Member Highlight

Jenna’s triathlon journey began with an injury. A former runner who turned to cycling while recovering, she returned to running in 2023 after an eight-year break. With running back in the picture, she decided to learn how to swim and signed up for a Try-a-Tri! After friends recommended TTC’s beginner swim program and group swim workouts, she found her way to the club - and a whole new world of possibilities.

Just two years after joking that she might try an IRONMAN someday, Jenna crossed the finish line of her first full IRONMAN in Ottawa in 2025! It’s an achievement she’s especially proud of, and one she says certainly won’t be her last. The journey hasn’t always been smooth, though. Jenna’s learned that some of the most valuable lessons come during the toughest moments in a race, when giving up feels tempting and you have to dig deep. Case in point? She had to deal with two flat tires during IRONMAN Ottawa! Those experiences have taught her to expect the unexpected, adapt when things go wrong, and keep moving forward.

Along the way, TTC has become an important part of Jenna’s journey. She credits the club’s supportive community with helping her get this far, from advice shared by seasoned triathletes to the friendly faces and encouraging high-fives she receives on race day. It’s a great reminder that triathlon is about more than just the finish line - it’s also about the people who help you get there.

And what does Jenna do when she’s not swimming, biking, or running? By day, she works as a food scientist, and she’s also an enthusiastic baker. She makes a sourdough loaf every week using her own starter. We’d say that’s a pretty delicious way to prepare for carb-loading!

Congratulations to Jenna (@jenncake on IG) on her first IRONMAN and all she’s accomplished so far. We can’t wait to see what she tackles next!

This week’s member highlight is Kathy Cunningham!

Kathy discovered the joy of running in 2016, thanks to friends who encouraged her to get active and meet new people. When osteoarthritis began affecting her knees, neighbour and friend Nancy Schmeler (Dig Deep) suggested triathlon as a way to cross-train. Kathy signed up for her first sprint triathlon before buying a bike!

After hearing about TTC at a BodyPump class, she joined to connect with fellow triathletes and take advantage of group training and learning opportunities. Since then, she’s done sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons, duathlons, and cycling events including the Ride to Conquer Cancer and Bike for Brain Health. Her proudest athletic achievement was finishing the New York Marathon in 2023 - in over seven hours!

These days, Kathy is happily dabbling in shorter triathlons for fun, without worrying about the clock. As she puts it, “I can keep a toe in the triathlon world and hang around amazing and inspiring people, which makes it worth the price of admission!”

When she’s not swimming, biking or running, Kathy serves as Communications Director for the Toronto Bicycling Network. Cycling, she admits, is her favourite of the three - and being part of both clubs gives her the best of both worlds, with plenty of opportunities for training, recreation and great company.

This month, we’re shining the spotlight on Toronto Triathlon Club member Michelle Cameron, who recently represented Canada at the 2026 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships in Pontevedra, Spain.

A TTC member since 2019, Michelle brings an impressive combination of academic expertise, curiosity and athletic determination to everything she does. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toronto, where her research focuses on evolutionary anthropology, bioarchaeology, skeletal biology, and how humans adapt to different environmental and cultural conditions.

Away from the classroom and research lab, Michelle has been putting that same curiosity and commitment into triathlon. Her World Triathlon career already includes a 16th-place finish at the 2024 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships in Townsville, Australia. This September, she took on another major international challenge in Pontevedra, Spain, joining thousands of athletes from around the world for the 2026 World Triathlon Age-Group Championships.

You can almost always find Michelle at our club socials and Splash & Dash events, connecting with fellow members and helping make TTC the welcoming community it is. She’s also an active presence in our Discord channel, regularly engaging with other members, sharing her experience and answering questions whenever she can.

Whether she’s representing Canada on the world stage, lining up at a local TTC event, or helping a fellow member navigate a training or racing question, Michelle embodies what being part of the Toronto Triathlon Club is all about: being an athlete, but also being part of a community.

Congratulations, Michelle, on representing Canada and TTC on the world stage!

We’re proud to have you as part of the TTC community.