#25 Coach’s Coaches
First off, I am calling myself out.
I did not consistently stick to my manifestation meditations like I said I would in my last blog post… whoopsiedoodles. I think I was scared it wouldn’t work and I didn’t want to believe that it wouldn’t work so I didn’t do it so that if it didn’t work I could say this lol. My takeaway: COMMIT. Because now I’m wondering what would have happened if I did. Anyways I didn’t make it back to Getxo in time for our first game back. So here’s what I’ve been up to in the meantime.
Visa things kept me In the US
I searched for some local motivation. I wanted a good space to train and a cool ass coach or mentor.
Using the great power of Google I found a few gyms that looked promising - some CrossFit, a sport performance gym run by my middle school gym teacher (hey Mr Rogers!), and an all female athlete gym! I called everyone.
Gym 1 - The CrossFit Gym - a no go
I had a same day sign up at this Crossfit gym because admittedly I was very into the workout of the day. The thing is,
1. CrossFit is not optimal for rugby performance and
2. I spotted a Trump sign through the window of their back storage area when I accidentally parked on the opposite side of the entrance…
Gym 1 - crossed off the list.
Gym 2 - A sport performance gym run by Mr Rogers, my middle school gym teacher, who I am now allowed to refer to as Dave!
Dave is a proactive, organized, charismatic guy.
I got to train with him at 6am before he went to school for a full day of teaching PE to elementary school kids only for him to go straight to his own business to train athletes until 9:30 at night. He is clearly passionate about strength, conditioning, speed, and agility work. Dave invited me to shadow coach so I got to absorb like a freaking sponge his programming and coaching cues.
He showed me my new favorite partner band exercise.
He also showed me that you can be fit as hell and jump higher than a dang kangaroo in your (40s?).
Gym 3 - The all female athlete gym, Relentless.
Ummm did that say ALL FEMALE GYM? Yes, frick yes it did. So we know I was hype and immediately signed up for a call with the owner. Emily is a freaking BOSS and I mean that literally and in just the sense that she’s cool as hell. I signed up for a movement analysis to check out the gym and meet this incredible human in person.
I’m going to set the scene for you. I drive 30 minutes to good ol’ Hatfield Pennsylvania. I walk into the gym and see two maybe 13 year old girls giggling and strapping up their Rebook lifting shoes. It made me smile thinking about what badass, confident, empowered women they are already becoming. I had never seen a space like this before; a big gym filled with platforms, barbells, prowlers, inspiring quotes, female athletes, and their female coaches. I am greeted by the smiley office manager who let Emily know I was there.
Emily and I obviously hit it off (platonically lol). We got deep into talking about nutrition and periods. She said with all the confidence in the world that there is not enough evidence in research to sync training with your cycle and until the data says otherwise, it’s a bunch of bs.
OKAY Emily, dropping truth bombs on me day 1, I love it. Emily and her gym, Relentless, got me even more excited to continue learning about exercise science and nutrition specifically for female athletes.
Wowwee, I had found 2 fabulous places to train, learn, and grow from.
To be honest, I felt like a little bit of a gym slut BUT I was having SO much fun.
S&C programming and coaching is not cheap… but it shouldn’t be! Investing in yourself MATTERS and a great coach can seriously change your life. I believe every coach needs a coach. Or at least would benefit immensely from having one. If I didn’t believe in the power of a coach, why would I be one?
Coaches help you to develop consistently and to step on the field with a stronger mindset, feeling confident that you are prepared and ready to ruck it up out there.
Today I am heading back to Getxo, READY to ruck it up myself at our match in Madrid this Saturday. And also ready for the year ahead of investing in myself and my development as a coach and athlete. LET’S GET IT RUGGERS.
Always forward.