About Us

Our core values are Passion for Performance, Communication, Collaboration, and Integrity
Fusion helps each athlete succeed in both sport and life by encouraging an enthusiasm for education and an excitement for new experiences. Soar with Fusion and develop the vision and wisdom to see your endurance lifestyle from a higher perspective!

Nominated for 2019 Coach of the Year through Outspoken!

Certified as 1st United States based Extreme Triathlon Coach – and the first female!

Take flight with Fusion and
soar higher than you Dare!
Fusion Endurance Coaching

Fusion Endurance is committed to working with you to fuse athletic performance into your lifestyle.

About Fusion Endurance Coaching

Fusion Endurance is a coaching company committed to working with you to fuse athletic performance into your lifestyle. At Fusion Endurance, we work with you, as a team, to offer an effective training program that allows you to succeed in your expectations.  We offer the highest level of service, by providing individualized attention with a vision for your goals. We combine a Bachelor of Science degree, multiple endurance sports certifications, a keen passion for continuing education and real world experience to provide the highest level of coaching for you.  Having been in the coaching profession for over 30 years we understand both the mental and physical aspects that come from sports participation. Our promise to all athletes is that we will work with you to map your unique route to reach your goals.

We are committed to relationship-building and collaborate on every coaching plan. We will grow with you as you create your endurance sport lifestyle through personalized coaching plans tailored to your goals and long-term vision. By working together, you will soar higher than you than you ever dreamed.

There are varying tiers of personalized coaching plans ranging from multisport to single sport plans, as well as 1:1 sessions to enhance your training. We also offer mentorship for beginning coaches and group triathlon camps.

Learn More about Fusion Endurance Coaching Services

  • “Lookin’ Good and
    Feelin’ Gorgeous”
  • “Onward and Upward”
  • “Consistency is Key”
  • “Be YOU!”
These are just a few of the Coach “Sami’isms” that you can experience at Fusion.

Coach Sami

Coach Sami is a true Wilmingtonian having made this beautiful coastal town her home since 1969.   She grew up with a dance background, but was also extremely active in the sports world playing volleyball, softball and running track for John T. Hoggard High School.   She was awarded the prestigious Morehead Cain Scholarship which afforded her so many opportunities both at UNC Chapel Hill and in the real world. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Biology from UNC and went on to receive her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from NC State University. She possesses an interest in canine rehabilitation which translates to knowledge in injury prevention and rehab in her athletes.

Coach Sami is “Mighty Mouse” and displays a huge passion for striving to conquer any goal thrown her way.  She has completed 100 triathlons of all distances, 21 Iron Distance Events and qualified for the Boston Marathon 9 times.  These are just a few highlights. She conquered her inability to swim and has Escaped from Alcatraz 5 times and completed other Xtreme events. She has qualified for and completed the Ironman World Championships and the same for the 70.3 distance (2 times).

Coach Sami is “Yoda” and has a keen sense of understanding the mind of athletes. With an ability for empowerment and self-belief, she is able to guide her athletes to achieve anything they dream.  She doesn’t hesitate to collaborate with national coaches and Olympians, as it truly takes a village to build a strong endurance athlete.

Education is
key for both
Sami and her
athletes

Sami’s love of coaching is tied to her passion for building relationships. She is dedicated to empowering her athletes to improve their health through physical activity while giving back to this beautiful community.  Sami serves as volunteer coordinator for the NHRMC Wrightsville Beach marathon,  Ironman 70.3 North Carolina, and multiple 5k events with Go-Time timing company.  One of her fondest memories is having the pleasure of bringing in the last finishers of the marathon for the past ten years.  That is where her true spirit comes out. She has produced and directed multiple learning camps and educational opportunities with Michellie Jones, Sheila Taormina and Matt Dixon. Sami shares her life with her 6 dogs (Tommie, Danni, Holly, Moose, Daisy and Fiona) and her most awesome bike mechanic, cook and technical advisor extraordinaire.

experience & training

USAT Level II Coach | USAC Level II Coach | RRCA Certified Running Coach Level I | Training Peaks Level I Coach | USAT Youth/Junior Coach | Swim Speed Secrets Certified | 100+ Ironman Finish Line Athletes – All Levels | 10+ Boston Marathon Qualifiers | 200+ Athletes Coached | 21 Ironman Finishes, including Alaskaman Extreme, Swedeman Extreme, and Iceland Extreme Triathlon | Kona Ironman World Championship Qualifier and Finisher | Ironman 70.3 World Championship Qualifier (2x) | Boston Marathon (3x) and Qualifier (9x) | USAT National Championship Qualifier and Participant | 100 Triathlons All Distances

Coach Harrison

Harrison Brown has been competing in triathlons at the local and national level since 2012. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina he began his competitive career as a year-round swimmer and transitioned to competitive triathlons while studying at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington. After graduating in 2015 with a degree in physical education, he taught for New Hanover county public schools before becoming a full-time coach with STAR Aquatics in Greensboro in 2018. As a blend of his teaching experience and years competing, Harrison’s coaching philosophy prioritizes education and long-term enjoyment within the sport before anything else. He says while competing, succeeding, and bettering himself is important, the true benefit of triathlon is it has given him something he can enjoy individually and in community for his entire life. This lifelong love for health, wellness, and community enjoyment is what he truly strives to pass on to other athletes.

Some of his latest races and achievements within the sport of triathlon include:

  • 2019 Triad Multisport Series Champion
  • 2019 Nat Greene’s Revenge – 1st place overall
  • 2019 Azalea Triathlon – 1st place overall
  • 2019 Buck Hurley Triathlon – 2nd place overall
  • 2018 Azalea Triathlon – 2nd place overall
  • 2018 Buck Hurley Triathlon – 3rd place overall
  • 2017 Nations Triathlon – 4th overall age group finisher
  • 2016 North Carolina Triathlon Series Champion
  • 2015 Competed for Team USA at Age Group World Championships

Harrison is currently a USA Triathlon Level 1 certified coach and also a USA Swimming certified coach.

Coach Brandon – Strength Coach

Brandon Ostrander is a US Marine veteran and served multiple tours to Afghanistan between 2008 and 2013. He graduated from UNCW with a degree in exercise science and is currently finishing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at Western Carolina University. He is a NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist and has been in the strength and conditioning field for over 10 years for various athletes (predominantely military, first responders, endurance, weightlifting, powerlifting, and rugby). He played rugby for over 10 years and competed in various individual sports. His current goals are training for an IRONMAN 70.3 Boulder in August. Brandon is available for personalized plan development, as well as being Fusion Endurance’s strength coach for all levels.

Mary Toffolon

Mary is our Administrative Coordinator. She handles invoicing, newsletters and all other organizational aspects of Fusion Endurance Coaching. She pays close attention to the details so that I can pay close attention to all of you and your coaching plans. She is definitely our right hand woman!

Mary has an extensive background in the race world. She ran the YMCA Triathlon Club in the early 90’s and moved on to Race Directing a few years later. She has managed three different race series and continues to be a driving force in the triathlon race world and with local running events.