Coach Karen Mackin

For me, the best part of coaching is the connection I make with my athletes. It's important for me to really get to know them. When I find out what motivates them and really understand why they do what they do, I feel that I can better shape their training to provide balance, fun, and achievement. I enjoy watching the evolution of their motivation and performance as they grow as athletes.

Off the bike, I love mapping. I can spend hours poring over maps for useful information to build into an adventure. When I’m doing this, time stops. I can even forget to eat or go to sleep! Of course, all that mapping leads me back on the bike, where my reward is that I have a well-thought-out plan to discover hidden gems and explore little-known trails and out-of-the-way places.