USAT Level 1 Coaching Clinic

Last weekend I had the awesome experience of attending the USAT Level 1 Coaching Clinic with Mrs.Vicki Boivin, to obtain my USAT Coaching Certification.

It. Was. AWESOME!


I still have to take the test, but I have high hopes. Even doing the multiple choice portion, which I did last night was fun.


I had the great fortune to have 3 amazing speakers and a (mostly) cool class. (We had one guy in our class who decided to ignore the directive of 'not talking about yourself' and 'ensuring if you were asking a question, it ended in a question mark'. There is always one, right?) It was fun that the Tour was happening this weekend too, so we all had something to watch in the bar together and discuss (well, Vicki could discuss it - I could pretend like I understood what was happening!) or run together and discuss, or sit on the plane and discuss...... 


Jesse Kropelnicki spoke on exercise physiology, nutrition and strength training, and had a ton of really awesome ideas. I really enjoyed his approach to questions, his knowledge and all of his presentations. His nutrition plan was something that I have recently been trying, with Vicki's assistance - so I felt GREAT. ;)


Coach Ian Murray spoke on periodization, swim and bike skills and workouts. He is married to Alexandra Paul, who was on Baywatch for 5 years but now, according to him 'does mostly lifetime movies' (like thats a BAD thing). This, of course, came out at the airport, where the poor guy was routed through Seattle from Boise before flying home to LA. He had an AMAZING amount of patience, and I really appreciated his honesty and his frank discussions regarding money, Ironman, and the nature of creating training plans. 


And, we got to see the great Bobby McGee, who actually name drops Olympians without meaning to. He's just that good of a running coach. He was a great speaker - and his discussions on running workouts, and form, and drills was mind blowing. He is not just a great coach due to the athletes he's coached, but his dedication to the sport. He also had some amazing ideas on walk/running and positive self-talk - which will be really interesting to play with :) 


Everyone who spoke really loves what they do - and loves triathlon, and the sports individually. THIS really hit home. I talk about triathlon like I would love it, if I didn't have to bike, but the truth is, I enjoy biking. If I stopped putting myself down about it, and actually focused on what I have accomplished and the gains I have made... I would be even happier! It would seem like play, which, after all, is what it really is. :)