Client Testimonials
Joe Recomendes
Coached by Sarah Hart
What a trip. I spent four months training for my first triathlon, and completed the Lake Norman YMCA Sprint Triathlon. And I placed third in my category! Big thanks to my family for always telling me how much progress I’ve been making over the last three years. And a huge thanks to my coach, Sarah Hart, absolutely could not have done it without her training and nutrition. Seriously thank you to everyone who helped me get here. My heart is so full of gratitude and pride this morning. On to the next one. – Joe Recomendes
  
Lisa Bishop
Coached by Sarah Hart & Kay Sanborn
It had been a long-term goal of mine to someday give the Ironman 70.3 distance a shot. I loved the sprint and international distances but wanted to challenge myself further. I knew that the only way I was going to achieve my goals was to find a coach that could customize a training program that would highlight my strengths and strengthen my weaknesses. Coach Sarah’s attention and expertise brought me from a mediocre barely making it through the swim to a confident and strong front of the pack swimmer. With programmed speed workouts at the track Coach Kay has helped me to get faster, more efficient and become a more knowledgeable runner. Her experience and coaching set me up for PRs in both 5K and Half Marathon distances. I started with UpGrade in May 2019 and since then have completed 13 Ironman 70.3 races, with two 1st place AG finishes, qualified for 4 Ironman 70.3 World Championships (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024) while earning Ironman All World Athlete Gold status and USAT All-American status. Triathlon may be an individual sport, but it is by no means a solo endeavor. There is no way I would have the amount of success in this sport if not for Team UpGrade. I am forever grateful, always learning, and cannot wait to see what’s next. This journey has been so much more rewarding because of the people I get to do it with. – Lisa Bishop
Ed Douglas
Coached by Sarah Hart
Thankful for Coach Sarah in always believing in me and pushing me to do better. I’ve accomplished a lot in the last year and a half with her coaching. I especially appreciate how she is always available to all of us and willing to share her knowledge of triathlon. Appreciate her for being the kind of coach that makes people want to be a part of our team. – Ed Douglas
Lydia Cline
Coached by Sarah Hart
Coach Sarah was the catalyst behind my triathlon journey. I have wanted to do a triathlon since I was little and saw my dad complete an Ironman, but the swim had always terrified me. From my first swim lesson with Coach Sarah where I could barely swim 25 yards to completing a 1.2 mile open water swim in Ironman 70.3 North Carolina, I still can’t believe the progress I have made. Sarah is a wonderful coach and motivator, and I’m so grateful to have her in my corner. – Lydia Cline
Thibaut Taquet
Coached by Sarah Hart
In barely a month, Coach Sarah was able to give me not just the skills but the confidence to complete the ocean swim in Ironman 70.3 Hawaii. It was quite an experience! On top of that, she has been able to create a great triathlon community. I even got a few friends to compete in their first triathlons thanks to the HFFA summer event organized by Sarah. Thankful for everything she has done and the impact she has on our lives. Can’t wait to keep improving! – Thibaut Taquet
  
Byron Thompson
Coached by Sarah Hart
One of the largest goals when I moved to North Carolina was to re-commit to competition and exercise. After going to HFFA for several weeks I wanted to challenge myself more than I had ever done before and decided to do that through swimming. I could not swim from one end of the pool and back without stopping. I figured Coach Sarah would be some nice person that volunteered her time for 40+ ex-athletes like me and help them at least be able tread water a little longer. Little did I know I would meet such an amazing instructor and be a part of a network of superior athletes. She has not only helped me achieve my goal of swimming but she has made me fall in love with the process of continuous self improvement. – Byron Thompson
  
Sarah Demarest
Coached by Sarah Hart
Coach Sarah has not only taught me to swim 1.2 miles efficiently, to bike 58 miles (Ironman 70.3 North Carolina) with proper nutrition, and to run 13.1 miles without stopping. She has taught me persistence, and to be kind to myself, and that my journey is MY journey and that showing up is what gets us across the finish line. She has also shown me and countless others what friendship and coaching with compassion means. I’ve been inspired to be a better athlete and mother while she guides me through this journey. – Sarah Demarest
  
Paul Carini
Coached by Sarah Hart
I am so thankful for Coach Sarah’s dedication to our sport. She has created a culture of inclusiveness that is spreading quickly and encouraging all types of people to try the sport. Personally, for me she has helped me shave off 10 seconds per 100 yards in less than half a year. Not only has she helped my form in the water, but I’m 100% confident that my swimming fitness has translated to every other discipline as well. She genuinely cares about her tribe, and it shows! – Paul Carini
Hope Dunlap: Before & After
Coached by UpGrade Professional Team
When I found UpGrade Lifestyle I was severely overweight, timid, depressed; unhealthy, unmotivated and simply afraid to get off my couch. The UpGrade team helped me change the way I ate and the way I saw food. Through their classes and individual training plans, they changed the way I moved and taught me that we are always capable of so much more than we think, in training and in everyday life. With their guidance and never-ending flow of positivity and support, I’ve been able to complete quite a few half marathons, two full marathons and IRONMAN 70.3 Eagleman, and don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon! Most importantly, UpGrade helped me reclaim my health, my self-confidence; myself. It just goes to show that when you surround yourself with positive people, amazing things happen! – Hope Dunlap