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A Boreal Community Media Exclusive - October 11, 2025


How did you land in Cook County?  What journey led you here?
The journey that led me to Cook County largely involves my boyfriend, Josh Prom! I am originally from Lakeville MN, a southern suburb of the twin cities. Josh and I met in college, and  subsequently, I made countless trips to Grand Marais to visit him! I fell in love with the town because of his local perspective. We spent a lot of time in the Boundary Waters, staying up to watch the northern lights, chasing waterfalls, and playing pickleball with some lovely community members. After we graduated in 2023, we spent a few months backpacking in Europe, and then moved up here full time in 2024!

What excites you the most about your new position as a Certified Personal Trainer at Grand Marais Barbell?
There are so many things that excite me about my new position! First, I am ecstatic about getting to share my passion for fitness with the community. Strength training has allowed me to express creativity and grow in both my mental and physical strength. I am ready to put my personal experience into practice, hear others' goals, and develop a plan that will help them to succeed. Secondly, I am excited to continue learning. I plan to gain a nutrition certification which will allow me to increase my breadth of knowledge, and incorporate a more holistic approach into my practice. I am also thrilled to continue to learn with Carmen’s (owner of Grand Marais Barbell) guidance. I really appreciate her taking me under her wing, and helping me as I begin this journey! Finally, I am excited to grow relationships with individuals in this community. 

Has fitness always been an integral part of your life or how did that come to be?
Fitness has always been a part of my life in one form or another! When it came to sports, my first love was volleyball. I played competitively from 7th grade, through high school, and was lucky enough to play all four years at the collegiate level. I was introduced to strength training through volleyball, as it was incorporated into practices to build athleticism. I always loved the competitive “games” we would play (for example: toe tag, a 1 v 1 game of tag in which you could not use your hands and had to tag the other’s foot to win),  which felt really competitive, but could secretly help you to run faster and jump higher. My junior year of college, I worked closely with a strength and conditioning coach, and started to see more and more athletic gains. Once I started seeing results, I dove deeply into learning about the movements I was doing, trying to perfect my form, and finding additional ways to continue to move. Once my volleyball career was over, lifting was a way to continue my athletic identity.  Last year when I moved to Grand Marais, I began attending lynxfit classes, and found a badass community of people committed to their health and wellness. Fitness allowed me to build my community here, and for that I will be forever grateful!


How do you boost the confidence of someone just starting out on their wellness journey?
To anyone starting out on their fitness journey that needs a confidence boost, my advice would be to remember all of the things they have done to get to this point. Maybe they have signed up for a gym membership. That is a win. Maybe they got out and took their dog for a walk. That is a win. Fitness can come in all different shapes and forms, and even the little things should be recognized as wins! From there, remember that everyone starts somewhere. We were all beginners once! Enjoy the process of learning new skills and moving your body in different ways, and remember no one is really watching. Also! I am offering free consultation sessions where I would love to get to know you, your motivations for working out, and help you to develop goals!

What is your favorite go-to spot to relax and unwind in the County when you are not working?
My favorite spot to relax and unwind is Hidden Falls (Upper Cascade)! I really love hiking, and find a lot of joy in exploring all of the trails around Cook County. I love Hidden Falls because it is a great swimming spot in the summer that has lots of sunny rocks where you can read!

If you had one superpower, what would that be and why?
I am very torn on what my one superpower would be! I have two front runners. My first idea for a superpower would be teleportation. I really love traveling, so it would be a dream come true to be able to quickly transport anywhere! In addition, my immediate family lives all over the country (my parents in central MN, my middle sister in Boston, and my youngest sister in Indiana).  It would make me incredibly happy to be able to visit them anytime I wish. My second idea for a superpower would be the ability to clone myself, that way I could knit, read, and make sourdough bread at the same time! 

 

If you are interested in training with Nicole at Grand Marais Barbell, you can reach out via phone (612-327-8656) or via email: [email protected]!