Today we’d like to introduce you to Korey Aukerman.
Hi Korey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I feel like I’ve had an exciting and risky life, filled with amazing people and incredible experiences. I grew up in Cincinnati, OH, playing a variety of sports. Swimming seemed to stick and I spent countless hours in the pool. In high school, the hard work was paying off. I was good but my focus and excitement toward swimming started to dwindle. I was burnt out. The frightening part was, “What’s next?” “Do I swim in college? What if I decided to step away from the sport? If I decided that, where would I go? What would I do?”
Ultimately, I had to face the hard truth that my heart was no longer in swimming. While it had played an important role in forging my identity and had brought me a certain amount of success, the love just wasn’t there. What added to the discomfort was having to pick a college.
Just days before the decision date, I decided to attend the University of South Carolina. It was a risk. I was going to a region that was way different than mine. I was nervous, lonely, and just straight up uncomfortable.
Yet, I look back on these decisions as some of the best I’ve ever made. They made me comfortable with being uncomfortable, which ultimately led me to Triathlon and endurance sports.
Fast forward 8 years, in 2020, I had this itch to challenge myself outside of work and return to athletics. What got it rolling was making a promise to a buddy of mine that in 2 years, I’d do an Ironman. Although I had 10+ years of swimming experience, Triathlon was entirely new to me. Hell, the extent of my biking experience was commuting one mile to class. After joining T3 Philly (a local tri club), I fell in love with the supportive, gritty community and found out I was pretty good at this Triathlon thing. It made me want to help ordinary people, who might feel lost or scared to join the sport, feel confident getting outside their comfort zone.
That’s when I started Aukerman Athletics – a triathlon and run coaching group. Two and a half years later, we have a team of 20 athletes and three coaches, and we compete all over the world. We have athletes ranging from beginners to those striving to become professionals. I’m so happy with where I’m at, the people I get to work with every day, and the challenges I face along the way.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. Hell no.
Ten years later, a similar crossroads occurred. Do I continue my corporate 9-5, where I was living quite comfortably, or take a huge risk and start Aukerman Athletics? My family and friends had reservations and challenged my decision, which is what a good support system does. But I knew from experience that I thrive in uncomfortable zones, and I trusted myself to embrace the risk and see it through.
It was a struggle. “Where do I even start?” “What if I don’t get enough athletes to pay the bills?” “Am I even good at this?” My thoughts went from lost, to worry, to doubt, to…”wait, this is all working out”.
Don’t get me wrong: thoughts of doubt and uncomfortable worries still creep in. Especially now that it’s not just me and my life that are at stake; I’m responsible for shepherding the hopes and dreams of others. But having ordinary people place their trust in me, and being able to help them become extraordinary, has brought me greater joy than my comfortable 9-5 could have ever brought.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Aukerman Athletics?
Myself and my two assistant coaches offer triathlon, running, and endurance sport coaching. It doesn’t matter if you have never run, your goal is to do your first 5k, or you want to go pro, we will help you reach your goals. We offer custom training plans, technique analysis, and, our most popular, 1-on-1 personalized coaching.
What sets us apart is our collaborative approach. We want our athletes to give us feedback and share their opinions on their training and our coaching. That feedback allows us to make the proper decisions on what’s working, what isn’t working, and what will get them to their goals. For example, I have many athletes raising families while training. We work together to find a training schedule that’s realistic and allows them to fulfill their parenting duties.
On top of that, our coaches have a weekly call discussing new training techniques, race strategies, and analyzing fueling studies to give the athlete the best training plan, tailored to them.
If you’re interested in challenging yourself or overwhelmed with where to start, you don’t have to figure everything out yourself! My colleagues and I are here to support you and give you the resources you need to be successful. You can learn more about the team, get triathlon and running tips, and more on our
Instagram @aukathletics or aukathletics.com
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I have two:
1. Getting outside of your comfort zone and taking risks. Through those experiences, you will learn more about yourself and meet amazing people along the way. Even writing this was way outside my comfort zone, but I’m better for it!
2. We all start as beginners. Having a team there to help you with your first steps and someone to lean on when you’re having doubts, can make all the difference.
Pricing:
- 1-on-1 Coaching: $250-$300 per month
- Custom Training Plans: $100 a month
- Technique Analysis: $45 for a half hour
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aukathletics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aukathletics/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572086158329
- Other: Schedule Call: https://calendly.com/aukathletics/30min
