aka “AMP”
The Low-Down on AMP
Ann Marie grew up in Michigan, starting her athletic career with swimming. Girls on the Run sparked her love for running in the 5th grade and she never looked back. Triathlons were a new favorite starting in middle school. Ann Marie earned Summa Cum Laude honors, majoring in Special Education and minoring in Language Arts. Ann Marie ran for both Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University, specializing in the 10k, and was part of a national champion team. After graduating, both Ann Marie and her husband moved to Wilmington and she began her teaching career. There were no running programs where she began teaching so she started an after school running program, launching the start of the Trailblazers Youth Team. Ann Marie is a mom to two boys and a business owner. Ann Marie is known by her athletes as “Coach Pierce” and it’s a title she is honored to be called. Ann Marie continues to train as a WOL adult athlete and has hit the OTQ time in the marathon, while also continuing to hit personal records. She wholeheartedly believes in utilizing her gifts and talents, while helping others along the way.
What She Coaches:
Williston/Gregory Middle School Cross Country
Without Limits Trailblazer Youth
Guilty Pleasures:
Frozen Coffee
Top Songs on her Playlist:
Anything Coldplay for the easy listening and Remember the Name by Fort Minor for the pump up.
Favorite Event
Trail races and the marathon, but 99% of the time ready for anything. Always up for a good challenge.
Qualities AMP Admires In Her Students
Committing to something that is difficult, and where the rewards are very rarely immediate. Trusting the process and supporting others, while finding the joy in the journey, is what Ann Marie hopes her athletes carry with them. Running and living with purpose!
Defining Moment In Ann Marie’s Career
As a coach, Ann Marie believes in each individual and each person brings something special to the running family. She could say coaching the Williston/Gregory team to earn the title of county champions in cross country would be one of the best moments, but since 2017, it probably would be even bigger than that. It would be the hundreds of youths’ personal victories and all of the support each Trailblazer learns to show, as they respect and encourage their teammates.
Best Part About Being A Without Limits Coach
AMP enjoys seeing athletes coming back season after season, year after year, building the Trailblazing family. She loves hearing or witnessing athletes continuing to run post high school, taking what they learn through the program and applying it to real life situations. Observing so many individuals really buy into what it means to be a Trailblazer, has to be the most exciting. Coach Pierce loves what it means to embrace the challenge, live without limits, and blazing a path to leave a trail, the #trailblazerstrong way.
Olympic Trials Qualifiers
Cross Country All-State in High School
Track All-State in High School
College National Qualifier in the track 10k
2024 Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Marathon
3 time Wilmington Novant Health Marathon winner
Course record holder for numerous local races
10th place overall at the Cooper River Bridge Run 2023 10k
First in age group at the Houston Marathon 2023
Finalist in Beginning Teach of the Year for New Hanover County 2 years in a row
Fun fact: Raced and gave birth on the same day, and raced and gave birth the following day
