"Inspirational" Speaker? Capra Donna Women's Tri Club

23 women at Grey Goat Sports Woman's Triathlon Club.

 Quick link to first blog:  In the Beginning . . .

This weekend, I did my first "inspirational" talk.  My coach was asked to speak at the inaugural meeting of the Capra Donna Woman's Triathlon Club at Grey Goat Sports in Franklin, Indiana which was being organized by one of his former athletes.  He asked me to speak also.  I knew he was inviting me because at 335 pounds, I was an unlikely person to complete a triathlon.  I figured I'd be talking about how one begins triathlons - tri gear, beginner-friendly races, etc.  But when the agenda came out, I was listed separately on the agenda as, "Sue Reynolds, Inspirational Speaker." 

What?!!!  When I saw those words, "inspirational speaker," I freaked out.  I don't really view myself as inspirational.  Really, the opposite sometimes.  After all, before you can lose 200 pounds, you have to gain 200 pounds.  Before you can get off a couch, you have to be on the couch.  People have told me that I'm inspirational.  But I think I'm just doing what most people do every day.  If I hadn't been so overweight, nothing that I've done would be notable.

In my job as an educational consultant, I do a lot of public speaking.  But the purpose of my presentations has always been to teach, not to inspire.  People tell me that my talks are inspiring, but I'm not the inspiration.  It's really educators' love for kids that inspires them.  I just help them remember why they became educators to begin with (wanting to help kids), and then let it move them to action.  I wasn't really sure how to do that with triathlon.

Everyone told me to just tell my story.  I decided to do that mainly through pictures and as I was looking through photos from my early years of triathlon, I started focusing on the three things that were the hardest to deal with when I started:  1) pride, 2) fear, and 3) not knowing how to approach pain (should I rush to the emergency room every time a joint creaked?).  

As I looked at those photos, I started laughing at myself a lot.  In the transition between the swim and bike, I was sitting on the ground, wearing a t-shirt and capri shorts, putting on my socks and shoes.  I had already brushed my hair and pulled it back into a dry hair band!  A cooler was sitting next to me where the snack I was about to eat was waiting. I hadn't even started the bike and a man was running by as he started his run.  LOL.  Another photo from the same race showed a large crowd of spectators at the finish line eagerly waiting to cheer on their loved ones.  The next photo shows me coming in last with 2:20 on the clock and virtually no one around.  Ha.

     

  












I started to realized that I might be able to help people see that doing it "right" isn't important.  The important part is just doing it.  Maybe I could help people realize that triathlon doesn't have to be about going fast.  The race plan for your first triathlon can easily be a lazy dog paddle or breaststroke, followed by a leisurely bike, followed by a walk or slow  jog.  Triathlon can be about racing.  But for most, it's just a way to get outside and have some fun - at whatever pace feels comfortable.

I showed a photo of a swim with kayaks every 10 feet and swimmers doing breaststroke, sidestroke, backstroke.  I wanted people to see how safe the swim was.  I showed a photo of me in a bathing suit entering the water with all of my jiggly parts jiggling.  That was a big test for my "go away pride" commitment. 

 

I opened by summarizing last year's season:  11th at USAT Nationals, 2nd at the the Worlds Qualifier in Clermont, ranked first in Indiana.  Then I showed a photo of me three years ago when I weighed 335 pounds.  Shock.  I was a BIG girl to say the least.  I talked about what inspired me to begin losing weight (not being able to put on my own shoes), how I learned to deal with pride and fear, how I transition from an exerciser, to a recreational triathlete, to a competitive triathlete  - and how the competitive "beast" that I discovered inside me scared me at first.  I talked about how it's ok to specialize in sprint triathlon rather than do longer distances and it's very ok to go slow.

"I'll protect you from the alligators!"

Since this was also a spiritual journey for me, I wanted to share a bit of that too.  I'm still quiet about my spirituality.  It is just so deeply personal and talking about it seems to trivialize it in some way.  I also don't like to push things on people.  I like to be invitational.  And . . . I was asked to talk about triathlons, not spirituality.  

The spirituality part just happened naturally.  I was explaining about the amazingly kind and supportive culture that surrounds triathlon and I encouraged everyone to look for kindness as they progress on their journey.  I told a couple of stories about the amazingly kind people who have helped me in my journey, and I explained that I came to understand that the kindness that I was witnessing was the face of God.  That's all I said.  It was very comfortable.

I also talked about being grateful and shared how I write names on my hand prior to every race to remember the people whose support makes it possible for me to participate in triathlon and whose inspiration makes it possible for me to keep going when the going gets tough.  I think triathlon has a way of making one both humble and grateful.

There were about 7 women in the group who had already completed a triathlon.  As I talked, it was so cool to see them nodding their heads.  I think they were remembering their own journeys, and how they conquered their personal pride and the fear that may have been getting in the way.  And I suspect they were also remembering the amazing feeling of accomplishment as they crossed the finish line for the first time.  There is nothing like the intense feeling of satisfaction that comes with knowing that you accomplished something because you were able to conquer your pride and fear.

I could sense that others were timid but interested.  They were listening so hard.  I wanted to say, "Jump!  You can do it!"  One thing I wish I would have done is ask those who were interested to decide what their first step would be and then share that with another person.  The first step is the hardest.  But, after the meeting, some of the women started to do that on the group's Facebook page.  Cool.  Nothing like publicly stating a goal to keep you accountable.  :-)  I do that all the time to make sure that I get things done!   

Several of the speakers that followed me referenced comments that I had made.  The thing that people seemed to pick up on the most was, "Go away pride."  I started using that slogan when I first began triathlon and continue to use when my pride interferes with me doing things I would like to do - in all parts of my life.  It was kind of nice to see how we all struggle with that.  I am not alone.  After the event, the group's convener shared how she overcame pride to get started on her Ironman journey.  Very, very cool!

Rebecca Dobbins

January 27 at 10:15am · Greenwood, IN

Sue had a great speaking point about letting go of pride in triathlon (and life in general). We have to first acknowledge that we have it and then let it go. Once we make that huge step the possibilities are endless! Sue spoke about how she CRAWLED from station to station in her group fitness class. For me, I took swim lessons with Haylei at Greenwood Gators Swim Lessons beside the kids with parents watching. We have to know our goals and let go of pride to move toward them. Whatever your goal, whether it is a weight loss goal, doing a 5k, doing a sprint triathlon, doing an IRONMAN, or just feeling better about yourself, don't let YOU be the thing holding yourself back.

When the meeting closed, several women came up to talk.  That was the coolest part.  I loved hearing about the things they identified as getting in their way.  I know their triathlon journey will change them on the inside as they tackle their challenges - pride, fear, anger, confusion, lack of time, lack of funding for equipment.  I think once you know what's getting in the way, it's so much easier to take the next step.

On the way home, I talked to my son who is studying to be a pastor.  Without me telling him much about the day, he got kind of excited and said I should use my triathlon story to help women have the courage to start their own journeys.  He mentioned that we all have journeys that need to be started - in sports, in relationships, at work.  I don't know what God has in mind for me, but it would bring me great joy if this was part of His plan.

Much respect for Rebecca Dobbins for convening the Capra Donna Woman's Tri Club and for Grey Goat Sports for sponsoring the club.  Tremendous respect for the 23 women who spent a Saturday afternoon exploring their own journeys and helping others start theirs.

Open Letter to TriEqual's Founders, Volunteers and Supporters

An open letter to TriEqual’s founders, volunteers and supporters:

I am writing this letter as a 62-year-old woman who didn’t know that an athlete was living inside of her until two years ago.  Why?  Because women my age attended high school prior to the passage of Title IX in 1972.  We had no opportunity to participate in competitive sports, no opportunity to discover whether or not we liked competitive sports, and no opportunity to learn if we had any skills as an athlete.

Not only were there no competitive sports, the curriculum in PE classes was differentiated based on gender.  I remember boys going to the gym to play basketball while the girls went to the home economics classroom to square dance.  Women my age just had no way of discovering if we liked or had a knack for competitive sports when we were in school.

As a fifteen-year-old in 1968, I was part of the first basketball game that girls in my school ever played against girls in another school.  We didn’t have a coach, practices, uniforms, a referee, or a team bus.  We did have a PE teacher who was a courageous pioneer.  Our mothers drove us to the game and we wore our "flamingo pink" PE outfits.  I remember our PE teacher being SO excited.  At the time, I didn’t understand why this was such a momentous occasion.  Now I do.

Looking back, I am so proud of my PE teacher and the others who were champions for women in athletics.  I remember the debate.  It was emotional and sometimes ugly.  People said that sports made girls physically unattractive and would hurt their reproductive organs.  Girls who wanted to compete were thought to be strange.  Even though I wasn’t participating in sports, I remember my mother warning me that sports would give me huge shoulders and make me ugly, unattractive to boys.  Men were angry.  They argued that Title IX discriminated against men.  They said that since there were more boys involved in sports, it just made sense that there should be more athletic scholarships for boys (sound familiar?).  It was not an easy debate. 

I started teaching high school right after Title IX was passed.  At that time, everyone believed that 1) coaches in schools must also be teachers, and 2) it was not appropriate for girls to be coached by men.  Since there had never been girls sports, none of the female teachers had experience with sports or coaching.  Perhaps understandably, none of them wanted to coach.  I ended up coaching everything – volleyball, basketball, track – even though I had no experience in any of those sports and no experience in coaching.  When men were finally allowed to coach girls, the men that did so were harassed and called sissies.  They were not viewed as "real" coaches.  The first male coaches were also pioneers.  Thank goodness things have changed.  But unfortunately, inequities still exist in high school and collegiate sports.

Fast forward to 2013.  Imagine my surprise when, at age 60, I discovered that I could swim, bike and run.  I had no idea!  Imagine my shock, when I swam over a woman during a race in 2014 and discovered I liked it!  As a somewhat gentle person, I had no idea where this "beast" came from.  At first, that feeling scared me.  Later, I realize this is what competing feels like.  Cool.  Imagine my total disbelief when, at age 62, I finished 11^th at USAT Nationals and qualified for the 2016 Sprint Triathlon World Championship in Cozumel.  Even as I write this, I shake my head in disbelief.  All I can say is, thank goodness for the pioneers who supported Title IX.  Without them, I might still be square dancing!  I love triathlon and feel so fortunate to be able to participate.

And that brings me to the purpose of this letter.  I’m sure that when my PE teacher and others were supporting Title IX in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, they had no idea how appreciative a 62-year-old grandma would be in 2016.  Like them, you are also pioneers as you support your mission to instill "fairness, progress, and equality in the sport of triathlon."

I know you put time and energy into this fight because you love your sport.  But I also know that you are doing so because it is the right thing to do.  It's about social justice.  When the debate is frustrating, when the progress is slow, remember that there is a grandma in Indiana who appreciates your courage and all you do.  And . . . remember that forty-five years from now, there will be another grandma, someone just like me, who appreciates you too.

Warm regards,

Sue Reynolds

Midwest Winter Triathlon Camp!

Nice to be inside at a WINTER tri camp!

 Quick link to first blog:  In the Beginning . . .  

I recently attended the Midwest Winter Triathlon Camp in Bloomington, Indiana.  Wow!  What an amazing experience!  I learned lots and gained a TON of experience.

I wanted to share this experience in hopes of helping others decide whether or not a tri camp is a good fit.

I have to admit that attending this camp is among the scariest things I've done during my triathlon journey - almost as scary as riding my bike underground during the ITU World Open Sprint in Chicago!  The biggest part of my fear was just a fear of the unknown.  I had no idea what to expect.  Would I be able to keep up?  Would I  inconvenience people?  Would the camp coaches be able to individualize training for people they had never met?  Would I feel like an moron (go away pride!).  Would people wonder what in the world a 60-year-old sprint triathlete is doing at a tri camp mainly attended by people who raced at the Ironman distance?   Quite frankly, I wondered that too!  

Fun group!

I think my biggest hesitation, however, was wondering if the work that I did at camp would interfere with my coach's training.  My annual plan is periodized, meaning that I do  certain types of workouts in different periods and I didn't want to mess that up.  I wondered if camps were more for people who didn't have an annual plan.  I talked to my coach at length about this and we decided I should attend.  We also knew that the camp's lead coach, Marilyn Chychota, had been a pro cyclist in addition to a pro triathlete so we talked about the questions that I might ask Marilyn about draft-legal sprint triathlon at Worlds.  

My fears were unfounded.  I was happy to discover that I could keep up with the group in terms of work load.  I was also happy to find that I understood what we were being asked to do.  Because I was slower than the others, there were times that I had to make adjustments.  For example, during a few of the 100m swim intervals on one minute, I was keeping up but getting virtually no rest between intervals so I swam 75's for a few intervals to give me a little rest.  On another set of intervals, I swam with fins so I could match the pace of the young, fast athletes.  During a track workout, where we were doing 200m intervals, I was again getting almost no rest between intervals, so I sat one out.  And on a prowler relay (pushing a weight across the room), I was super slow and "cheated" by turning around before the turnaround point so I finished at the same time as the young, fast athletes.  But for the most part, I kept up and did not slow anyone down.

If you're hesitant about doing a camp, don't be!  If a 62-year-old woman can do camp, you can too!

PREPARING FOR CAMP:  I tried to prepare for camp the same way I prepare for a big race, lots of rest, pre-race nutrition, etc.  I was so nervous!  Luckily my coach assured me that everything would be fine.

Here's an overview of the camp's content:

FRIDAY:

Deep respect for Tom Morris!

Tom Morris!   When I arrived I was met my Tom Morris, one of the camp organizers.  To me, Tom Morris is a rock star.  Several years ago, I read a newspaper article about Tom after seeing something my coach posted on Facebook about the respect he had for Tom.  Tom was paralyzed in a bike crash and the article described his journey as he worked his way back to being the strength coach at Indiana University. His attitude and grit are absolutely awe inspiring.  Over the past several years, when my workouts or a race gets tough and I don't think I can do more, I focus on Tom's grit and keep going.  It was so cool to meet him.  I think I babbled like a school girl as I explained how inspired I was by his story.  What absolutely amazed me was that within two minutes, the wheelchair in which he was sitting was invisible.  Prior to camp, I knew Tom, the legend.  During camp, I got a glimpse of Tom, the person.  What a nice (and funny) guy.  Tom immediately calmed my fears about coming to camp.  If you want a HUGE dose of inspiration, read about Tom here.

Amazing coaches!

Coaches:  The ratio of camp staff to camper was impressive.  I think there were nine campers present and five staff members.  They worked as a team to support us.  In addition to Tom Morris who served as our strength coach, we were blessed to work with two coaches from Endurance Corner:  Sue Aqulia (three-time Kona qualifier) and and Marilyn Chychota (former pro triathlete and pro cyclist).  Kate Fesenko (Olympic swimmer), Brittney Bearden (I.U. Sports Performance Dietitian), and David Fletcher (physician and triathlete) rounded out the team.  Not only is each of these people accomplished in his or her field(s), each is incredibly kind and brought a considerable amount of laughing to the camp.  Lots of fun.

First Workout:  After introductions, we traveled by car to the I.U. pool where Mark Spitz trained under Doc Councilman.  Councilman is another hero of mine, and I spent a little time envisioning Councilman walking the deck and Spitz swimming laps.  Kate Fesenko (Olympic simmer) directed our swim warm-up, and then our camp's head coach, Marily Chychota, instructed us to pick a lane.  I picked the slowest lane.  But during the first set, I thought that I might be able to handle a faster lane so I switched lanes.  The new lane was challenging but doable.  I was the slowest and as a result, didn't get much rest during intervals, but I was proud to be able to keep up for the most part and was relieved that I didn't feel like a total slug!  The funniest part of the swim was after the workout was over.  I grabbed my towel and walked right into the men's locker room.  Luckily, I heard deep voices before I saw anyone and turned around!

Feed Table:  It was kind of fun to be going to a "feed table."  The entire weekend seemed to be train, eat, train, eat, train, eat, with a few presentations tossed in.  The eating time was a good time to recover, not only nutritionally, but also physically and mentally.  By the end of each "feeding period," I felt ready to go for the next workout.  I should mention that the food was amazing and specifically designed to support the next workout.  Some items were always present, like yogurt, almond butter, and fresh fruit.  Other items were specific to the meal, like the most amazing quinoa dish that I have ever tasted!  The camp's manager, Sue Aquila, runs a catering business in addition to several bagel shops.  Scrumptious!

SATURDAY:  Saturday consisted of three workouts (bike with a brick run, strength and swim).  I was pleased (and relieved) that I had already done everything that they were asking us to do:  high watts / low rpm intervals on the bike, pick-ups on the run, and a variety of technique drills in the swim.  I was the slowest, but I wasn't so slow that I was inconveniencing the group so I didn't care.  

Brick:  For the brick, we ran in the football stadium.  It was so cool to be surrounded by stands that must have been six stories high.  I imagined that I was 18 years old playing football with all those people watching me.  During our brick run, I also noticed that my "easy" speed seemed to be a lot quicker than the younger, faster athlete's "easy" speed.  That was interesting.  I remembered reading that "easy is easy."  I just never had a perspective for that until seeing the other athletes at camp.  Very interesting.

Running the Stands:  I.U. athletes always talk about "running the stands" at the football field as part of their workouts.  On the first day of camp, everyone was talking about running the stands and I thought that was going to be part of our weekend.  I freaked out.  I wasn't sure I could run up stand after stand, but I was more concerned that I'd fall on the way down.  I contacted my coach that evening to get advice on how to "run the stands."  We decided that I would either jog part way up each isle - or walk to the top of each isle.  Either would be a good workout for me.  I set my resolve and was mentally ready for the challenge.  When I found out that we weren't going to run the stands, I was hugely disappointed.  I decided that I was going to add a jog up one isle to my work for the day.  After the brick,  I was about to start on this extracurricular activity, but when I mentioned it to Sue, she told me not to do it.  Since she was my coach for the weekend and I am committed to be coachable, I said ok.  I may need to go to a football game (which I'd love to do anyway) so I can "run the stands."  :-)   

On this day, I think people saw my commitment and eagerness to learn.  Coaches and other campers started encouraging me as I worked to complete each task with the group.  I greatly appreciated their kind words.  I also became less shy and started asking a ton of questions.  Each of my questions was answered with care.  

Strength:  I love strength work and was thrilled to see that the agenda included a strength workout with Tom.  We did a lot of functional strength.  In the beginning we walked and then "danced" over hurdles.  I did not think I was going to be able to get my feet over those hurdles, but I did it!  I kicked a few of them, but so did most everyone else.  I do hurdles during my run warm-ups and have now learned that hurdles are might higher than I thought.  My warm-up is now a little more robust.  Tom had us do a lot of functional strength and then asked us to do one machine (lat pull down).

  
Tom is Sue Aquila's strength coach so he asked Sue to demonstrate.  She's impressive.  But what made the biggest impression on me was Tom's insistence that Sue's do one more lift and watching Sue struggle to get the last one in.  I suspect I'd fall apart emotionally if Tom did that to me.  However, during everyone one of my strength workouts since, I've envisioned Tom in my face yelling me to do one more lift.  Maybe I need to toughen up so my coach can yell at me to do one more. . .  Afterwards, I had an opportunity to ask Tom some individual questions.  Great to have that brief one-to-one time.

Talk with Marilyn:  In the afternoon, we had a short break.  I was able to spend a little one-to-one time with Marilyn which was probably my favorite part of camp.  We talked about the degree to which data should be used in training (varies from coach to coach) and how to train for draft-legal triathlons.  It was great to be able to pick her brain.  I was also fortunate to be able to ride to and from the pool with Marilyn.  She is friends with Chrissie Wellington and roomed with her while they were both being coached by Brett Sutton during the time period described in Chrissie's book.  Very interesting.  We also had a chat about the challenges that pro women athletes have.  I feel so blessed for having met Marilyn and truly appreciated her sensitivity and kindness. 

Exhaustion:  At the end of the day, I was totally beat.  None of the workouts were more than workouts that I had completed before, but while I've done double workouts, I've never done a triple workout.  However, due to the carefully placed meals / snacks and time to recover during presentations, I felt physically and mentally ready to tackle each workout throughout the weekend.  The design of the agenda was perfect for me.

SUNDAY

Two workouts were scheduled for Sunday including the track workout that scared me the most.  

Track Workout:  We were supposed to run on the track inside the football field, but it had snowed 4 inches overnight so we ended up running at the track at the I.U. Fieldhouse.  That was SOOOOO cool.  My coach pole vaulted for I.U. and it was awesome to imagine him in that impressive building and see the place where he vaulted.  The track was incredible.  The surface was slightly springy and the curves on the end were banked.  Of course, I didn't run fast enough to warrant the bank, but it was fun to see what it was like.

Marilyn gave us instructions about "track etiquette."  I now understand why my coach yells, "TRACK!" when he's timing me at the YMCA's track and someone gets in my way!   We started out with a warm-up jog and then did a dynamic warm-up.  We did some 400's and then ran some 200 intervals at 80% together.  

I was the last one to finish on the 200's which was a little problematic because there wasn't enough rest interval before the next one started.  I'd cross the line, jog back to the start, and go again.  I had virtually no break.  Marilyn told me to sit out the fifth 200.  There was something about her tone when she told me to sit out that I really liked.  It was an authoritative, "do-not-argue-with-me," coach's tone.  Her tone said, "This is business.  I am watching you.  It is in your best interest right now to take a break.  Sit out."  It's really hard to explain, but her tone made me feel very respected.

Final Workout - Bike:  Our final workout was a recovery workout on the bike.  Lots of spin-ups!

PRESENTATIONS:

Throughout the camp, there were classroom presentations on topics like Nutrition in the Off Season, Medical Review in the Off Season, Strength Training in the Office Season, Recovery, and my favorite, High Performance Mental Skill Training.  I greatly enjoyed the presentations.  They were not only highly informative, but they also provided time for recovery.  

CLOSING

On the last day, we all shared a meal for the final time.  Sue brought 5Q sugar cookies from her shop.  I split one with another camper.  Oh my gosh!  I don't know if it was that I haven't eaten sweets in such a long time, or that I had just completed three days of workouts, but that was the BEST cookie I have ever eaten.  Seriously.  After splitting the first one, we split another!  As we listened to Marilyn's advice about recovering from camp, and asked all of our final questions, it occurred to me that we all shared special memories.  It was kind of sad to say goodbye to everyone.  But within a few hours of camp, several campers sent me friend requests on Facebook and we were all sharing photos.  I'm hoping to see these folks and others next year.


LESSONS LEARNED

Technique:

While my coach does a great of instructing me on technique, it was so helpful to hear the same thing in different words from other couches.  Several times, I found myself saying to myself, "Oh!  That's what my coach means!"

I asked for Marilyn's appraisal in each event.  What I learned, to my utter amazement, is that I'm doing some things right!  I think in training that I am so focused on where I need to improve that I fail to consider that I might actually be doing some things well.  

Bike:  I was dumbfounded when Marilyn told me that my posture on the bike was good, better than some pros.  I told her that my flat back must be due to the arthritis that comes with old age.  Ha!  The angle of my feet as I pedal is also ok.  In fact, Marilyn told me she wouldn't change a thing.  Holy cow!   

Run:  On the run, I learned that my form isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was.  Marilyn and Sue gave me things to work on (yea!).  I was told to hold my hands like I was holding raw eggs (gentle, open fist), to keep my elbows in, and to bend at the elbow 90 degrees or even more.  My sense was that really helped with my lean.

At one point when Marilyn was telling me that some aspect of my technique was ok, I asked her to please not be kind to the "old lady."  I told her that I was there to learn.  Sue Aquila overhead me and jumped in to assure me with a laugh that Marilyn (who is her coach) tells it like is. Good.

I also had an opportunity to talk with both Marilyn and Sue about my run cadence (high) and stride length (short).  They said to 1) not try to increase my stride, 2) work on my hip flexors, and 3) work on my posterior core strength.  Marilyn explained that as I get stronger, my stride length will naturally increase and my cadence would probably decrease a tad.  

Swim:   Kate immediately saw the arm problem that I've been working on.  She got me out of the pool and physically positioned my arm the way it should be in the water, and gave me references to make sure it was in the right position.

I think I was able to immediately improve several aspects of my technique.  It was very nice to know that I wasn't as uncoordinated as I thought I was. 

Confidence:  I think the most helpful thing about camp was that I learned 1) how much I already know, and 2) that my training is on track.  Sue told me that I underestimate myself.  Other people said that as well.  I told Sue that as someone who has never done athletics, I truly have no idea what I am capable of doing.  And with no one to compete against in most of my races, it's hard to know if I have any speed.  The USAT rankings and my placement at Nationals have helped with my perspective on that.  But still, I really don't know how to estimate myself.  The good thing is that even if I underestimate my ability to do things, I don't let that keep me from trying.  I not only went to camp, I did everything that I was asked to do.  And now, I know that I can handle a camp alongside triathletes who podium at Ironman events.

DEBRIEF WITH MY COACH:

Since my coach was not at camp, we scheduled a "sit down" so I could debrief with him.  One thing that I think is important is to not have multiple coaches.  That would be confusing and it wouldn't be fair to my coach.  So whenever I talk to a different coach, I think of that person as a consultant to my coach.  I share what the other coach said, but then it is my coach who directs me.  So when we met, I shared what I did at camp and what was said to me.  My coach then told me what he wanted me to do.  His plan.  My execution.  It was a very productive discussion.  I love how my coach is willing to listen and consider my input before deciding what he wants me to do.

Very pleased with camp.  Highly recommend the Midwest Winter Triathlon Camp.