I think people forget that GJ actually was working in a cubicle back then. She had zero interest in post running because she wanted to start her accountant career. Back then tri was basically a hobby, as she was working as an tax account and dabbling in ITU (sorta 1 foot in, 1 foot out). It took Sarah Haskins, Laura Bennett, and Sarah Groff (now True) basically soft pedaling while they had a gap out of T1 which allowed the chase pack to hook on and allowed for GJ to pop onto the world stage and take an Olympic spot in 2011, and as they say "the rest is history". Basically that "oops" by them allowed GJ to believe in her ability (and showcase the potential) and that led her to going "all in" basically post London '12 Olympics. I still contend if they attacked that group, they would have gotten away and likely kept GJ off the team, and I think she likely would have just as easy said "thanks tri, I'm off to live the accountant lifestyle now".

So no, she wasn't going to run professionally. It really was tax account career + itu as a hobby or nothing, her early post college years.