Michael Koenig
Details
| C O A C H B I O |
Name | Michael Koenig |
|---|---|---|
| Wilmington, DE | ||
| Chadds Ford, PA | ||
| University of Notre Dame, BS Mechanical Engineering, 2000 University of Delaware, MS Biomechanics, 2004 | ||
| USA Cycling Expert Level Coach | ||
| Expert | ||
| Running, Rowing, Triathlon, Cycling, Adventure Racing | ||
| Premium, Select | ||
Profile:
Date of Birth:
July 17, 1978
Family members:
Wife Leslie
Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
Wilmington, DE; South Bend, IN; Niles, OH; Philadelphia, PA; and Chadds Ford, PA. Chadds Ford is actually Southeastern Pennsylvania’s wine country and like any wine region, it has tons of great roads to ride and run on.
Favorite Quote:
”Some days you’re the bug.”
Education
College/University:
University of Notre Dame (Undergrad), University of Delaware (Grad school)
Favorite subjects/courses:
Materials Science, Fluid Dynamics, Anatomy and Physiology
Coaching Background
I decided to pursue training and education as a coach because:
I like sports and working with people to help them reach their goals.
I decided to join CTS because:
I wanted to learn from arguably the best endurance sports coach in the world.
What I liked best about the CTS coaching residency program:
Living and training in Colorado. Working there didn’t seem like “work” and the ability to exchange coaching ideas with other great coaches from all over the country made it a phenomenal learning experience.
I like coaching for CTS because:
All of my co-workers are enthusiastic, intelligent people who care deeply about getting the best out of their athletes. Also, the athletes are great people who are willing to do what it takes to get them to the next level.
My most rewarding coaching experience:
At CTS, any time an athlete finishes his or her first Ironman Triathlon or first marathon is an incredible rush. These races require so much preparation and time – to see the athlete finally accomplish what they set out to do is almost as rewarding for me as is it is for them.
The best thing about being a coach is:
Helping an athlete succeed.
My coaching philosophy is:
Don’t ever let an athlete take their sport or training too seriously. I always try to remind the athlete why he or she got into the sport in the first place –- to have fun and be healthy!
My coaching goals:
With CTS, it is to continue coaching at the highest possible level and in turn to help my athletes achieve whatever personal goals they may have.
My most embarrassing coaching experience:
As a high-school track coach, throwing up from nerves right before a track meet
My area of coaching expertise is:
Running and rowing
My strongest coaching quality is:
Patience
The best coach I ever had was:
Ralph Heiss/Lou Olivere, Cross-Country and Track coaches at Salesianum High School. They taught me the value of hard work, yet kept practices fun and interesting without working us too hard. They had it dialed.
The best advice I ever got from him/her was:
Have fun!!
Athletic Career Highlights
When I started (my sport) and what got me started:
In the 7th grade, I started as a track sprinter because I was faster than everyone (or so I thought)
Athletic accomplishments:
State high-school track champion in the mile and 800 meters
Competed for the University of Notre Dame in Rowing and Track and Field
Completed the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon in 10:34.
Running personal records of 15:05 (5k), 32:05 (10k), 2:44 (marathon).
What sports mean to me:
Competition, fun, camaraderie
What I would have done differently in my competitive days if I knew what I know now:
Not beaten myself up so much after a bad race.
What I would not change:
The fact that I took my sport seriously, but not TOO seriously. Overall, it’s always been about having a great time.
My near and far-term athletic goals:
Break 10 hours in an Ironman triathlon.
Activities I do for fun and exercise:
I am a mentor for the Robotics Club at Malvern High School, so I spend a good amount of time helping them build a functional robot from a shoestring budget with very limited time (just like real-world engineering!!)
My favorite race/competition and why:
Thanksgiving Day 10k race, Wilmington, DE. I’ve been doing this race since the 8th grade.
My best athletic experience:
Finishing an Ironman for the first time
My worst athletic experience:
Dropping out of the Boston Marathon in 2004
My strongest athletic qualities are:
Even pacing, patience, and at the end of the race, guts.
Pet peeves:
Sandbagging, which is when you ask someone how their training is, they say it sucks, then they go out and run a personal best.
I get pumped up for competition by:
Imagining beating my competitors
Miscellaneous
The neatest thing I ever found on a run/ride was:
$20 bill
If I wasn’t a coach, I would be:
I am a Physics teacher right now, but if I weren’t doing that I would be a design engineer.
My favorite meal/dessert is:
Burritos
“Bad” food I just can’t resist:
Pizza
My favorite book is:
1984
My favorite website is/websites are:
www.und.com, www.espn.com
My favorite place in the world is:
Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana on a football Saturday
When traveling, I never leave without:
Toothbrush, computer, deodorant, change of clothing
The oldest piece of sports equipment I am still using:
I have race t-shirts from 1992 … I can’t get rid of them!!
Pure relaxation is:
Miles 5-15 of a marathon
I’m a real slacker when it comes to:
Swimming
