Introducing JM Coaching!

http://theaveragejoseph.blogspot.com/p/jm-coaching.html

As I have been diving deeper and deeper into the cycling world throughout the last handful of years I have become completely immersed into the different aspects of the sport, from the technical side to the training side to the social side. I am an engineer by trade, but also have an interest in the physiological side as well. This has lead me to study training techniques and science as a hobby. When I graduated from UW-Madison with my B.S. in Mechanical Engineering just a few short months ago, I had the thought that I could use the “spare time” I had that homework used to take up to help people get faster on their bikes through clinics, advice and word of mouth. Of course the natural outlet for this is to start coaching.

My hope is to help develop younger off-road athletes, to help grow that side of the sport. But my experience and interest is certainly not limited to that side. If you are young or old, off-road or on the road, male or female, I want to help you enjoy your racing more, accomplish your goals, and become a faster better all-around cyclist.

My coaching philosophy is that the most effective training plan can only be written by knowing the athlete as a person. It is important for the coach to know who they are coaching well, and just as important for the athlete to know themselves This is my focus. I understand that while training is a part of it, it isn't the only thing going on in someone's life. So a successful season or event is the product of an effective training plan with the flexibility needed to deal with the curve balls life always throws. Secondly, there is more to training than just rides. Training can take the forms of all types of activity and taking advantage of these different types can help make the most of the time put in, whether that is 10 hours or 30 hours. Core and strength training, cross training in other sports, stretching, and running can all be effective tools in improving a person's performance at an event when incorporated into the overall training plan correctly. Finally, I feel that the mental side of the sport is often ignored. Ignoring this side of a person is the first mistake that leads to not knowing your client, which goes against my first point. But beyond that, I know that a happy person trains harder. I make sure to maintain a focus on pure enjoyment of training, the excitement of reaching goals, and ups and downs that it takes to get there.

If I'm gonna ride my bike for a living, I might as well also do something useful.

So it’s time to be honest with myself. One the positive side, racing professionally is becoming more of a possibility each year, month, and week. I am training my heart out day in and day out and it’s beginning to make a difference. I’m not there yet, but as I keep pushing through to the next level, I’m finding out more ways to make this dream come true. On the not so positive side, racing my bike isn’t really something that helps people. Realizing this fact got me thinking about things a little bit deeper, it got me wondering how I can help people.

How can I help people? That’s a tough question. So instead I thought, how was I helped, specifically by cycling? How has my life been changed, effected, bettered by riding a bike? The simple fact is that on a bike I’ve become a more health person, with drive and focus on life goals. I have learned to live in an efficient manner. Sure a car is useful, but I get along fine day to day without one. In fact I’d say things are better by bike! A little fresh air on my way to work always gets the day started right and a calming ride home chills me out.  I have become more energetic and productive on and off the bike. Thinking about all these things, it became clear that for me I could help my community by getting more people riding bikes, embracing a healthy lifestyle, and truly believing in the power that bikes have to change our world for the better.

This idea isn’t something new. It’s something many of my sponsors do. Trek Bikes has a ton of programs and systems to help spread the message. They give away tons of money to tons of organizations that are helping the get the message out there and improve people’s lives. KS Energy Services is hugely charitable and with them I’ve help out at the Make a Wish foundation’s annual run/walk on Milwaukee’s lake front. This is on top of a ton of other work the entire company does to help people in all walks of life.

While a person could make a full time job out of this, and many have, I’m not in a position to do so, but I still want to help. So I will be working with the Wisconsin bike fed. Volunteering my time to help do whatever they need. I hope to work with some local WIN cycling teams to help teach kids how to ride bikes. I’ll start small, but who knows where it could take me.

I encourage anyone reading this to take a step to do this as well. Contact the Wisconsin bike fed, start riding into work, encourage your friends to join you even! Replace your short trips around town with a little bike ride. I know that the majority of the people reading this already do a lot of these things, but if you don’t consider trying it!

At the very least, check out The Wisconsin Bike Fed and consider becoming a member.

Thanks for reading!