05/31/2026
Every triathlete has a song — the one that carries them through the final minutes of a grueling training day, pulls them out the door when motivation is hard to find or brings them back to a breakthrough performance they never want to forget.
Some songs mark triumph, others stir unfinished business, but for Christina Candio, triathlon is more than something set to music. It is the song itself.
Candio’s path to endurance sports and coaching began not on a race course, but in a rehearsal room. Raised in Allentown, she came up in the disciplined world of music, where rhythm, structure and expression shaped her understanding of performance long before she saw herself as an athlete.
In a competitive marching band at Emmaus High School, she learned the rigor and precision required to perform at a high level — lessons she would only later recognize as athletic in their own right.
“It wasn’t until about 10 years ago that I realized that marching band was an athletic achievement, not just a group to support the football team,” Candio said.
What she could not yet see was that those early lessons in discipline and performance were already preparing her for endurance racing.
Candio might never have discovered her potential in the endurance world without confronting what many athletes try to avoid: weakness. At Wagner College, where she attended on a music scholarship, she came to understand that her future in music was less certain than she had once believed.
Though she excelled at reading and playing music, she recognized a limitation that would ultimately redirect her path: “I can read music and play almost any instrument, but I cannot write music.”
Realizing how deeply that gap could shape a full-time career, she made the difficult decision to pivot. What first felt like a setback became a turning point.
That pivot led Candio to shift her academic focus to English literature, continuing her education with graduate work in Wilkes-Barre at King’s College and a second master’s degree from National University. Her professional path expanded into a 25-year career in corporate healthcare, but alongside that career, a new identity was beginning to take shape
“I didn’t want to just be ‘mom’ or ‘healthcare leader.’ I needed something that was just for me,” Candio said about this new step.
Starting with distance running in 2008 — including early races that were self-supported for charity — Candio found both a new self-made label and a new outlet for the same discipline and drive that had defined her musical training.
As her interest in running grew, so too did her athletic ambitions. Under the guidance (or trickery) of a coach, she transitioned from marathons into triathlon, gradually building experience across all three disciplines. Since completing her first sprint triathlon in Philadelphia in 2017, Candio has gone on to finish multiple sprint events, an Olympic-distance race, six 70.3 races, and a full 140.6 Ironman.
Even in competition, her musical background remains evident—she often relies on rhythm and pacing. She explains “music is structured in measures, usually beats of four.” That same four count helps her maintain focus and consistency during swimming and running.
Today, Candio brings that full-circle experience into her role as a coach. As co-owner of EnFlyte Endurance Coaching, she works with athletes across a wide spectrum of experience, from beginners taking on their first race to seasoned competitors pursuing higher performance.
She believes strongly that “anybody at any level should have a coach,” emphasizing that the sport can feel overwhelming, and that the right guidance can break down both knowledge and accessibility barriers. Her coaching philosophy blends physical training with the mental side of performance, helping athletes build confidence, resilience and a sustainable approach to achieving their goals.
“It’s really a totally comprehensive way to train and coach,” Candio said.
In many ways, Candio’s story is one of transformation — guided not by a straight path, but by a willingness to adapt. What began as a passion for music evolved into a career centered on helping others perform at their best, whether in the water, on the road or within themselves.
The same discipline that once guided her through measures and tempos now drives her mission to support athletes in achieving their goals, proving that sometimes the most meaningful direction comes from recognizing — and embracing — what we cannot do.
BACKGROUND QUESTIONS
Q: Where did you grow up?
A: Allentown, Pa.
Q: What was your high school/college athletic experience?
A: Well, I was in competitive marching band in high school. We even had tryouts for our seats in each instrument section.
Q: Did your athletic background help you in triathlon?
A: My background in music and marching band has helped a lot. Music is structured in measures – a measure contains a certain number of beats. Commonly a measure had four beats; during swimming and running I pace myself in fours. I count to four in different tempos based on rate of perceived exertion (RPE) or pace to keep me focused.
Q: What is your favorite instrument to play?
A: I’d have to say it’s the marimba.
Q: Do you have any family members who are also triathletes?
A: My husband is a triathlete and last year my youngest daughter (13 at the time) did her first sprint at Lewisburg.
Q: Do you have an inspiration or someone who motivated you to begin triathlons?
A: I’ve been a runner since 2008. My first coach, Craig Sheckler, recommended cycling as cross-training for marathons. Before I knew it, he recommended getting in the pool and then signing up for a race. I was tricked!
Q: What/where/how long was your first triathlon?
A: My first triathlon was the Philadelphia Triathlon (sprint) in 2017.
Q: What is your experience with the Wilkes-Barre or Back Mountain Triathlon(s)?
A: My husband Jonathan and I co-own EnFlyte Endurance Coaching. Jonathan connected with Dave and Shaun before the 2024 Back Mountain Triathlon. We were so excited about the return of BMT that we joined as a sponsor. We’ve coached a few athletes to success at the Back Mountain Triathlon since then! Looking forward to Year 3 getting athletes to the Back Mountain Triathlon start line and sponsoring again!
Q: How do you and your husband fit your kids into your training?
A: We are a blended family with five kids: Bella 22, Ava 18, Zach 17, Genny 15, Alli 14. They’re accustomed to our training! While it seems easier now (that they are older and) I’m not getting off the trainer to get a snack for someone or running loops around a lacrosse field, their schedules are (now) so different and demanding that we all need to get creative in how some workouts get completed.
FAVORITES
Q: Swim, bike or run?
A: This is like the question about my proudest moment — there are so many things I love about each of the disciplines. It’s tough to choose a favorite.
Q: Has your favorite changed?
A: What I love does change from time to time. I love swimming because it’s time away from technology, it’s quiet and it reminds me of all the swimming joys from my childhood. I love the bike because it was my biggest limiter and I have been successful in completing some very hilly courses. I love the run because I always have enjoyed time on my feet.
Q: Favorite triathlon/endurance race or dream race location?
A: Since I must narrow it down, I will say that one of my favorite races was back in 2022 in the Finger Lakes. Jon and I traveled to a small town outside Ithaca and spent a long weekend on working farm. The day before a 50K trail run we got engaged overlooking a beautiful waterfall. The race was amazing — so humid, beautiful and challenging. Felt so great to finish that race celebrating so much!
Q: Ideal pre-race and post-race meal?
A: Ideal pre-race meal is grilled chicken or steak with a baked potato dry. Ideal post-race meal is (typically much later) tacos or a burger with fries.
Q: What is your favorite type of workout when training for a race?
A: I love track and hill workouts!
Q: What is your favorite thing to do outside of triathlon or endurance racing?
A: I enjoy cooking and reading. I am an amateur plant caretaker. According to the kids, I have over 50 plants that I’ve been passionately maintaining.
Q: Favorite memory from a triathlon race?
A: Seeing my family all along the Mont Tremblant (Ironman) course. Hearing their cheers and seeing their faces was something I carried through to the finish line.
Q: Do you have a mantra or a phrase that gets you through the tough parts of training/racing?
A: Nothing lasts forever.
Q: Favorite race weather conditions?
A: Overcast in the 60s. But that never happens for the duration!
THIS OR THAT
Q: Garmin, Apple or no watch?
A: Garmin! But sometimes I’ll swim or run without a watch.
Q: Flip turns or wall touch?
A: Wall touch.
Q: Full kit or mixed-up pieces for race day?
A: Full kit all the way!
Q: Hand massage, Theragun or neither?
A: All the tools! Boots, lacrosse balls, foam rollers, Theraguns, soft tissue release, chiropractors.
Q: Relay or full tri?
A: Gosh. Great question! Relays are so fun, but I’ve only done one! I think I need to do more relays before I can truly respond.
LOOKING AHEAD
Q: Do you have any goals for your triathlon career?
A: I have a few. First and foremost, my open goal is to enjoy the experience – how I do that shifts from workout to workout, and from race to race.
Q: To be more specific, I’d like to do another 140.6 in the next few years, maybe Ironman Wisconsin.
A: How do you stay motivated through the offseason?
Q: For the most part, I don’t have trouble staying motivated. I really think because my goal is to find ways to enjoy the process – that’s enough for me to keep going. I’m consistent enough in moving my body daily that whatever the season/training demands, it’s part of my day-to-day; not anything extra.
Q: Any advice for those racing for the first time this year?
A: Keep your eyes on your own paper. It’s easy to get wrapped up in what everyone around you is doing, what they’re wearing, what gear they have. It’s your training and your race — focus on the things that are helpful for your first time. Anything else is a distraction.
Q: What does your race calendar look like this season?
A: This year I’ve focused more on running — even though I’m still swimming and biking regularly. I recently ran the Gettysburg Marathon and the Harveys Lake run. I have a trail race in July and thinking about some late summer and fall running races. My race calendar is pretty heavy in hard core spectating for our EnFlyte Team athletes at a few triathlons including: Ironman Happy Valley 70.3, Steelman Triathlon and of course Back Mountain Triathlon — which I’m still thinking of signing up for!
Every triathlete has a song — the one that carries them through the final minutes of a grueling training day, pulls them out the door when motivation is hard to find or brings them back to a breakthrough performance they never want to forget.
