David DaPrato

East Grand Rapids, Michigan

I have been a triathlete for 23 years and I will continue to be one as long as my joints will allow me. I love the sport, I love the camaraderie, I love the networking, I love the sense of community, and I love the ability to travel and race at the same time. A current goal I have is to complete a triathlon in all 50 states (22 completed so far). I race as part of a local Grand Rapids team, Team Stellafly, which is a group of over 100 members. We have lots of team events through the year and our leader manages a social media brand (Stellafly media) and she takes race photos at all our races. I have a very strong connection to the local triathlon community because of the many years I have raced, but also because I am a physical therapist and a triathlon coach. I specialize in sports rehabilitation and often volunteer at local races to serve as medical coverage for the event. So, If I'm not racing, I am working the race. I have been fortunate to race 70.3 World Championships in South Africa and will be headed to Olympic Distance Worlds in Abu Dhabi this November.
As an addition, my wife and I always find routes to hike when we go on vacation, so hiking and the outdoors has become a big part of my life outside of work and racing. Our next planned trips include Banff and the Pacific Crest Trail. We also have friends who just built a house in the beautiful Bend, OR, so we will likely be visiting them about once a year and they love to hike as well.
I have been a big fan of Picky Bars for several years now. My wife is vegan and I am vegetarian (with vegan tendencies :)) and I often stop at our local run store to pick up bars for both pre-race and for snacks on hikes. But whoa did my life change when I purchased a few sample packs of the Picky Bars oatmeal. That stuff is amazing! It has become my new pre-race meal. The "How 'bout dem apples" is my favorite. But I am always up for trying new foods, so I will definitely try the others as well.
One final aspect about me that I have reflected on lately is that I really enjoy learning new skills. Framing in our garage, putting up drywall, building a patio from brick pavers, installing new trim, laying concrete, spray painting with a spray gun, and tons more. I value the ability to learn from others so that I can put my own spin on things and customize. I love customization! I even removed all my 4Runner badges, painted them metallic green and then re-installed them based on YouTube videos. I think many triathletes have a desire to share with others. Experiences, gear, apparel, nutrition, strategies, etc. I have that desire to share with others every bit of knowledge and experience I can to help someone else feel inspired to customize whatever they wish in life.