Advantages of a Coach Who Keeps Current Certifications
In this issue:
I. Advantages of a Coach Who Keeps Current Certifications
II. Weekend Re-cap and Nance Race Report
III. Beet Juice
IV. Life Happens; it’s how we deal with it that makes us True Champions.
I. Your Coach May Not Hold a Current Certification:
In recent weeks, it has come to my attention that several coaches have listed on their websites that they are USA Cycling Certified, and I am not able find them on the USA Cycling Find A Coach link. This may or may not be a deal breaker for you. I am sure there are many coaches who don’t hold certifications, that are good coaches. Just as I am equally sure, that there are certified coaches who may not be good coaches.
Why is having a certified coach important?
This may be the more important question to answer. I will answer this in relation to how and what I feel about the situation. Please keep in mind, I have been certified since 1995, so I do hold a biased opinion on the matter, but for good reason.
Having a coach that holds a current certification simply shows that coaches interest in their work. It shows, that they care enough to keep their certifications current. I may have another word for someone who doesn’t keep their certifications current, that may not be fair. Sometimes life gets in the way of re certifying on time, the governing body who the certification is held with will generally allow an extension, they are very helpful.
I wouldn’t say a degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology or similar fields make a “qualified coach”, at the B.S, M.S, or PhD level. It certainly helps in the understanding of the physiology and the how the body adapts to exercise, but it in no way explains “How to” get those adaptations.
I wouldn’t say a fast athlete makes a good coach, although, there are lots of fast athletes who are good coaches; what I find through all of my experience, is there is not one way that works for everybody. And although, some of us would like to believe that if we get coached by a fast athlete, we will also become fast, the upper limit of our physical abilities are defined by genetics. Don’t let that disappoint you, because a good coach will do everything we can to defy nature, that’s legal, at least most of us. So what may have worked for Mr. 9.5 hour Ironman Man, may not work for a different 9.5 hour Ironman Man. It’s about finding the adaptation that works for an athlete, balanced with life and recovery. This is the “Art of Coaching”.
Holding current certifications with specific organizations opens the doors of communication and knowledge with those governing bodies. For example, being certified through American College of Sports Medicine enables me to know, the latest research hot off the presses, the trends in fitness, the breakthroughs in rehabilitation and the science as it is cutting the edge. Generally speaking, this knowledge takes 3-5 years to become mainstream. I have to do 20 hours of continuing education per year to keep my ACSM certification current. Unfortunately, some people will slide through the knowledge aspect of their certifications, but I pride myself in having the most up to date information, so when I’m at meetings, I’m not running off to go site seeing, I’m in lecture, after lecture, taking notes, lots and lots of notes.
I don’t think, this is an investment most certified professionals in my field want to make, but would you trust your medical care to a DR that wasn’t Board Certified, or your legal issues to a lawyer that didn’t pass the BAR?
I have been certified through USA Cycling for years. I have invested enough time in Continuing Education I am eligible to become a Level I Coach. I want to take the practice, and the experience, of doing what I am doing, before I take it to the next level. I want to know, that when I climb that last rank to being one of the top coaches in the country, I did not take any short cuts. That you know, you truly do have, one of the best.
Last year I finally certified through USA Triathlon. I held a lot of guilt about not being an “official USAT coach”; even though I had raced and podium’d at almost every triathlon I have done. I had also coached an athlete to a Gold Medal in Spain 2 years ago at the inaugural ITU Off Road Triathlon.
There has never been a time I have signed up for a class and did not learn anything, that’s the thing; Exercise Adaptation is a Science. We are always learning and perfecting, and the knowledge base is growing, and I want to be able to filter that up to you, a paying coached athlete.
One of my favorite things about being current with USAT and USAC is that I get up to the date information, rule changes, and clarifications. In this day of technology it’s much easier for people to be connected to that information. However, there’s something to be said, about just having it show up in your inbox vs. wondering, if your coach is searching it out for you. I will say, that I’m sure there are coaches whom it shows up in their inbox, and they don’t take the time to read it, but hopefully you’re able to siphon through some of that.
Being certified releases liability from me as a coach. When I coach, after you fill out extensive paperwork, medical history, Par-Q and release forms, as long as I am following the guidelines put forth by the governing bodies, they have my back, in the event that something does happen. I’m a rule follower, not a rule breaker. So far, because of the protocols that I follow, I have not had one incident. I am able to operate with more confidence because of that.
USA Cycling finally did us all a favor last year; they labeled us as Certified Coaches and Certified Coaches with Distinction. So if your coach does not have *D after their certification, that tells you that they are certified but did not receive any credit for continuing education. At least they took the time to renew their certification.
All of my certifications require me to carry a current CPR certification. This in itself, staying current in CPR is one of the most valuable aspects of holding any and all certifications.
Is your coach certified? Is your coach certified with distinction?
You may want look at the databases to find out. It is definitely worth your time.
II. Weekend Race Recap and Nance Race Report.
This past weekend was very exciting. Thomas Mullins sneaky pete, worked his way up to Ouchita Challange in Arkansas.
He ended up 70th out of 200 men! Great Job! Thanks for representing.
Tara Malone was busy at the OC
As my good friend Runner Susan always says, “Fun last longer than Fast!” Tara stuck to her guns and finished that damn thing! I can’t wait to hear more about her experience. In every picture I’ve spotted, she’s smiling. That is the only way to roll, girl, the only way to roll. Thanks for representing in Arkansas!
Michael Winegar wins the photo op contest this week. For coolest pic.
He also managed a 2nd place finish in the West Texas 12 Pack Series in Lubbock, Texas. Nice Work Winegar! I’m not sure where that puts him in the series, but Fun, Fun!
Kyle Martinez rock’et up at the Adoption Exchange this weekend. Nothing like getting the text before his TT, “my muscles feel like I have the flu” I know that one all too well. So he decided to race. He did well, overcame a lot. And took it easy enough on the TT, he showed up for the Crit, did well there. At some point during the race his Teammates told him to go off the front, so off the front he went, took about a minute lead on the main group with all of those who won the race. I understand the strategy, and we joked later, that I wasn’t sure if they were hazing him, or torturing him, he went with torture, and we had a good laugh. A 17th place Overall in the Omnium Pro/Cat 1/2/3. Nice!
Now it’s time form my Race Report.
Last week was my 1st road race, it was fun! And this weekend was no different! This weekend was an Omnium. 3 different events, scored together. Saturday was the TT and the Crit and Sunday was the road race. I have never attempted anything like this before, road has never been my focus, but I’m no stranger to the magnitude of these kinds of multiple day events, through coaching. My programming going into this has been long endurance mountain bike training sessions. I’m an advocate for the Race Director, old friend, and for the organization these events raise money for, The Adoption Exchange. So I not only chose to sponsor the event through supplying the racers with water bottles, but decided to give it a try.
I don’t own a TT bike. I knew I would be at a disadvantage for that. I did everything I could, which really wasn’t very much. I managed 14th place
This is me after the TT, getting ready to head over to the “speedway” for the crit. I’m pretty happy.
I raced the TT with my compression calf guards on. For 3 reasons #1 My leg had been hurting, my left leg, and I was/am worried about a blood clot. it has been going on for months now. I’m guessing, I should probably have an ultrasound done. #2 It was cold. #3 I knew it would help in the crit and my recovery for the next 2 events. So once I finished, I put my tights on over my calf guards, and drove the 6 miles to the Napa Speed Way. This is going to be fun.
Once at the Speedway I just sat in the back of the car with my feet up: 
I had some caffeine and some snacks, early enough that I wouldn’t blow chow on the course. HAHA
So about 30 minutes before the race start out I went for a warm up.
It was getting pretty warm, so on the Tarmac, I ended up taking my socks, my calf guards and my gloves off, you know how much I love the heat. And away we went.
It was cool. I would have liked to have smoothed out the course a little bit more with the turns, through utilizing the apex but I also realized I didn’t want to die. I also realized the further back I was, the closer to death I felt. I tried to stay up front.
It was pretty fun, I was very focused, I called my location when needed.
As you can see by the file, it looks like I had several instances of supraventricular tachycardia, it doesn’t look like my monitor lost contact. I have never seen this on a ride before, only runs. Usually, then, I settled into a Zone 3 HR, with some subThreshold. In this file you can see, I was at or above my LT for the majority of the ride.
I had a dream the night before I barfed at the finish, so I knew I couldn’t barf on the track (a lot of my dreams have been coming true lately, the ones I have at night)
So I crossed the line, choking back vomit, and then, tried to ride it out, but couldn’t, rode to the side of the track and let go of some acid that was in my belly. HAHA
Here’s an action sot of the crit. I really don’t look to happy, I was trying to smile, through the pain, but clearly, missed the shot.
I managed a 7th place finish.
For both races, but especially the TT, I missed my Power readings, immensely. It would have not changed my performance on the crit, but looking at the data would change my training coming out of it. The TT, I feel was hindered by not having the hard data. I think, the wind, and the climb masqueraded the amount of work I was actually doing, and I could have performed more watts, had I known where I was.
The Road Race was another beast. I had my power wheel, and I had a strategy. I did forget to turn the Garmin on for the 1st 5 miles, and wow those first 5 miles were attack, attack, attack, not of my…oh no, I was just trying to stay with the lead group. Thanks and a Big Shout out to Sandy Knudsen, for being super strong and super kind!
We made the turn to head up Heart Break Hill, and I noticed something funny. My front tire was flat = Ouch! But what are you going to do?
Flats Happen.
So I got off. (they do have neutral wheel support, I opted out for several reasons) so I had everything I needed.
Got that tire on and off. Man, that was fast and effortless.
Then, I noticed the tube was outside of the tire. So I tried to take a short cut…never take short cuts, they don’t work. So then, I got it all situated again, found the broken C02 dispenser I was carrying around, reloaded another one, filled up the tired, bulge. Unload and Re-load, then, my money is blowing away, I was talking to Sivio, the Ref, and at that point…it just turned into fun.
And it was fun! 13 minutes of true joyous fun, before tackling heart break hill.
I literally laughed out loud all the way up. Why?? Because now I know…there’s one thing that I know about Heart Break Hills (my Maui 2006 experience), it means flat tire(s)!!
I really enjoyed the rest of my ride, I hammered as much as I could. Then, into the wind, I conserved, staying in Zone 3. Into the wind, solo, it would have been very difficult for me to do much more.
I ended up catching 5 people, 3 of them in my Category. So I am happy. I had fun, Road is fun. It meets us with our own challenges.
10th in the Omnium, I’m happy, I had a 13 minute tire change.
III. Beet Juice
The researchers began to present their studies a couple of years ago. I began researching beet(s) juice last summer for my 50 mile Leadville Run. The data is concrete. Beets work like nitrates, opening up the blood vessels enabling more O2 into the working muscles. This is undeniable. Please make sure you don’t just JUMP on the Beet Juice bandwagon. Do it carefully, methodically paying attention to your body, and how your body responds. Last summer I began testing Beets. I experienced what looked like blood in my urine, and and my feces. I googled and researched and found that 80% of ultra-runners and even marathoners this is common at the finish. I also, noted that I had been consuming more raw beets. I love beets. And with such strong science behind the studies, why not give it a try.
So I gave up the ultra-running for the biking. It’s my thing, you know. I have eaten canned beats in water in salt in the mean time with no problems.
So I decided to re-introduce raw beets into my diet. The same thing happened, beeturia: an estimated 10-15% of people experience beeturia, the reddening of urine, or feces while eating beets. It’s recommended that if you may be iron deficient to have that checked. But keep an eye on it, because generally speaking when you see red in either of those things you want to run to the DR immediately.
So please, test the product, once, see how you respond, or even better have a trained professional help you.
My recommendations, if you happen to be one of those people with ED, give beet juice a try first, along with exercise, you should see huge improvement.
Please, please don’t just dump on the band wagon, without monitoring your bodies response to the stimulus, in this case, beets.
IV. Life Happens; it’s how we deal with it that makes us True Champions.
This past weekend 2 athletes were not able to make races that were originally scheduled. This can be a difficult thing to process both emotionally and mentally. How we handle these situations is what makes us true champions. One decided he simply wanted to hang out with family. This is a good thing. With spouse at work on Saturday, new baby, why would you want to drive 2 hours on a Sunday, Race for 2+ hours, and drive another 2 hours. Exactly. Sometimes we have to look at the big picture. He was able to reason with the athlete part of himself, and ask me for an alternate workout. Great Job.
Sometimes, there’s just a bigger plan.
Illness, illness is another one of those things that comes up, with injury. You miss a race, so what, there will always be other races. When, that is an “A” race that can be a little more difficult to over come. In racing, and in life, we only have the power to control certain things. Other aspects, we just need to ride the wave and see where it takes us.
Both people handled it like Champions. They didn’t let either example effect their psyche in a negative way, and both just continued life, without skipping a beat.
The Mental Game, that is truly what makes us champions. We may have been served lemons, but it’s the ability to make lemonade, that truly stands us apart. Way to rock’et guys!
Thanks for checking in,
And here’s hoping all of your adventures no matter how big or how small, are met with the joyous peace that serves us all.
-Coach Zoe