It’s been a wild ride these last couple months. I’ve been in swim dad mode FT, put in a big training block, banged out a new Be Audacious website & blog and launched 🚀 the podcast. And this test has been hanging over my head. I’m so stoked to share that it’s official—I passed my level 2 exam.
When Kamiah made the decision to opt in on high school swim, I made the difficult—and easy—decision to turn in my basketball coaching keys and after 15+ years of coaching, I knew right then, that along with my performance and mindset coaching, I wanted to dive deep into the cycling coaching arena (with 20+ years of riding, racing and coaching myself).
As cycling coaching certifications go, USA Cycling is the gold standard. After receiving my level 3 cert, the generous Jon Tarkington (USA Cycling Director of Education) opened the door for me to attend the USA Coaching Summit/Clinic in Colorado Springs this past November. So, after getting a late entry and sitting down with my wife and daughter, we all made the collective decision to go ALL-IN on this summit and invest in it, on a couple days notice.
While I’ve done a deep dive in exercise physiology and endurance training the last four + years, nothing prepared me for day one of the clinic where top cycling coach and exercise physiologist Adam Mills from Source Endurance Coaching and Joy McCulloch from Big Wheel Coaching hit us for a full day–firehose style clinic, diving deeper than deep into weeds, soil and roots of exercise science. I went back to my hotel room after that first night, fighting a migraine and questioning things in a big way, second guessing how my wife, daughter and I bet on me, in making the impromptu trip down to Colorado Springs (after the head of USA Cycling Education cracked the door), which was a big financial and time investment.
When Jon Tarkington, cracked that door, and extended a late-entry invite, he told me the connections I would make would be worth the trek and expense, and as fate would have it, those connections have proven to be monumental. Some how, after the clinic day (day one), I and my fellow Level 2 clinic mate, Josh Nelson, an experienced coach from Klamath Falls, Oregon, landed at the front table, that just so happened to be occupied by all of the distinguished CTS (Carmichael Training Systems) coaches along with some of the biggest names in the coaching world, like Mike Durner, Larry Foss, Dave McIntosh. From CTS to right was Adam Puford from the Train Right Podcast and to my left, Jim Rutberg, whose extensive and prolific writing on training, I’ve read and studied so frequently over the years.
For the next two days, while we listened to the likes of Connor Fields (BMX icon), Tour de Femmes riders and PhD professors in Sports Psychology, the summit–just as Jon predicted–became more about the human element and connections as we broke off into working groups. While I’ve always had a lot of confidence in my coaching, in particular in my ability to connect with and motivate my athletes, I was in a different league at this clinic as far as the number of years in the cycling coaching field along with the depth of the backgrounds in exercise science and kinesiology.
But thanks to the encouragement of Josh and a number of the other attendees, I found my rhythm and place in this distinguished group of coaches, remaining humble (easy to do amongst this crew) and hungry to learn.
I recently went back to an email from one of those coaches, the words of encouragement are from one of my coaching mentors, Larry “Legend” Foss, and they really resonate. “I truly believe that the human connection with the athletes is far more important than the data. That being said the understanding of the data is a big part of connecting. The data can be learned much easier than the connecting with humans. You got this!!”
For me, as a coach, the human connection part has always come naturally. Learning the data and physiology has been the part that’s been more daunting, but bird by bird, I’m getting there.
The encouragement of coaches like Mike Durner, Larry Foss, Josh Folsom and leaders in the industry like Jon Tarkington–people who see the potential and purposeful passion, instead of the degree or credentials, has been a game-changer for me. In a recent text with Coach Josh Nelson, celebrating the passing of my Level 2 certification, he sent me this, “You are an incredible coach and mentor. Love, compassion, joy, acceptance, you ARE all of these and that is what athletes need…your gift. Display that L2 badge with honor, there is so much that went into making it possible.”
I’m so grateful for the encouragement, support and love I’ve received from these fellow coaches, coaches that I admire and look up to. And it’s a reminder to us all, when it doubt, space out, lift up, inspire, give hope and confidence, rather than tearing people down and belittling their accomplishments, achievements, goals and dreams. It’s not about comparisons, it’s about honoring the individual personhood and in doing so, we build and maintain community. As the brilliant Jim Lehman said at the clinic in response to the question of whether the coaching ranks are crowded and whether or not veteran coaching like Jim should be helping young guns like me, “A rising tide lifts all boats.” That’s the BA Way, my friends. That’s what it looks like to lead authentically and from the heart.
I’m humbled, honored and grateful to be in the USA Cycling coaching ranks and to be learning from and guided by the best of the best—and best in the West. Being in community with these fine ladies and gents has been inspiring, uplifting and encouraging.
If you’re an age-grouper, teen, or under 23 rider, looking for a coach, I’d love to connect. And if you’re a star, a rising star, or just looking for some next level coaching–I know some of the best and brightest in the business, and I’m happy to connect you.
Until next time, dig deep, lean in and stay true.
WNbL, Michael W. Leach