award for overcoming adversity and living a healthy, active lifestyle. She has competed in all distances of triathlon, including the Ironman distance and is a 10X USA Triathlon National Championship Qualifier and 5X World Championship Triathlon Qualifier, including her most recent qualification at Ironman 70.3 Augusta in September 2023. In 2023, Sarah earned USAT All-American, a podium finish in three Ironman 70.3 events, and 2024 Ironman All World Athlete recognition.

Sarah graduated with a BA in Psychology and Certificate in Business Administration from UNC Chapel Hill. She resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband Greg. They have two daughters, Marissa and Morgan, who are both HS All-American and Scholar All-American athletes, having played Division I soccer at Princeton University and the University of Georgia.

Throughout her amazing journey over the past few decades she has developed programs which focus on creating a healthy balance in our everyday lives. Sarah knows what it takes to overcome obstacles and is passionate about sharing her expertise with clients. Sarah is on a mission to provide the highest quality, customized personal training to UpGrade Lifestyle clients.

Kay Sanborn

Running Coach NPTA
Run Program Specialist
CPR/AED | First Aid

Contact Kay Sanborn
(704) 756-9409

Kay Sanborn grew up in Toledo, Ohio and Yardley, PA where she swam competitively through high school. While she attended Miami University in Ohio, she started running with a goal to lose some weight and get fit. Three decades later, she is still running. Early on in her running career, Kay wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon and made that happen in 1984. Along the way, she has posted a 3:08 personal best and has run in some amazing marathons including NY, Paris, Marine Corps, Philly, Big Sur, Napa, Flying Pigs, SF Nike Women’s Race, Chicago, Grandma’s, Illinois and The Comrades UltraMarathon in South Africa. Kay was inspired by Julie Moss an Ironman athlete who crawled across the finish line in the 1980s. She started doing triathlons and participated in the World Championships in Nice, France in 1986. Kay has completed all distances in triathlon as well. As she entered into her 40s, she knew she may not be as fast but really became appreciative of how lucky she was to be able to swim, bike and run. She decided to give back to the sport of running and helped coach middle and high school track teams which proved to be a rewarding experience. For her 50^th birthday, Kay completed her first full Ironman in North Carolina. At the same time, she helped her daughter Hannah qualify for the Boston Marathon. Kay’s youngest daughter Molly, conquered the English Channel in 14 hours in August 2023. Through personal experience, research and various certifications, Kay has the knowledge and enthusiasm to help her clients reach their goals. One of Kay’s favorite quotes from Nelson Mandela is “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” Kay understands that putting yourself out there can be extremely scary and for this reason, she is dedicated to helping her clients make the impossible happen.