Tracy Kujat

Position: Certified Personal Trainer

For as long as I can remember, being an athlete and playing sports has always been a part of my life. My mom signed me up to play tee-ball at the age of five and I’ve been in sports ever since. When I started high school I was 4 ft. 9, and 108 lbs. Since I was so small my mom wouldn’t let me play football, so I tried out for basketball. Although I had little success on the court, I did gain some great insight into what I was going to be successful at.

It was running all the suicides and wind sprints in those brutal 6 a.m. practices that helped me realize I might not be big or tall, but I was without a doubt, FAST!! Opting to take weight training instead of P.E., I also found out that I had a great passion for lifting. Immediately I saw success in the weight room and with that little bit of triumph I began to build my career. I started to learn my first lesson of sports and what it takes to be a high-caliber athlete, which is discipline and dedication. Trust me; getting up at the crack of dawn to go put yourself through grueling workouts isn’t on the list of fun things to do for any 14 year old. However, having two older siblings who were both successful athletes, I didn’t want to grow up in their shadows.

I wanted to make my own name, I wanted to stand apart and I wanted to be recognized for being me. I knew I had to be dedicated to being the best, no matter how early I had to get up, or how late I had to stay, I was going to be there!! Once track season came around I was pumped to run and on the first day of practice I was given the opportunity to run with the varsity team. All of a sudden I was learning from these varsity guys that it doesn’t matter how much talent God gave you if you didn’t put in the HARD WORK, which was my second lesson. After my freshman year, I proved myself and convinced my mom to let me play football, which was when things started to really take off for me. For my efforts on the field I gained the nickname ‘little big man’ and I relished it. Football taught me TEAMWORK and what it means to try hard for every teammate, and not let any one of them down.

After graduating from high school I went on to run track for the Mules of Central Missouri State University. It was there that I learned to stay MOTIVATED, how to keep a POSITIVE ATTITUDE and have MENTAL TOUGHNESS. My track career in college really gave me my edge today. I was part of a great, successful program and got to run for a coach who was an Olympic decathlete. His brilliant coaching helped me as I grew as an athlete and also battled several injuries. Trying to come back from a torn hamstring, blown quad, stress fractures in my feet and finally a torn ACL, gave me the chance to use all the lesson I had learned from sports. I needed to be mentally tough, keep a positive attitude, remain motivated, rely on my teammates for help and never forgetting what discipline and dedication are. Graduating with a Bachelors of Science Degree under the umbrella of fitness and wellness, specifically in Exercise Science, I was then able to achieve certification as a personal trainer from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.

What drives me to be a great trainer is all the coaches that I have ever had that gave me the inspiration, the lessons and advice for sport and life. I have dedicated myself to be as much of an inspiration to each and every one of my clients and strive to pass on the lessons my coaches have instilled in me.