Meagan McDonald

I swam competitively from the time I was 4 all the way through my college days at Lehigh University. During college, I first discovered my passion for coaching as a summer swim coach. I loved every second of it. After college, I had an abrupt lifestyle change when I commissioned as an Officer in the U.S. Army. Despite being in shape from swimming, I struggled to meet Army physical standards which focused almost exclusively on running. I began running daily and training for distance races, working my way up to half marathons. My deployment in 2013 led to the discovery of my passion for both CrossFit and Indoor Cycling, as I was forced to move my workouts indoors. Both workouts challenged and pushed me to my limits in unique ways. When the cycling instructor at my location redeployed home, I stepped up and started teaching the classes myself. What started as a temporary fix became a passion that continues today.

When I returned from deployment, I got out of the Army and received a job offer from as a Human Resources Manager for DuPont, bringing me to Wilmington, DE. As a kid, I spent the majority of my formative years near Philadelphia, so it was great to be near “home.” Once settled in my new “day job,” I got my official Spinning certification from Madd Dogg and started teaching at the Central YMCA, where I still teach one day a week. When I found out RIV Athletics was adding a cycling program, I knew it was meant to be; a way for me to get reintegrated in the CrossFit world, while continuing my love for teaching indoor cycling.

In my “free” time, I love reading and being outdoors. I’ve dabbled in triathlons, and would like to complete a half Iron Man. My philosophy in both fitness and life is “if it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you.” I firmly believe the harder you work at something, the greater the reward. I’m excited to get to know and challenge all of the athletes at the Riv!

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