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Meet Ashley Ebenhoch of Desert Athlete in Gilbert

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Ebenhoch.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ashley. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Growing up, my father was an entrepreneur and a motivational speaker for large corporations. He taught my sister and I that having a growth mindset and a foundation made of positive thinking is the key to accomplishing your goals. Over the last 15 years, I have used that foundation to create a personal training and health coaching business. I have coached thousands of clients throughout the years and the one thing that I always try to instill in our sessions is the notion that no goal is out of reach.

My husband and I have two amazing children (Avery, 9 and Everett 6). We are trying to instill in them what my father taught me. I want to help guide them in finding a passion that sets their souls on fire. We want them to be able to set goals to reach for the stars and to know that they can do absolutely anything they put their minds to…this is where the sport of Obstacle Course Racing comes into play.

Within the last eight years, I have used the sport of Obstacle Course Racing (OCR) and trail running as a motivational tool for myself, my children and my clients. Training for a race brings a whole new level of purpose and determination to our training sessions. I am passionate about helping my clients, my friends, family and my children discover their inner athletes. I love watching them all conquer their goals and cross the finish lines with a huge smile on their face and a sense of accomplishment in their hearts.

The world of OCR has completely changed my mindset, I now look at each day as an opportunity to get stronger as a competitive OCR athlete. I have been able to travel around the country to race and have qualified for the OCR World Championships for four years in a row. While the sport is relatively new, it has gained a lot of traction and quickly becoming one of the most popular event for weekend warriors worldwide.

Has it been a smooth road?
With my father being such a large part in helping me to passionately pursue my dreams, it was absolutely devastating when we received the news almost seven years ago that he had Alzheimer’s Disease. Watching this positive light slowly dim over the years has been heartbreaking. The toll this disease has taken on my mother and our family is so great that it is hard to put into words. My dad went from being this outgoing, vibrant man who could talk to anyone about anything, to a faded version of himself living in memory care home in Gilbert that specializes in treating patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Through my business, I have been able to host a few events each year to raise money and increase awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association. I sincerely hope that we can find a cure for this agonizing disease so that no other family has to go through the process of slowly losing their loved one, one memory at a time.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
Although I am passionate about Obstacle Course Racing, I pride myself in my ability to coach clients of all fitness levels. I work with children on speed and agility training, I have coached clients who are over 400 pounds and just starting off on their journey into better health. I also work with a ton of stay at home moms who want to be healthier, stronger version of themselves to be able to set a good example for their children.

We work on all realms of health and wellness at Desert Athlete. From Macro Coaching, online programming, lifestyle coaching, to training programs for 5k’s, OCR, and marathons. If you have a goal you want to accomplish, I want to be with you on your journey and help you every step of the way.

Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family has been my biggest support system. Without my husband’s hard work, I would never be able to pursue my passion as a coach and as an OCR athlete. He comes with me to almost all of my races, he takes the kids when I have to head to San Tan Mountain for a 3-hour training run, and he helps me with the back end of my business.

My children are a huge reason for me doing what I do each day. I want to be a strong example of what it looks like when you set a goal and accomplish something that once seemed impossible. Avery and Everett have gotten involved in trail running and obstacle course racing. Together, they have competed in over two dozen races with about five more on the calendar for the year. I am beyond proud to be their mom.

Pricing:

  • Small group training is available for $90/month
  • Personal Training is available for $45/hour
  • 6 weeks of Health Coaching is available for a flat fee of $220

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Jake Ebenhoch; Ashley Ebenhoch

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