National Coaches Week is a week to celebrate the tremendous positive impact coaches have on athletes and communities across Canada. This week is an opportunity to recognize coaches for the integral role they play by simply saying #ThanksCoach.
Over the last few weeks, we asked you to submit profiles of your coaches, letting us know how they inspire you and help you to be your very best, both on and off your bikes. We’re sharing these stories throughout the week.
Several members wrote in to tell us about their coach Barb Morris of Performance Coaching. In addition to inspiring her athletes as a coach, Barb is also a force to be reckoned with as a competitive cyclist herself, racing with Escape Velocity pb Fortius. In 2016 alone, she won provincial championship titles in both the road race and time trial, in addition to two gold medals at the inaugural Americas Masters Games in Vancouver. Here’s what her athletes have to say:
Barb leads by example. She still competes and trains as hard as she expects us to train. Her excellent race results are testament to her hard work and an inspiration to us all. From her experience as an elite athlete and coach, she “knows her stuff” and is able to impart information very clearly. She has an understanding of each individual and always offers caring and genuine encouragement. She has a “soup to nuts” approach pre and post race/event. Everything key to a successful race is covered, in detail, pre race. Post race, she offers a thorough deconstruction, and it is here that great insights and learning happens. I believe Barb’s focus is our safety, enjoyment, fitness and maximum performance in cycling. Barb volunteers and contributes in the cycling community, always encouraging and helping to promote the sport for the competitive and non-competitive alike.
James Ingham credits Barb’s coaching–her inspiration, meticulous attention to detail, technique, and conditioning–with allowing him to perform at his very best during the Tour of California:
Her own accomplishments are very inspiring (three provincial championships in 2016, two gold at America’s Masters). Her enthusiasm for getting the best out of her athletes and celebrating their victories (both big and small). The attention to detail and every aspect of technique and conditioning. She is so committed to your task and goal that you can’t help but be inspired.
I have a photo of Barb and I from the Tour of California Stage #3 Etape. The picture was taken at the top of Gilbralter Road (the finish line). The story here is that after two flats back to back, I was able to chase down the pack, which entailed 21k of solo time trialing. I didn’t think too much of this until my data showed me that I captured a couple of Strava KOMs during that chase, which many thousands of riders had raced through. All of this from a guy over 50 years old. This just showed me how extensive my training from Barb has been – to chase down the pack and then recover to finish with a time just a little faster than Jens Voigt in the final 12k Hill Climb!
Thanks Barb for your dedication, hard work, and inspiration as a coach, and for everything you do to share your passion for cycling!
With events held across the country to celebrate coaching, National Coaches Week provides coaches with the recognition they deserve for the time they devote to ensuring Canadians live an active, healthy lifestyle.
Stay up to date with everything happening during National Coaches Week by visiting www.coach.ca/nationalcoachesweek and by following along on Facebook and Twitter using #CoachesWeek and #ThanksCoach.
