Liz grew up a competitive swimmer holding collegiate records in the mile, 1000, and 500 freestyle events. She's been coaching swimming for over a 15 years and triathlon since 2006. She's qualified three times for 70.3 Worlds and in 2003 earned a spot to compete in The Best of the US Triathlon as the female rep for New Mexico. In addition to coaching triathlon, Liz does Sports Massage at Sport, Spine Physical Therapy and for The Kansas City Chiefs.
Education
Coaching Words to Live by
How your Live Your Dash Take a moment to consider how you will be remembered by the athletes that you’ve coached. Every athlete who plays or has played for you will somewhat remember their experience. Especially in player’s youth years, the potential to make a lasting impact is seemingly endless. “The Dash,” by Linda Ellis; adapted for coaches by Jeff Janssen and Greg Dale. How You Live Your Dash I heard of a man who stood to speak At the retirement banquet of a coaching friend. He referred to the dates of the coach’s career From the beginning, to the end. He noted the first and last day of the coach’s career And spoke of the following date with tears. But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years. For that dash represents all the time That s/he spent coaching here on earth. And now only those who loved and played for him Truly know what that line is worth. For it matters not how much we win The trophies, the records, the cash. What matters is how we live and love And how we spend our dash. So think about it long and hard, Are there things you’d like to change? For you never know how much time is left That can still be rearranged. If we could just slow down enough To consider what’s true and real. And always try to understand, The way our athletes feel. And be less quick to anger, And show appreciation more, And love the people in our lives, Like we’ve never loved before. If we treat our athletes with respect, And more often wear a smile, Remembering that this special dash May only last awhile. So when your coaching career comes to an end With your life’s actions to rehash, Would you be proud of the things your athletes would say About how you spent your dash? Adapted for coaches by Jeff Janssen and Greg Dale from “the Dash” A poem by Linda Ellis of Linda’s Lyricshttp://www.lindaslyrics.com |
2017 - Coaching Mentorship with Brett Sutton Austin Marathon The BFF & the sister are running their first marathons! ....we've recruited a gaggle of Reds to come (wanna come!? email us : ) The more the merrier! Feb 19, 2017 2016....IM Texas & IM Louisville Texas done! whew, one adventure after the next :) More about it here IM Lousiville was a great day for me - one of those days we all hope for but are really pretty rare. I dropped over an hour off my time coming in at 10:34 and placing 4th in my AG and 14th overall. Made all the hard work worth it! 2015...oh dawg here we go! Muncie 70.3 ....wow! was this fun - set a PR at 4:53! #excited Jackson County Olypmic - 1st Overall Little Apple Sprint - 1st Overall Redman - 4:59 - this was a tough race for me, but I learned some good tidbits and was very thankful to squeak in under 5 hours : ) Computrainer..... #embracethesuck I'm excited for this year...got a phenomenal coach who has helped me tremendously. Get a coach who knows what they are doing and DO WHAT THEY SAY. Everyday. 2014 ....a year to remind myself why Ironman is preferable to sprints :) OUCH! Trolly Run 4 mile run - 27.19, 4th / 524 Age Group Four on the 4th, 4 mile run - 3rd Overall, 28.18 SM Park - cancelled :( Mother nature was out in force this year! Matt Mason - cancelled :( Kansas City Half Marathon....whew! Working on getting a base for racing next year. Should (and did) prove to be rather painful : ) woot!! Does Tap Dance class count? SO FUN! #dowhatyourbadat 2013 so...I took a rest and got a dog! : ) #necessary However...I also started experimenting with power on the bike. wow! also #necessary confession....I decided it would be just fine to run the Kansas City Marathon with a friend....untrained. What?! She needed a buddy! #noredleftbehind. And, yes, it was painful, unwise, and unadvisable. Loved every second of it! ha! (don't try this at home #injury). 2012 Ironman Lousiville - 11:46 KS 70.3 - 5:05, 70.3 World Champ Qualifier...didn't take the slot but it was fun to get : ) 2010-11 Ironman Louisville - 11:51 Did lots of small races this year just to torture myself into being sprinter! :) #workonyourweakness 2009 - oops...I was traveling....learned to appreciate safety standards in our swimming pools (think Malaysia...electrical wires coming out from would be light sockets in the pool (yes, under water). Swimming laps wasn't dull!). Also came to appreciate completed sidewalks...some harrowing potholes with false covers on them in Thailand. oh my...I've learned to love the gouge that remains in my shin :-) Life must be an adventure! 2006 - 2008 I had the pleasure of living in New Zealand these few amazing years...they had all kinds of fun race series. Waiheke Wharf to Wharf 25K (hello hills), Stroke and Stride (a run/swim race series - pure joy for those of us who LOVE swimming & running :-), Auckland Harbour Swim, Auckland Swim Series, Adventure racing, Rotorua Marathon, Taupo Great Lake Relay (think 10 of your best friends running around a clear fresh water lake in New Zealand....yes, it was freaking awesome!!) 2005 - 2007 mm....well one learns a lot when they move around...and I learned I did not necessarily love New Mexico...however, I had some great adventures there.... I think the biggest highlight was winning overall amateur at the Milkman Triathlon and qualifying to be the female rep for New Mexico at The Best of the US Tri in New Hampshire. By no means was I close to the best athletes racing at The Best of the US, but I'll take it. It was just pretty darn cool to get to race with them :-) eik! 2004 My first triathlons! Right here in KC. Yikes was I scared! But as with most things, I jumped in feet first like a screaming madperson and had an awesome time : ) I was hooked! Shawnee Mission Park Tri, Sprint - 58 minutes, 1st AG, 2nd Overall MM Half Ironman, Kansas City, 5:12, 1st AG, 3rd Overall 2000 - 2003 mm...after living in Wisconsin, I decided clearly it was time to move some place warm and awesome. And what's more warm and awesome that Hawai'i?! I loved it then and I still love it more than anyplace I've ever been (don't tell, but someday I'm moving back :-) Talk about a racing mecha - holy smokes. Ran my first marathon here - Honolulu Marathon ; ) woot! Main highlights were the Maui Channel Swim - yes, please, may I swim between 2 of the most beautiful islands in the world, Lanai and Maui!! Second was the Ohau Perimeter Run - just like it sounds, you run on a relay around the island. Best race ever. And, I don't like to brag but our team did win "best relay name" AND "best baton". Drum roll please.....Sharks with freaking Lazers on their Heads. BOOM!! Clearly there was no contest on who the winners should have been. Waikiki Roughwater Swim, North Shore Swim Series, Honolulu Marathon (my first....ouch), Great Aloha Run, Mid-Pacific 30K.... Got some great experience coaching in Hawai'i - swimming & tri clinics. College Years...so I swam 4 years and ran track 1 year (why not?!). It was surely no fancy fast school but indeed was just right for me. I loved it. And that one year of track was my first indicator that I am not, in fact, a sprinter (probably why, in swimming, my event was the mile :). Death by sprinting has continued to haunt me into my triathlon years....geeze that fast stuff hurts!!! Best part of this was becoming the assistant coach for the swim team after graduating and working with their distance athletes and developing their dry land program. A sign of things to come! : ) Beloit College - Junior Athlete of the Year, Swimming, Beloit College - Senrio Athlete of the Year, Swimming Beloit College Record Holder - Swimming, 500, 1000, Mile Academic All American 1996-2000 Beloit College Blanket Recipient - highest athletic honor at Beloit Growing up I swam for Swim Academy in Kansas City....this is where I learned the value of hard work and definitely learned how to press on even when you're not the fast kid. Many hours I spent sputtering and gasping for dear life trying to hang on (and often not able to) to the feet in front of me. There is nothing like flip turning through missed intervals for 3 hours every night to teach you perseverance!!! #nevergiveup ! : ) 
Coach Harley; The Enforcer.
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