Beth Leasure Ó  2009      All rights reserved .

EVENT-BASED PROJECTS
Example:  Marshal Hartley

Example Event:   Race-Side Coaching/Direction at Junior Road Nationals for Marshal Hartley
 
Fitness:   Category 3 Junior-Very competitive in region

Despite small fields, Marshal wasn’t winning junior category races when I noticed him at Talent ID Camp. He was fledgling in category 4 but like most of us, he was eager to move up and enjoy the prestige and the power of higher category racing. He was buried in the results at Junior Nationals the year before I began working with him. I encouraged him to master some skills and not rush the upgrading – where it just gets harder to learn basics. I also encouraged him to work hard in the winter and in his climate this meant a cross-training activity. So he took up running. We qualified him for States and brought him more confidence as a winner and more fitness at race pace. Meantime, we improved his bike racing skills and knowledge of strategy. Marshal started winning Cat 3 races. He still showed low power data in certain types of fitness, but we were hindered to work on these due to his necessary winter focus.

Facts:   Realistic & Measurable Improvement

Marshal placed in the top quarter at Junior Road Nationals while showing power data at LT only in the fair region, but high numbers for running fitness. Our specific continuum of Development, Advancement and Placement got Marshal picked up by a stellar local team that supports junior racing. It also improved his results significantly at the Junior National level because Marshal learned HOW to race, despite our hindrances to focusing on road cycling fitness. Suddenly, Marshal was faced with a choice: take a collegiate scholarship for running or cycling? He chose well and has decided to put all his energies into the bike at Brevard College in North Carolina, a campus with a strong emphasis on faith and student fellowship.

Faith:   Spiritual Upgrade

Marshal was a cultural Christian, an occasional church go-er with an undefined faith. He took a greater interest in spiritual things when he began to realize the value of a holistic approach to performance and to life. He began regular fellowship and study that led to blessings in race results while improving his inner talk, his ability to handle difficult relationships, and honed his decisions about career, college, and life purpose.

More...
Download "Game On", an exerpt from the soon-to-be-released book by Beth entitled, Prayers for the Peloton.