Coaching New Athletes

The San Diego Team Challenge spring season started two weeks ago and I'm excited to see such a wide range of athletes. I'm the walking coach, joined by two great running coaches, Sean and Dave. We're into our third week of training and people are really starting to see the benefits of regular walking. Some of the walkers who are tackling the Napa-Sonoma Half-Marathon walk regularly, some used to walk and still others have never done an exercise program of any sort. Beginners and experts, together on the same journey. It's going to be great. It reminds me of a book that I read back in a college religion course called "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." No matter who you are or what your experiences, live in the moment and realize that we all have so much to learn. That's why I love seeing people who are just getting started as athletes because even though I have been doing this for years, I can learn so much from them.

I hope to revisit this blog more regularly. Now that I'm coaching a great group of walkers and runners, I should keep a record of the journey that we take together. I've taken a big step away from competitive racewalking in the past year. Some of it has been by choice, some by circumstance. I'd like to get back to it, but time will tell at what level of involvement and commitment.

Here's a photo of some of the coaches getting introduced at the Napa Kick-Off party:


And one at the end of a recent training session: