Meet CamelBak Ambassador, Amy Diallo PhD

Get to Know Amy Diallo, PhD

Scientist. Athlete. Researcher. San Franciscan Amy Diallo, PhD, is a competitive runner, biochemist and CamelBak Ambassador. In this new year, she inspires us to seek adventures, stay active and live a sustainable life from morning to night. We recently sat down with Amy to learn more about her plans and motivations for 2022.

How do you set healthy routines in your life?

Most of my healthy routines came from my education in France. I am lucky to have grown up in a family where we ate a Mediterranean diet for every meal. I have always used a bicycle as my way to get around town. Over the last two years, my running coach and I made changes to my diet to increase my iron and magnesium intake and maintain a training schedule compatible with my work.

How does sustainability factor into the choices you make?

When I moved to the U.S. more than four and a half years ago, I only brought two suitcases and had to pack just my most valuable clothes, books, and other items. I donated a lot of my other possessions to charity and realized that I owned too many random items. Since then, I try to buy fewer, higher quality items. It brings me joy to know I have better quality pieces that I can keep for years.

What motivates you?

My primary motivation is to push myself to be the best person I can be. I’m also inspired by incredible female athletes like Allyson Felix and Quanera Hayes. They had children, yet still managed to win races at the Olympics! I am a goal-driven person and once I find something that I think I can achieve, I will do everything in my power to make it happen. If that means I need to change my diet, running or sleep habits, then I will be very committed to do it.

What New Year’s resolutions do you have for 2022?

My first resolution is to mentor kids. While doing my PhD in France, I noticed that running had a beneficial impact on my mental health and productivity at work. Now, I am looking for ways to mentor children in living an active lifestyle and staying motivated and engaged in school.

In San Francisco there are several track clubs for children, and one of them is mostly for minority kids, so I have offered to help twice a week to inspire them to run and work in school to make it to college. The Jeuness Track Club in New York from the movie Sister on Track is an example of such an organization.

On a personal note, I am trying to challenge myself to race at new running distances and stay hydrated – which is challenging due to the food and drinks restriction in my laboratory space. I found myself mostly drinking coffee, which is not ideal for running performance. On a side note, I need to get my American driving license to be able to explore more of this beautiful country.

Are there any new adventures you want to embark on in 2022?

Yes! After travelling last year to Lake Tahoe and Joshua Tree National Park, I realized how incredible the outdoor environments are nearby, and how lucky I am to be able to visit them. I really want to explore more of the National Parks in the Western United States. I am not used to camping, so it will be a bit tricky since I’m not accustomed to so much wildlife.

What inspires you to live a healthy and sustainable life?

The main inspiration is for my personal well-being. I feel so much better after a run and a homemade dinner. I want to live a long, active life—so I try to make sure that every action I take helps me achieve that. It is also a better for the environment, which is something that I am actively trying to be more aware of.

What was the genesis behind your love for the outdoors? How does this inspire your sustainable and healthy lifestyle?

Growing up in the Bordeaux region of France gifted me with amazing weather and incredible outdoor spaces. I would ride my bike 45 minutes each way just to go horseback riding. I was always outside on the weekends and rarely stayed home.

During the summer holidays, I was either at a horseback riding, summer camp or at my grandparents’ place in the Champagne region. When I wasn’t working in the garden with them, I would be biking through the forest or swimming in the L’Ornain River.

Being outside was really rejuvenating and I am so happy to be able to reproduce the same lifestyle with all the great outdoor activities in California. Being in nature is the best way I know how to relax, and also my favorite time of the week.

Want to learn more about Amy? Check her out on Instagram: @dreaming_amy