In 1999, Ahmed Zaher, founder of Playtri, attended his first triathlon as a spectator - Rivercities Triathlon in Shreverport, LA. He was so inspired that the next day, he quit smoking and started training for triathlon. He had a ton of questions and wanted to jump in right away. As an athlete who had been coached all his life, he immediately hired a coach. He would hire numerous coaches until he decided to become a coach with Troy Jacobson s Triathlon Academy and would attend one of the first USATriathlon Coaching Certification courses. He fell in love with the sport, the knowledge, the learning and the racing and that is where Playtri was born. His passion for the sport and for coaching would lead him to meet his now wife and the President of our company, Staci Brode in 2002 at the Rivercities Triathlon in Shreveport, LA. Staci wanted a new coach and rumor had it Ahmed was one of the best in town. They would begin dating and working together in coaching and event production in 2004. In 2011, they would open their first Playtri store. Over the next 5 years, they would work to perfect the model that would enable them to help more and more people reach their health and fitness goals. Ahmed will tell you after his 5 beautiful boys, his biggest accomplishment is Playtri and the opportunity it has given him to help people live a healthy lifestyle. Staci was a high school swimmer, with a Marketing and Business Honors degree from the University of Texas at Austin. She found triathlon in 2001 while looking for a way to get back in shape after she left college. She was working in sales for Johnson & Johnson when she decided to leave her job and follow her passion of triathlon and event production in 2004. Staci would join Ahmed and turn the passion they had into a business empire that s success is built on hard work and dedication by both Ahmed and Staci. Setting an example for her two boys of living a healthy lifestyle, enjoying sports as an adult and working hard for something you believe in is what drives her everyday. **Qualified Veterans and Minorities: Receive a $10,000 discount on the franchise fee and a reduced royalty fee for the first two years of business.· **Current Bike/Run Shop Owners: Receive a $10,000 discount on the franchise fee and a reduced royalty fee for the first two years of business.