POV: Curated Coaching as Seen By Athletes
It has been an exciting month as the Lifelong Endurance Curated Coaching Ambassadors round off their first month of training. We asked them what they are most excited about for the coming year, and what changes they have experienced in the first month. All of these incredible athletes are getting ready for big things in 2020!
Ambassador: Greg Marshall
Location: Boulder, CO
What are you most excited about for 2020?
2020 marks a personal turning point for me-- from just looking to finish ever-longer race distances, to aiming for performance at certain races. Having the coaches at Lifelong Endurance as a resource is going to make this a much faster and more injury-free transition than designing my own training through guesswork.
What have you learned from Curated Coaching?
Knowing my zones. I never used to know how easy to take the easy days and how a hard to push for workouts. It is already amazing how much more recovered I feel between workouts knowing how to actually take the easy days easy.
Fun (Non-Running) Fact: I live in Boulder, CO with my girlfriend and the most adorable-est chocolate lab that ever lived. He is 1.5 years old and probably runs 100 miles a week playing fetch.
Ambassador: Matt Hohnholt
Location: Arvada, Co
What are you most excited about for 2020?
I am beyond excited to watch my wife finish her first two half marathons in 2020. I’m so proud of her and can't wait to ring the cowbell like crazy to cheer her on!
What have you learned from Curated Coaching?
I was intimidated earlier this year when I read 80/20 running by Matt Fitzgerald. The concept of training in different pace or heart rate zones seemed too difficult to manage. Thanks to Life Long Endurance and TrainingPeaks, the process is seamless!
Fun (Non-Running) Fact:
I'm a huge baseball fan. Go Rockies! Meg and I are working towards seeing all of the MLB stadiums. We have currently seen 17 out of 30.
Ambassador: Jamie Komadina
Location: British Columbia, Canada
What are you most excited about for 2020?
I am most excited about the BMO Vancouver 1/2 marathon, a race I have run many times and it never gets old! Last year I was a pace bunny but this year I would like to run hard!!
What have you learned from Curated Coaching?
Accountability! I spent 2019 mostly following random plans from books or online, or not following a plan at all. I've gone back to school as an adult and it has been hard, but the first few weeks with Curated Coaching has me feeling that my last semester is going to be organized and purposeful with respect to running - I don't have to think, I know what the week has in store and then the night before I get my Training Peaks email which further reminds me of tomorrow's plan. One day at a time = results!!
Fun (Non-Running) Fact:
I live in the middle of nowhere, far up the coast of British Columbia on the Pacific Ocean where Canada starts tickling Alaska. From my town, you can take the 6 hour ferry to Haida Gwaii which is my favourite place on Earth. It's an insanely beautiful archipelago which is Haida First Nation territory. I think you should go there sometime!!! Come with me if you want
Ambassador: Krista Lee
Location: Dallas, Tx
What are you most excited about for 2020?
I'm most excited about the dedicated coaches that are designing a personalized plan for my success.
What have you learned from Curated Coaching?
The constancy with a plan has been the most significant change for me. Although I ran daily, I didn't adhere to a set mileage or program.
Fun (Non-Running) Fact:
I have the ability to make people laugh, much like a comedian but I'm just being real not trying to be funny.
Ambassador: Brian Dunfee
Location: Dallas, Tx
What are you most excited about for 2020? Being part of something bigger than myself and seeing myself get stronger with each workout. I'm excited to get the know the coaches more and my fellow Curated Coaching ambassadors; watching us all crush goals in 2020.
What have you learned from Curated Coaching? Accountability. In the past, I created plans for myself to stay on track, but because I was only holding myself accountable I would regularly skip workouts if/when I didn't feel like it. In the past month, I know it's not just me now. I have coaches putting in their time to assist me with new and fun workout plans, which has given me a new excitement to get out there and put the work in.
Fun (Non-Running) Fact: I asked my twin daughters what is one thing they find most interesting about me and they laughed and reminded me that I'm known to dance so wildly in the privacy of our own home that my socks tend to fly off of my feet.
Ambassador: Ruth Atkinson
Location: Little Elm, Tx
What are you most excited about for 2020?
Picking a goal race and really training for It
What have you learned from Curated Coaching?
I’ve had specific heart rate zones to aim for depending on the workout, and I have really felt a difference in a positive way in terms of my training load and purpose for each run.
Fun (Non-Running) Fact:
While I love fitness as my hobby (I even created a YouTube channel to document my first marathon), I also am a musician! I play piano, sing, play French Horn, and teach middle school choir.
Ambassador: Phil LaCroix
Location: Bolton, Vt
What are you most excited about for 2020? Picking a goal race and really training for It
What have you learned from Curated Coaching? Getting my body used to running more and in a more structured manner
Fun (Non-Running) Fact: While I love fitness as my hobby (I even created a YouTube channel to document my first marathon), I also am a musician! I play piano, sing, play French Horn, and teach middle school choir.