(1960 – 2009)
If you knew Kerrie Guibord – you knew how much she loved animals, especially her three cats Gryphon (Fat Boy), and twins Tiki, and Ronde¢ – otherwise known as her “boys”. They always brought such joy and comfort to her. Kerrie was an avid reader of anything in print and accumulated quite a library over the years. She was a history buff and especially enjoyed reading about the American Revolution. Kerrie also enjoyed and grew a variety of plants and flowers in her gardens. A few of her favorite places to spend time with family and friends included Rollins Pond State Campground in the Adirondack Mountains of NY, a family camp on an island in Lake Champlain, NY, and the beautiful islands of Hawaii.
Kerrie was a very active tri-athlete who loved to train and compete with her friends and teammates in the great outdoors. She was known by many at the Jersey Shore as “Coach Kerrie”. She could often be found running the boardwalk in Spring Lake, riding her bike on training rides, participating in Adventure Team Races and training at The Atlantic Club where she was an active member. She was a big fan of Lance Armstrong and aspired to emulate his work ethic as she prepared for many of her athletic events, as well as the challenges that she faced in life. She was famous for her team training regimens and encouraged many a first time marathoner. In addition, she dedicated her time and energy to raise money for a variety of causes such as the National Arthritis Foundation (NAF) and the Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS).
Kerrie trained many NAF Joints in Motion teams to compete in various marathons including those in Dublin, Ireland and San Francisco, Ca. Other marathons that she participated in included scenic places such as Alaska, Chicago, San Diego and the grueling Marine Core Marathon in Washington, DC. She was a regular participant in the MS 170 mile bicycle team ride from Sandy Hook to Cape May and the River to Sea Relay from Frenchtown to Manasquan.
Kerrie loved an event that would challenge her mind and body. Her ultimate goal was to be able to participate in the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. To begin preparations toward Hawaii, she competed in the Ford Ironman in Lake Placid, NY in July of 2004. Her attempt to compete a second time in 2005 was thwarted by the onset of ALS. Although she found herself unable to complete the event in 2005 due to muscle fatigue during the 2.4 mile swim, she was at the finish line 8 hours later to cheer on a first-time Ironman competitor that she had trained. It was a true testament to her commitment to the challenge of the sport and to those she often took under her coaching wing.
ALS may have claimed her body, but Kerrie’s spirit lives on in each first-time swimmer, cyclist, and runner as he/she dives into the water, clips into the bike pedals, or pounds the pavement!
