To celebrate the milestone, I asked Coach Mark if he’d mind doing an
interview. Thankfully, he said yes! Given how much I’ve learned from him over
the year, I really wanted to share some of his perspectives on coaching and
training with you.
Our interview covered a wide range of topics: from his background and
experience, his thoughts about working with me, his advice to new (and
not-so-new) triathletes.
I admit, I found his answers fascinating. I think you will too.
Hope you enjoy!
Interview with Coach Mark Linseman of Loaring Personal Coaching
Why did you get
into coaching?
I did a Masters in Exercise
Nutrition & Metabolism at the University of Guelph. My thesis examined the
importance of hydration and carbohydrate intake in hockey players. We found
some "significant differences" between different conditions in our
group of subjects, and we published a paper. But I was even more interested in
some of the things we saw on an individual level. Of course anyone who knows
about human research knows you can't publish a study with only one subject. So
I was looking for a way to investigate individual differences while also using
the evidence-based knowledge I gained (and continue to gain) from scientific
research.
Coaching was a natural fit. It is
basically an endless series of experiments with an "n" (number of
subjects) of 1. As luck would have it, LPC Coach James Loaring happened to
be looking for an associate coach, so I jumped at the opportunity. I have also
done a lot of triathlons, which makes it easier to be a triathlon coach.
What do you think sets LPC and teamLPC apart?
What sets LPC apart is doing more than just
scheduling workouts. We provide highly personalized coaching for athletes of
all levels, but we also provide more than that. Swim video sessions, bike
testing, weekly group training sessions, clinics, races, a week-long training
camp in Florida, hydration and fueling analysis (coming soon!), and above all,
we try and create a supportive, inclusive and infectious team atmosphere.
We also recently launched the Hurdle Project, a not-for-profit subsection of LPC aimed at supporting
our elite and future elite athletes, as well as a few dedicated young professionals
who strive to succeed in both their work and their sport.
What do you find to be the most rewarding and/or
most challenging part of coaching?
One of the biggest challenges is trying to balance the scientific
end of things with the individual end of things. The science may tell you one
thing, but the individual tells you another. It's up to me to figure out when
to side with the science and when to side with the individual. Or when to just
flip a coin.
Coaching is very rewarding. I get to work with a lot of really great and
unique people, people who are a constant source of motivation and inspiration
for me. I get daily updates which show me how passionate and dedicated they
are. I can't help but be inspired by that.
Your educational background is in exercise nutrition and metabolism.
What's the most important thing people overlook when it comes to nutrition for
triathlon?
The most important
thing people overlook is themselves. Practice fueling and hydrating in your
training and figure out what works for you. That may be different from
what works for your training partner, or what works for that guy in that book
you read.
What are the accomplishments you're most proud of – in sport and in life?
My proudest
sports-related accomplishment is winning my hometown race, the BluewaterTriathlon. I came off the bike in the lead, but got passed halfway through the
run. At that point, I honestly felt that it was over. I wasn't going to win. Then
I figured, why not see if I could keep up for a little bit? So I gathered
myself and kept pace with my competitor, figuring I'd just see if I could hold
on for another km. Then 1km turned into 2, and 3, and 4 – and suddenly I could
see the finish. I sprinted to the line and won by a couple steps. Obviously the
win was great, but more than that, I found out that I could push myself harder
than I had previously thought I could.
My proudest
non-sports accomplishment was completing my Masters thesis. Not only did I
prove to myself that I could overcome obstacles and road blocks that at first
seemed impassable, but I also learned from some very smart people how to think
critically and how to apply scientific knowledge to real-life situations.
What's been the most important lesson (or two) you've learned from the
coaches you've had over your life?
Consistency can help you achieve a lot of things. Success is gained not
just by "working hard," but by constant gradual improvement.
What's been the most unique part about working with me this past year,
compared to your other athletes?
Aside from this interview (which is great by the way!), I would have to
say your attention to detail. You are impeccable in terms of recording times,
paces, general comments about workouts, suggestions and questions about future
workouts and planning...and you even make sure to enter future travel plans and
scheduling issues right into TrainingPeaks so I don't miss them! Your
commitment to improvement (and your amazing attitude) is very apparent in the
feedback you give me every day.
What do you think my biggest improvements have been over the past year
(recognizing you didn't work with me before that)?
Running. 10k, half marathon, marathon, running off the bike in
triathlon.
Where do you think my biggest opportunities for improvement are over the
next few years?
Biking!
Judging by the power numbers you've produced this
winter, you have some huge potential here if you can continue to improve your
outdoor riding skills.
What do you think makes a successful athlete/coach relationship?
I feel like I need to ask you the same question! From my perspective, I
want an athlete who gives honest feedback, who is motivated to improve, and who
strives to have their training complement the other aspects of their life.
Aside: Since he asked…my own answer is
a coach who gets me as an individual (i.e., my goals, motivations and
strengths/weaknesses) – who can help me improve and stretch/test my limits
while having fun at the same time. For me, it’s also important to have a coach
who recognizes I want to know more than just what to do training-wise. I also
want to know why I’m doing it…which means a coach who doesn’t mind my asking
questions.
For
readers…Recognize that not all coaches/athletes share the same views of
coaching, so fit is important – so don’t be afraid to ask questions about a
prospective coach’s style before you decide to work with him or her.
Personally, I think communication is essential – it’s one of the reasons I
really like working with Coach Mark. He always provides thoughtful answers to
my questions.
If you could give any advice to people just beginning their journey in
triathlon, what would it be?
1. Figure out why you like it. You can like it because it challenges you, or because it makes you feel
good, or because it improves your health, or because of whatever else. You
might like it for one reason at first, and then for another reason later.
Either way, know why you like it.
2. Always have a goal. It doesn't necessarily have to be performance-related, but it has to be
something you can immediately point to and say, this is what is driving me to
continue.
What's one question you wish more of your athletes (or potential
athletes) would ask you?
It's not so much "one question" as it is "any questions."
I want athletes to not be afraid to ask questions, and to not assume that I
know all the answers (I know very few definite answers). In my opinion,
coaching is not simply about the coach telling the athlete what to do, and the
athlete doing it. It's an ongoing group project, a constant cycle of planning,
execution, analysis, feedback and adjustment.
--
I can’t finish
this post without a big thank you to my Coach Mark Linseman for taking the time
to answer all these questions. I hope you found his perspective and thoughts as
interesting as I did.
As mentioned,
Coach Mark works with Loaring Personal Coaching. For more information about
their coaching options, Florida Triathlon Camp (I will be going for a third time this March),
and athlete testing services -- click here.
If you liked this interview - let me know. I would love to include more interviews with athletes, coaches, and event managers on here - but only if it's something you'd find interesting!
Speaking of interesting, if you'd like to read my thoughts about working with Coach Mark over this past
year (and some) -- stay tuned for my next post.
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