What is Fit & Able?

Fit & Able is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that builds healthier communities one athlete at a time through organizing creative events, programs, and activities.

Although our current events focus on running, over the past thirty years we have provided events and training teams for swimming, cycling, and running sports, including track and field, cross country, road races, triathlon, and other multisport events.

We welcome athletes of all ages, skill levels, and abilities and especially encourage youth, novice, and nontraditional athletes to participate.

Our Mission

Fit & Able's mission is to promote a health, fitness, and wellness in Cary and surrounding communities. We believe these things are the bedrock to a high quality of life.

Fit & Able's events are open to the general public – children, adults, seniors, families, and sometimes even pets!

Starting the Mission

You might not believe it but “Fit & Able” actually goes all the way back to 1984 when Mike Wright Colopy created a cartoon short story. This was a story about a husband (“Fit”) and wife (“Able”) who took control of their destinies and reclaimed their health.

Those characters perfectly illustrated the Fit & Able philosophy.

No matter how old you are or how out of shape, it’s never too late to take back control and lead the healthy life you deserve. And, the transformative journey is always better when you have someone traveling that road with you.

But Fit & Able really came to life in 1996 when the Wright Colopy family moved to Cary.

That year the CDC released a report that ranked all the states by their youth obesity rate. Of the reporting states, North Carolina came in dead last.

Worried about the unhealthy environment she was introducing her own young kids, Travis and Glen, to Coach Alisa went into action. Combing her long background in public health programming and elite competitive racing, she set herself to getting kids and their families moving again.

Coach Alisa knew that she couldn't turn things around for everyone across the entire state. But she believed that she could have a positive impact on her own local community. Even if it was just one kid at a time, she would help them take hold of the healthy lifestyle they needed.

The earliest programs started while she working at the Cary Family YMCA as the youth fitness coordinator. These programs quickly grew out into Team Fit & Able, a youth triathlon training team.  Shortly thereafter Fit & Able staged its first youth triathlons, including the USAT Mid-Atlantic Youth Championship.

For nearly 30 years Fit & Able has continued to build a healthier community one person at a time through organizing creative events and programs.

It’s Never to Late to Start

It doesn’t matter where you are in life’s journey or what your background with health and fitness may be.  You aren’t alone and it’s not too late.

Today is the day to get up and start moving!

We are here to help you achieve the healthy life you want to lead.

If you don't know for sure where you stand on your goals, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Are you as healthy or as fit as you would like?

2. Are you living the life that you want?

3. If you were as healthy or as fit as you'd like, would you live the life that you'd want?

If you answered no to either question 1 or 2 but yes to question 3, then we have the resources to empower you to achieve your goal of living a fit and able life.

We’ve created a Start Here page just for you! Let that page be your guide for your health and fitness journey.

There you will find the path through all the resources we have created to help you. Whether its our events, training teams, articles, podcasts, or ebooks, we have something for you.

And if you can’t find what you need, let us know and we’ll get to work!

This isn’t a get fit quick scheme. This journey requires a lot of work. You’re going to sweat. Your body will be sore. You’ll want to quit.

But we promise you that if you keep moving forward the results will be nothing short of amazing. We’ve even got a page dedicated just to showcasing success stories to show you just how possible it is to transform your life.

The best part is that you don’t have to keep coming back to find out what’s new. Join our newsletter and we will send it right to you FREE!

Are you ready?

Get started now!

Meet the Team

Alisa Wright Colopy - President

Coach Alisa Wright Colopy has been a life-long advocate for personal fitness.

With a background in healthcare and a passion for helping others, she has coached more than 5,000 athletes ages 5 to 95 in triathlon, cross country, and track & field. She has helped thousands more step up to the start line and cross the finish line.

No matter how fast you go you know Coach Alisa will always be waiting for you at the finish line with a big hug.

Email: fitandablecoach@gmail.com

Certifications:

• USA Track & Field (Level 1 Certified Coach)

• USA Triathlon (Level 2 Certified Coach, Certified Race Director, Certified Youth Race Director)

Travis Wright Colopy - Executive Director

Travis grew up with Fit & Able, serving as a race volunteer, camp counselor, and board member.

Following law school, he returned to Cary to be closer to family and build a business that was deeply involved in the community.  In 2013 Travis took on the role of Executive Director. In addition to leading the organization, Travis has also been a coach for Team Fit & Able and is the head timer at events.

Email: travis@fitandable.net

Certifications:

• USA Track & Field (Level 1 Certified Coach)

• USA Triathlon (Certified Race Director, Certified Youth Race Director)

• Road Runners Club of America (Certified Race Director)

• Duke University (Certificate in Nonprofit Management; Certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership)