Looking back on this recent book tour for Unlocking the Triathlon: The Beginner’s Guide to Competing in a Triathlon, published by Meyer & Meyer Sport, I feel deeply grateful. Each stop brought its own energy, lessons, and special moments. From meeting readers in person to connecting with members of the endurance sports community, this tour reminded me why I wrote this book in the first place.
I had the chance to travel through Long Island, South Florida, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Texas. Along the way, I met amazing people, visited great venues, and received support from sponsors and friends who helped make each leg of the tour possible. I want to take a moment to share a recap of each market and offer a heartfelt thank-you to the people and brands who stood behind me.
Long Island: The Tour Kickoff
The tour began on Long Island, where I visited The Next Chapter in Huntington and Barnes & Noble at both Massapequa and Huntington Station.
The kickoff event at The Next Chapter took place in less-than-ideal weather. The conditions were rough, so I was thankful that we still had a decent turnout. Any time people make the effort to come out, especially in bad weather, it means a lot. That support never goes unnoticed.
That said, every tour stop teaches you something. For aspiring authors, I always want to be honest about the experience. While I’m grateful for the event, I would not recommend doing a kickoff at that location. Next time, I would likely choose a local bookshop or a Barnes & Noble for a stronger launch setting.
Massapequa and Huntington Station were both great stops, and I enjoyed the talks and conversations at each one. There is something special about connecting face-to-face with readers and hearing how your story speaks to them. Those moments are what make touring so rewarding.
Special Thanks to Dynamic Triathlete
The Long Island tour was sponsored by Dynamic Triathlete, and I’m incredibly grateful for their generosity. They gave me the opportunity to offer a free one-year subscription at each event, which added something really fun and valuable for attendees.
I genuinely love this app and would highly recommend it to my readers. If you want to check it out, you can use these discount codes:
- 15% off with code: HJMTMedia
- 10% off for runners with code: HILARY
Their support helped make the Long Island leg even more memorable, and I’m truly thankful.
South Florida: Great Events and Great People
The next leg of the tour brought me to South Florida, with stops at Books & Books in Miami, Barnes & Noble in Fort Lauderdale, and Barnes & Noble in Boca.
All three events were a success, and each stop introduced me to wonderful people. One of the best parts of touring is that every city brings a new mix of readers, athletes, supporters, and curious newcomers. South Florida had a warm, welcoming energy, and I left feeling encouraged and inspired.
Whether someone came because they had followed my journey for a while or had just heard about the book, every conversation mattered. These events reminded me how powerful it is to get out from behind the screen and connect in real life.
Special Thanks to GOSleeves
The South Florida tour was sponsored by GOSleeves, and I want to thank them for their support.
This is the only product I use for my knee, and it truly helps me. What makes it stand out is that it has K-tape built into the compression sleeve, which has made a real difference for me. As someone who cares deeply about fitness, movement, and staying active, I’m always grateful to share products I actually use and trust.
You can get 20% off here:
Thank you, GOSleeves, for supporting this part of the tour and for helping athletes keep doing what they love.
Philadelphia: A Meaningful Stop
After South Florida, I headed to Philadelphia with Jacqueline Seltzer, who sponsored that leg of the tour.
We gave a presentation at Greshfit Bike Fitting Shop, and while the turnout was smaller than I had expected, it was still a meaningful event. One thing touring has taught me is that success is not only about numbers. It’s also about the quality of the connections you make.
I was especially grateful to meet people who had followed me on Facebook and Instagram. There is something so special about finally meeting online supporters in person. Those conversations felt genuine and personal, and they reminded me how strong and supportive this community really is.
Special Thanks to Jacqueline Seltzer
A very special thank you goes to Jacqueline Seltzer for sponsoring Philadelphia.
Jacqueline is a runner and a corporate meeting planner, and she is simply incredible. Her support, friendship, and belief in me meant so much during this stop. Having people in your corner who truly want to help is something I never take for granted.
Thank you, Jacqueline, for being part of this journey and for bringing such kindness and energy to the tour.
Colorado: A Full Week of Adventure and Connection
Colorado was one of the biggest stretches of the tour, and I spent a full week there visiting Boulder, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs, Lakewood, and Golden.
This leg was packed with great experiences. I met incredible people throughout the week and had so much fun moving from one city to the next. Colorado has such a strong active community, so it felt especially meaningful to share my book there. The conversations were thoughtful, encouraging, and full of enthusiasm.
One highlight was being featured on a Colorado Springs television station to discuss my book. Media moments like that are exciting, but they also help the book reach people who might not otherwise have heard of it. I was honored to have that opportunity and grateful for the platform.
This whole week reminded me how energizing it is to be on the road, meeting readers, hearing stories, and sharing my own.
Special Thanks to TravelRunner.com
A big thank you to TravelRunner.com for sponsoring the Colorado tour. TravelRunner.com is an interesting crowdsourcing site. Runners and triathletes sign up and can pick a hotel that is friendly to runners. Get 5% off any hotel by using the code: FIRSTTIMETOP.
Their support helped make this busy and exciting week possible, and I’m so appreciative of their role in the journey. Colorado was an unforgettable part of the tour, and I’m grateful to have had a sponsor that believed in the mission and helped bring it to life.
Texas: Dallas, Austin, and a Great Finish
The last stop on the tour brought me to Dallas and Austin, and it was such a fun way to close out this journey.
In Texas, Casey Arendt from Snake and Pig Goggles joined me, and we had an absolute blast on our road trip out to Playtri, where the meet-and-greet was held. Road trips during book tours have a way of creating some of the most memorable moments, and this one was no different.
I was also so happy to finally meet Ahmed Zahar in person. He is the owner of Playtri, and he’s amazing. It was especially exciting because he is also mentioned in my book. Meeting someone whose impact is part of your story adds another layer of meaning to the whole experience.
Playtri was a fantastic setting for the event. It truly has everything for swim, bike, and run. It’s also where I got my beautiful Scott Addict bike, so being there felt personal in more ways than one.
Austin was next on the schedule. We had an event at the Red Horn Brewery in Cedar Park, where I met incredible athletes. Following that, we had an event at the Ready to Run Austin. (Of course, I had to buy a running top!)
At that point, I was reflecting on how much this entire tour had meant to me. Every market offered something unique, and Texas was a strong, joyful finish.
Special Thanks to Snake and Pig Goggles
A heartfelt thank you to Snake and Pig Goggles for sponsoring the Texas leg of the tour.
Their support helped make this final stretch such a success, and I’m grateful not only for the sponsorship but also for the fun, energy, and community they brought. It was the perfect note to end on.
Get 10 percent off the goggles with this link: http://www.Snakeandpig.com.
And that’s a wrap until the next one!
This book tour was about so much more than selling books. It was about connection, community, gratitude, and growth. I met readers, athletes, supporters, and friends in every market, and each stop reminded me how lucky I am to share this journey with all of you.
For fellow authors, I hope this recap offers both encouragement and honesty. Not every event will go exactly as planned, and not every room will be packed. But every stop has value. Every conversation matters. Every person who comes out is worth appreciating.
For my fellow fitness enthusiasts, thank you for continuing to show up, support, and believe in the crossover between storytelling and sport. This tour reminded me how connected those worlds really are.
Thanks to the giveaway sponsors: Jogology, Dynamic Triathlete, Stopain.
And a special thanks to Skechers for outfitting me during the tours. Those outfits were amazing and super comfortable. Stay tuned for another blog on what I got and how it looked!
And to all of the sponsors who supported these events — Dynamic Triathlete, GOSleeves, Jacqueline Seltzer, TravelRunner.com, and Snake and Pig Goggles — thank you. Your generosity, encouragement, and partnership helped make this tour possible.
I’m leaving this experience tired, inspired, and very grateful. And I’m already looking forward to what comes next.
