USAT Level One Coaching Clinic

By Bill Daniell: Associate Coach, Grasky Endurance Coaching

One of the challenges we face in the coaching world is staying in touch with the latest and greatest in the endurance sports coaching world. Science is constantly reminding us that we are still learning a lot about the human body and how to train it effectively. This is especially true in the sport of Triathlon due to the fact that the sport is so young. Fortunately there are a lot of great educational opportunities for endurance coaches and at Grasky Endurance we are constantly looking at ways to improve our knowledge in an effort to help our athletes. Recently, Coach Brian Nath and I attended the USAT Level One coaching certification clinic in Santa Monica and both walked away with a lot of tools that we know will be beneficial to all the current and future athletes working with Grasky Endurance.

The USAT Level One clinic is a three day seminar that involves approximately 12 different sessions which covers topics such as nutritional strategies, strength training for endurance athletes, mental training, and program development for endurance athletes. We were truly blessed at the Santa Monica clinic because we had several presenters who are considered the leaders in endurance coaching and are current members of the USAT National Team coaching staff and members of the United States Olympic Team coaching staff. As a coach with a very strong swimming background I was even impressed by the amount I was able to take away from the presenter on instructing swim techniques. It was just another reminder about how much we can continue to learn, regardless of how much we may already know. Brian and I were both very impressed by Bobby McGee who gave great talks on mental training for endurance athletes as well as a phenomenal session on proper running techniques. We cannot wait to bring this information back and share it with our athletes. In between all the training sessions Brian and I were able to squeeze in a nice ocean swim (the water was nice and toasty but I think the kelp got the best of Brian!!). We were also able to sneak in a couple of runs and got to experience Venice beach from an up close and personal perspective. Let’s just say that there are some things you can only see in LA!!!

Overall this past weekend was a tremendous learning and networking experience for Brian and I. I am already looking forward to our next educational seminar and even more so I am looking forward to working with our coached athletes and our GEC camps for 2010 where we can take this new found information and share it. As I mentioned before, these seminars make me realize how much great information there is that can be found, and I really think that one of the great benefits of working with the coaching staff at Grasky Endurance is the fact that we all are open minded and looking for new ways to learn from our coaching peers. This not only helps us become better coaches but also makes our athletes better which ultimately is our goal at Grasky Endurance Coaching.

Flagstaff Training Weekend

Grasky Endurance Coaching just got back from a training weekend in Flagstaff AZ. Those who went had a great weekend of training, altitude, and good food; those who did not go missed out.

Friday was when most of us showed up. Jill and I were late for traffic and other stuff, so everyone was already sitting at Oregano’s when we showed up. It was good to see everyone again—all were either GEC athletes or good friends (or both).

We joined the Pay and Take ride on Saturday. The group was large and fit, and filled with a fair mix of both triathletes and cyclists—most of whom welcomed the other. Every group has its guy who jumps to the front complaining about the “twitchy triathletes”…why is it that that guy is always the worst at holding a line and is the most apt to cause a crash? GEC athletes held on and did well, but with flat tires, dropped bottles, and seeing old friends we got split up, then rejoined, then made it to the turn-around in one short train of green and black. Sweet. There’s not much better than being at 7000’ and 80 degrees on beautiful roads overlooking the mountains. It’s even better when it’s 105 at home! That afternoon the group was sprinkled on by rain on a 6 mile run (while Jill and I had our first experience o a Wii) and got in a nice open water swim in Lake Mary. Big juicy steaks at a great cowboy steak house in the middle of nowhere topped the day.

Brian, Taco Bell is not recovery nutrition

We drove out to Wupatki National Monument on Sunday to ride big climbs with no traffic. There was fresh road construction, but it was still good riding. This ride is tough—descend until you can breath, then climb back into the nosebleed area again. We wanted to do a short brick run, so turned around at 45 minutes and a 3000 feet descent. The climb back was fun. And tough. Brad pushed the pace and did well, and we finished in 2:15 after a total 3.5k’ of climbing. Then a short run and we headed back to camp for grilled burgers and pasta salad by world class outdoor chef yours truly. Ok, world class is a bit of a stretch. Well, so it chef. Or even cook. It was all good until Kathy issued an open challenge on the ping pong table and Brian Nath though he could school me in Foosball. Who says triathletes aren’t well-rounded!?!

If it weren’t for a 90 minute dead stop on I-10 on the way back to town it would have been a glorious weekend! Next time I’m flying!

Brian