By Rob Potter
SULLIVAN COUNTY — July 6, 2010 — Tracie Euker continues to excel in the sport of bodybuilding.
A few weeks ago, Euker, an art teacher at Liberty Elementary School, placed fourth in the Pro Women Pro Figure division at the Nancy Andrews Northeast Classic in Marlborough, Mass. This was the first time Euker, who lives in Middletown, participated in a pro figure competition with the World Natural Bodybuilding Federation (WNBF).
Euker noted that many of the nine women who competed in the Pro Figure division at the event are veterans of the sport.
“I was in disbelief when I found out I placed fourth,” Euker said in a recent telephone interview. “It was a tough competition. I am very thrilled to finish fourth.”
Of course, Euker’s three biggest fans – husband Brad and their sons, 7-year-old Madden and 6-year-old Cameron – were proud of her accomplishment.
“They were very happy,” Euker said. “Madden picked up my medal and said, ‘This is so heavy I can hardly carry it.’”
Euker then rewarded herself for doing so well in the event.
“I took three days off to rest and I allowed myself to eat whatever I wanted,” she said.
But Euker quickly returned to her strict diet and workout routine.
“It’s really a 24/7 thing,” she said of the exercise and nutritional program which is necessary to compete in high level bodybuilding competitions.
Euker has also continued to fitness model and is gaining national recognition. She appears in the Aug. 2010 issue of Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness magazine that is currently on newsstands and will be featured in an upcoming issue of World Physique Magazine.
“It’s always exciting to be in the magazines,” Euker said.
The two-page article in Natural Bodybuilding & Fitness, which is titled “Tracie Euker: Not Your Typical Soccer Mom,” details how
Euker began her bodybuilding career five years ago after looking in the mirror and being unhappy with how she looked. She is especially pleased that the author of the article, Pete Dombrosky, complimented her by writing that “Tracie is one of the most accomplished natural bodybuilders out there.”
Unlike some of her fellow teachers and the students at Liberty Elementary School, the 42-year-old Euker said she doesn’t plan to spend the summer vacation sunbathing at the beach or enjoying lazy days at the barbecue.
“I’ll be in the gym continuing to work on and fine tune my pro figure,” she said. “My goal, as always, is to win.”
One of the competitions Euker will be training for is the WNBF Pro-Worlds, which will take place in November in New York City. The event is the biggest show the WNBF has and officially ends the 2010 season. Athletes from around the world are expected to attend and compete for the world title.