Welcome to Team Bellingham 2025! This year, we have welcomed 19 incredible athletes to our roster. Each person has their own unique story to tell. We have given our athletes the prompt to share something from their story, whether that be a recent race recap, working through injury, how winter training has gone, or their goals for this year. Team Bellingham is a part of many awesome communities, and some are trying to start their own. We have linked each athlete’s social media and additional links that support their stories. Enjoy reading about all their recent experiences.

 

Cherilyn Suiter

2025 is the “Year of the Half” for me! Along with a schedule jam packed with triathlons, I have two half marathons scheduled and two 70.3 (half ironman distance) triathlons scheduled. In March, I started the season off with a 10k PR at the World’s Fastest 10k in Snohomish to lead up to the Mill Town Half Marathon held in April. The half marathon was my second one that I have done since last year and did not come without a lot of pain. I had an enjoyable experience – it just hurt! At the end of April, I will be heading south for the Spring Classic Duathlon in Vancouver. In early May, I will be heading south again for my first triathlon of the season – a short but fun romp through the woods of Maple Valley. Training is going well. I am basically just putting one foot in front of the other and being super consistent. I strive for 100% compliance with my triathlon coach and also try and go above and beyond where it makes sense. This year is going to be a challenge, but I’m here for all of it. Last year I struggled with some heart issues and was unable to race triathlons as much as aquabikes. This year I have the green light and I am signed up for 8 triathlons including two 70.3 events! I continue to raise funds for USA Triathlon Foundation – you can read my story and donate here. You can also follow my journey on Instagram and Facebook.

Check out her USA Triathlon Foundation Ambassadorship and learn more about Cherilyn’s story.

Follow Cherilyn on Instagram,  Facebook

Debbie Eckhouse

Training for me these days is looking a little different. After Ironman Cozumel in November, I found myself as a “neutropenic patient” with practically zero white blood cells and healthy neutrophil in my body. Since then it’s been a long process of endless doctor’s appointments with no answers, and me just trying to build back strength slowly without overdoing it. Finally in the past month I am starting to feel like myself again! I have ramped up to 200-250 miles cycling, 40-45 miles running, and 12-15K yards swimming per week. With my next race just around the corner at Ironman Lanzarote, I’m getting more and more excited that it’s going to actually happen! Plus, I get to race with icon Lucy Charles-Barclay, my idol and the reason my bike is named Lucy. I can’t wait to see what’s to come this summer. I am hoping to stay physically and mentally prepared and happy for what’s to come! 🙂

Check out Debbie’s Professional Profile on the Ironman Pro Series website.

Check out Debbie on Instagram and Facebook

 

Eric Olson

This past weekend I raced the Cascadia Super Gravel 100 and got 2nd in the Open Male category. This year the course was 91 miles and 12000 feet of climbing of gravel roads, singletrack, and even some light bushwhacking. Luckily this year the weather was shaping up to be perfect compared to last years torrential rain but at risk of things being too easy, I got sick the week coming into the race, and I was on the fence about racing. On race morning I felt decent, so I took a few Ibuprofen, blew my nose, and decided to see how far I could make it. Similar to last year, I ended up in the lead of the race after the first singletrack section but I knew the stronger road riders would catch me. I held on with the stronger riders until mile 35 and then the Ibuprofen wore off and I started feeling not so great. I ate as much of my food as possible and stopped at the next aid station to refuel. While I was at the aid station fellow Bellingham rider Evan Walker rode by. I pushed on and thought I might start to feel better but my legs continued to give me nothing. I decided I could make it to the finish but I was going to relax. However, a few miles later I heard a noise behind me and turned around to see Evan coming up behind me. Totally confused, I asked Evan what had happened, and it turned out he had made a wrong turn. The adrenaline of being chased down by Evan finally broke the curse on my legs and I suddenly felt the ability to push again. I rode strong to the finish and enjoyed a super fun singletrack descent at mile 85. I finished with a time of 6hrs 47min, about 6 minutes behind the Open Mens leader.

Follow Eric on Instagram 

 

Heather Nelson

It has been a fantastic winter of training, local races and adventures! I am super excited to transition into busy spring and summer race season! First up, Ski to Sea for probably my 20th year of captaining and racing the kayak leg! Whoo hoo! And, the following weekend, one of my local favorites, the Bellingham SwimRun!

 

Then, I travel to California, Montana and Utah for the Spartan Age Group Series, and West Virginia for the Spartan Trifecta Championships! AND, the highlight of my obstacle course racing schedule… I was selected to compete with the US National OCR Team for the World Championships in Sweden in September!
To finish off the season, in the fall I hope to travel to Abu Dhabi for the Spartan Beast Championships!
Follow Heather on Instagram

 

David Larpenteur

I got to fulfill a bucket list ride just over a week ago by getting to experience the North Cascades Highway sans autos. The day I went couldn’t have had better weather, which was a big bonus. I started the ride from the Diablo Lake Overlook, which had the most stunning views. The ride consisted of a lot of elevation the first half so it was a bit of a grind on the way out. So many bikes were out on the road to pass along the way but it was cool seeing so many others getting to take in the experience as well. At 30 miles out I turned around and fully enjoyed the much faster second half of the ride. I’m already dreaming about wanting to do this ride again sans autos preferably.
This last weekend I raced the Fun with the Fuzz 5K. After not being able to do this race last year due to injury I was really excited to race this one again. Short races are very challenging to perform at full effort due to the higher intensity a shorter race requires. I was able to run pretty even splits and got just under 16 minutes which was the goal. It felt like both a mental and physical win to will myself to that time. I moved up from 6th to 5th about a mile into the race and ran strong to the finish in 5th with the top 5 guys finishing 38 seconds apart. Excited to have another race completed this year. This race also serves as a great lead up race for my next race which is the very competitive Bloomsday 12K in Spokane, WA on May 4.
Follow David Instagram

 

Sarah Ellis 

I have had quite the interesting spring and winter. I was sick with pneumonia, then I threw out my back, then I went on a ski trip, AND then moved home. Needless to say, my training wasn’t super consistent this winter-spring. However, after moving home, I am much happier and have fallen back into my routine. A highlight for me was racing in my first bike race since 2022 right after moving home. I wanted to use the opportunity to push my comfort zone because the last time I did a bike race I crashed and was dropped. I wanted a bit of personal redemption with no expectations except the goal of to not crash. I raced Banana Belt in Hagg Lake OR. It was SO WET. Like I was already soaked before the race even started. The first loop was very chill, but there was one very spicy hill that might prove to break the group up. On the second loop, that hill broke up the group. I was a good amount behind this one girl but caught up to her and then we worked together to catch a group of 3. Then all 5 of us pace lined till the finish and worked really well together. It was really fun to be working together with such strong women by my side. After we were all saying how fun it was and how we would all go on a group ride and do it again together! I walked away wet, cold, and accomplished. I even managed to sprint well enough at the end to pass a couple of people and get 7th place!

I have had one solid week of training and this upcoming weekend I will complete my first ever half marathon! I am super excited as the season is truly ramping up into racing! It will go by quickly so I know I need to make the most of it.

You can also read about my experiences and topics I discuss on my triathlon blog called The Tri-Fueled Life!

Follow Sarah on Instagram and check out her blog, The Tri-Fueled Life 

 

Jazzy Nelson

I had a great winter with swim meets, learning competitive diving, and adventuring. I just started training for my 3rd Jr. Ski to Sea race and our team is getting pumped! I have also entered and am excited for the Lake Padden Swim Run. My mom, dad, and I just got back from our trip to Utah where we did lots of exploring and I practiced some of my new dives cliff diving.

 

Follow Jazzy on Instagram

 

 

Jessica Rogers

I spent most of the winter season running around in the woods getting ready for the Chuckanut 50k. The day of the race was 37 degrees and pouring rain. The course was slick with mud. Luckily I like to suffer and successfully completed all 31 miles! Next up I have the road bike leg of Ski to Sea. Time to convert trail run legs into pedal pushing legs.

Follow Jess on Instagram

 

 

 

 

Max Chmielewski

I kicked off my 2025 race season racing at the local’s favorite Chuckanut 50k. For those who were there you know how tough the conditions were for this year’s race. The entire singletrack portion of the race was very muddy making racers need to be continuously aware of each foot placement to keep from falling in the mud. The racers also saw mid 30s temperatures and rain all race long causing many racers to drop with mild hypothermic symptoms. Fortunately, I train all winter in Bellingham being well prepared for what cold, wet and muddy conditions are like in the Chuckanut Mountains. I had a strong second half of the race finding a fun group on Lost Lake Trail working their way up the field keeping each other’s mindsets positive as they persevered up the very muddy Chinscraper before opening up our legs and to do our best to bomb down Fragrance Lake Trail. Ultimately the race ended up being a ton of fun. Forgetting about the racing mindset and just going out and enjoying the process and the company of other racers.
Max also just raced the Canyons 100k in Auburn California on April 26th.
Follow his adventures on Instagram

 

 

Joey Malloy

The winter and spring training has been full of ups and downs. I had some great running races with a 2nd place finish in my age group at the Whatcom Falls 5k and a 2nd place overall finish at the Runnin’ O’the Green 8k. With the stellar improvements at running this off season, also came a little knee injury that sidelined training for a couple weeks. Thankfully, the time off and focus on recovery has me back on track with my swim, bike, and run training! Next on the calendar is the Ski-to-Sea where I’ll be doing the road bike leg!

Follow Joey on Instagram

 

 

 

Kyle Mabie

An Ode to Lake Padden If I am sent to Purgatory following my departure from this mortal plane, I will surely find myself perpetually plodding along the shores of Lake Padden through a nippy drizzle until my sentence is served.

Lake Padden is a nice little park nestled between the Chuckanut mountain’s brazen slopes and Larabee’s colorful coastline. Padden’s more subtle charm mostly eluded my attention until early this winter. Quickly, the roughly two-and-a-half-mile trail encircling Lake Padden revealed itself to be a perfect training ground for my upcoming, first-ever marathon. Meandering through forest and along shoreline, the trail’s wide, packed gravel beckoned me back run after run. Gradually, I learned every hill and curve, and nearly peed my pants in challenging new sections time and again.

So it was that by race day I had circumnavigated this delightful pond over fifty times. Many laps were plainly miserable—aching and damp. I felt, though, that despite fatigue, one more simple loop was always achievable. I figured the repetition would grow maddening, but instead the route became like an older sibling—a daily nuisance and tormenter, but also a source of stability and gradual growth.

Any athlete out there likely has a “Lake Padden” of their own—a path we love and hate, and know so well that our eyes can glaze over while we do our work. These routes—the daily grinds— sometimes seem unimportant in the moment, but likely make the biggest difference in our long term progress. I exceeded my own expectations on my first marathon at Bridle Trails, and Lake Padden was indispensable to my success. The park has become a special place to me… though I hope to avoid running another lap there for a little while.

Kyle also writes “slogs” ( ski logs) every so often on his epic adventures. Check it out here.

Follow Kyle on Instagram

 

Ethan Hunger

I just wrapped up a 3 day mountain biking trip in Moab, Utah! I had never been before, but it gave me a nice chance to train in a higher altitude setting while testing my downhill ability in a vastly different terrain than normal. I found it to be a really nice mix up from the riding here. The chunky rocky up hills made the fitness element much more significant. The technical rock garden downhills required more precise line choices with significantly more painful consequences when mistakes were made. I’m looking forward to seeing how the skills transfer back to riding in Bellingham!

Check out Ethan’s annual fundraiser for the Bellingham Food Bank – Hunger vs Hunger

Follow Ethan on Instagram

 

 

Cal Skilsky

After a few setbacks this winter, I have been kicking my training into gear for a busy summer! On the horizon I have the Ski to Sea cyclocross leg at the end of May, then the Galbraith Supreme mountain bike race, the Whistler Back 40 mountain bike race, and the Climb for the Cure gravel race all in June.

My training style has slowly changed over the years, from doing the bulk of my rides on pavement with a power meter to doing all of my rides off road and by feel. My favorite part of my training, the Tuesday night short track on Galbraith, has been going in full force every week. This ride is a great opportunity to get some race specific efforts in with a fun crew. A lot of races I choose require a complete package, and I think specificity in training really helps with that. And also mountain biking is the best. Especially in Bellingham.

This photo is from last year’s Whistler Back 40, which is one of my target events this year since it’s a great course that suits me well. I’m really looking forward to this one and the rest of the events I have in this next block of racing!

Follow Cal on Instagram

 

 

 

 

Chris Hughes

This year was supposed to be all about triathlon training and racing. I had big goals and was building momentum—until things took an unexpected turn right before Christmas.

I was lifting weights—deadlifts, specifically, which I probably had no business doing. At first, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Just some discomfort. But it got a little worse every day until it became clear something was really wrong.

Fast forward to mid-April, and I was in surgery for a microdiscectomy. The good news: the surgery was a huge relief, and I’m feeling much better. The tough part: recovery will take a few months, which likely means no races for me this year.

Right now, all my workouts are gentle 5–10-minute walks around the neighborhood—quite the contrast to years past. I’m hoping to get cleared for more activity soon. I’d love to be back in the water before June and hopefully back on the bike this summer. Running is still a question mark, and I’ll just have to see how things go in the months ahead. In the meantime, I’ll be out there volunteering and cheering on my fellow Team Bellingham athletes.

Follow Chris on Instagram

 

Jonas Ecker

After a successful 2025 U.S. Canoe Sprint National Team Trials earlier this month, I am happy to have my racing calendar set for the rest of the year. With wins in the MK1 1000m, MK1 500m, and MK2 500m I secured my spot to compete at the ICF U23 Canoe Sprint World Championships in Portugal in July, as well as the ICF Senior Canoe Sprint World Championships in Italy in August. At the U23 World Championships, I will attempt to defend my U23 World Title in the MK1 1000m from 2024, as well as aiming for a top finish in the MK1 500m. At the Senior World Championships I will be focusing on team-boats, competing in the MK2 500m with Aaron Small, with the remaining combinations still to be confirmed. Between now and my European tour, I will be primarily training at home, with a few National Team Camps at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center, in addition to competing at local events such as Ski to Sea, the Ted Houk Memorial Regatta, and the BEE-Ham Regatta.

Follow Jonas on Instagram

 

Dale Nelsen

I raced a couple races so far in April and I have also been part of the Super Crew with Run Super Series helping put on their fabulous races. So far, we have helped with Seattle Cherry Blossom Run, Ancient Lakes Trail Race, and Tenacious 10 in Seattle. The first race I ran was the 10K at Ancient Lakes and this is my favorite race every year. I came in 5th overall in this one and felt really good. Then, I helped sweep the Blue Loop for an extra 7.5 miles. This past weekend I had a great time running the half marathon in Wenatchee. Next up for me is like the GOTR 5k with my kids in May. Then Ski to Sea with Driven Athletics. Early June I’m running the best relay in the state at Rainier to Ruston Relay followed by my first triathlon of the year at the Pacific Crest Endurance Festival in Bend Oregon on June 14th. Mixed into all this, I’ll be helping the Super Crew at Snohomish Women’s Run on May 10th and Super Marathon and Half on June 21. Looks like a fun couple months for sure!!

Follow Dale on Instagram and Facebook.

 

 

Ana Swedish 

The first part of this year for me has mostly just been training hard and a lot of local races, which have all been super fun! The two races that were highlights so far were the Peter Marcus Rough Water Race on Bellingham Bay and the SPOCC PNWORCA race on Lake Washington. I was first female and first overall in both of those races! We had windy conditions for both races which was exciting and always gives me a little more of an advantage because I am comfortable in those technical conditions.

I have lots more training and racing coming up soon. I am doing the kayak leg of Ski to Sea this year on team Car-Free Green Mountain PT and I am so excited for it! This will be my seventh time racing Ski to Sea and it is always one of my favorite events of the year. I am also looking forward to doing some mountain bike racing soon! I am planning on doing as many of the WMBC Whatcom World Cup races as I can this season and the Galbraith Supreme. Spring and Summer are my favorite time of the year in Bellingham so I am so happy to be outside training as much as I can!

Follow Ana on Instagram

 

Bennett Burke

Bennett is our youngest member on the team, however he is just as a fierce athlete and competitor as anyone on the team. Bennett has been training hard for his Mt. bike season and has already made his way on to a couple podiums. One being 3rd place at Galbraith Gravity’s Grass Roots Race #2 for Boys U14 category. Bennett will be racing in the upcoming Whatcom World Cup Series, as well as Jr Ski to Sea!

Follow Bennett on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kacie Cleveland

Kacie is a champion at bringing people together. She puts together multiple relay teams for the Sunflower relay running race every year. Specifically, 6 teams doing Ski to Sea! It’s truly amazing to see what she’s able to accomplish within her community. She had property in north Whatcom County with endless projects improving her home that keeps her and her family busy. In the middle of this, Kacie also has her personal training business, Driven Athletics.

Kacie recently went on an epic 13-day road trip with her family. She and her kids flew down to San Diego and then drove all the way back up to Washington, making lots of incredible stops along the way. Disneyland, visiting family in Bend,  San Diego Zoo, visiting a farm full of animals, AND stopping at Timberline Lodge on Mt, Hood. Needless to say Kacie works super hard and is happily busy with all her endeavors.

Upcoming, Kacie will have a Driven Athletics Team racing at the Sunflower marathon relay and the iconic 6 teams racing at Ski to Sea relay.

Follow Kacie on Instagram

 

 

 

If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the bios of our Athlete Ambassadors here to get a little bit more background of each of our athlete’s stories. Make sure to follow Pacific Multisports on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on Team Bellingham’s adventure’s and events.