Elena Myers is a household name in the world of racing, especially for up-and-coming female racers, but, like the tracks she once frequented, her life has taken many twists and turns over the years. For one, she is no longer Elena Myers but Elena Myers Court, after marrying the love of her life Dean Court in 2016, the same year she left racing. And another big change, the latest addition to her growing family, Harlow, arrived this past March, turning her family of two into a family of three. It’s been over three years since Elena hung up her racing boots and, since then, she has thrived off the tracks as a valued employee at McGraw Powersports, currently working as a manager in our Operations and Accounting Department. We caught up with Elena to see how her life has transformed over the years and share with you what life after racing looks like for this record-setting, boundary-breaking retired pro.
Q: How has your life changed since you quit racing?
A: I started racing when I was 8 years old, so I really didn’t know much else in life when I decided to stop in early 2016. I had just gotten married in January of 2016 and started my job at McGraw Powersports a couple months later, so it changed massively. I went from this high-profile (at least in the racing world) life to an average life with real responsibilities and it was a big adjustment.
Q: How has racing shaped the way you approach your work at McGraw Powersports?
A: A good work ethic has been instilled in me since I was a kid as something every great racer has to have so naturally, that transferred over to my work.
Q: What traits from being a professional racer have been beneficial to your career?
A: With any athlete who takes their sport seriously, you learn about hard work, determination, drive, and sportsmanship at an early age. I always had it a bit tougher than most because I was a girl competing in a male-dominated sport so I had to try harder than they did, especially when it came to my fitness and strength. When I first started with McGraw Powersports, I was in sales, which is a performance-driven job and I was able to draw on my experiences in racing to be resilient when things got tough. I was on the road four days per week, every week, for about two years, so I needed that inner drive to push through.
Q: You’re a new mom! How has your racing career and your career at McGraw Powersports prepared you for parenthood?
A: I’m not quite sure. I know that all the injuries in my past helped me prepare for childbirth (haha). But seriously, I don’t think anything really prepared me for being a mother. It’s so different than what I’ve ever experienced before – but in such a good way! If anything being a mother has given me a whole new perspective on life. I’ve done more reading in the past year than the past ten combined so that I can give her the best life that I can, especially when it comes to her health.
Q: What is your best piece of advice for new moms, and moms that work?
A: You GOT this! I think you really have to believe in yourself and know that you’re capable of more than you think. Also, take care of yourself inside and out. The first few weeks are really tough and a huge adjustment but after you move past that, I think it’s important to eat well, get some light exercise in and love yourself.
Q: How do you balance being a working mother?
A: I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to work from home so I don’t have to worry about the logistics of daycare or anything like that, but it’s tough! The biggest priorities for me right now are making sure my daughter is happy and healthy, my husband and I are well-nourished and getting in some exercise, and that I’m getting everything done at work; everything else is secondary. I’m not going to remember if I had a clean house all the time, or that all my laundry was folded, but I will remember how I feel now and all the precious time I get to spend with my little girl. All the rest is little stuff that doesn’t matter much so I don’t waste time worrying about it.
Q: What’s next for you?
A: What’s next? Well, I love my job with McGraw Powersports. They have been amazing to me so I plan on continuing to work here, and in the meantime, just enjoy my family and hopefully adding a new little one in the coming years!
Elena has continued to prove that you can be more than just a one-track pony (see what we did there?) in embodying her roles as a former motorcycle racer, a provider, a wife, and now a mom. We are thrilled to continue to have Elena as part of the McGraw Powersports family and are excited to see what comes next for her!