She is also a registered and licensed dietitian, specializing in health and nutrition, and a full-fledged member of the American Dietetic Association (ADA).

Born and raised in Vilnius from a highly sports-minded family, Troup started out her athletic career as a middle-distance runner, and had won several titles in national junior championships for both indoor and outdoor competitions.

In 1998, she moved to the United States, and attended the University of Minnesota, where she played for the women's cross-country team, under head coach Gary Wilson.

During her two-year collegiate team career, Troup had earned All-American honors in cross-country running, and later became the first athlete to win the Roy Griak invitational, as well as the program's first NCAA regional champion.

Troup eventually entered the 2006 European Athletics Championships in Göteborg, Sweden, only to miss the final by more than seven seconds in the first heat, with a time of 9:53.14.