Behind the Curtain: The Heart and Soul of SHINE Multisport Coaching

This blog feels like pulling back the curtain not just on SHINE Multisport Coaching, but on myself. It’s vulnerable, a little scary, and something I’ve carried for a while. But it also feels like the right time to share the heart and soul of why SHINE exists, and what it means to me to coach people and their dreams.

I named my business SHINE because of something I often say to people: “Keep Shining your light.”

Every time I’ve said it, I notice a shift. Sometimes it’s a small sparkle in their eyes, a posture that straightens, or just an energy that feels a little lighter. Other times it’s a smile or a heartfelt “thank you”, the kind of genuine gratitude that tells me those words landed where they were needed.

I believe we all carry a light inside us. Sometimes it’s blazing, sometimes it’s just embers, and sometimes it’s barely a spark. Life has its bright seasons and its darker ones, and we all cycle through them. But the beauty is this: even a spark is enough. When you tend to it, when you fan it, nurture it, protect it, sit with it, it can guide you forward.

That’s why “Keep Shining your light ” means so much to me. It’s not just a phrase. It’s a reminder that your light, no matter how dim or bright it feels in the moment, it matters. And it’s worth tending to.

SHINE Multisport Coaching was born out of that belief, that athletes are more than their numbers on a chart, or names on a coach’s TrainingPeaks roster. They are people with light worth protecting, nurturing, and helping grow brighter.

And as much as I’m not thrilled about hitting a fire hydrant last year (10/10 do not recommend), one of the biggest silver linings of that tough season was the clarity and courage to finally bring this coaching business to life. For that, I’m grateful. (If you don’t know that part of my story, I wrote about it in my blog: “Fire Hydrant to Finish Line — Some Before & Some After.”)

The path here has been about believing in myself, choosing not to play small, and leaning into my why. And that why is simple: Coaching is a privilege- an opportunity to support journey’s that shape lives, and I love it.

But just saying “I love it” isn’t enough unless I tell why I love it. For me, coaching is about taking care of people on deep, sometimes vulnerable levels. It’s about fully embracing what it means to walk alongside another human being in sport and in life. It’s a relationship built on trust, where we navigate training and life together, respecting all the facets of an athlete’s world both inside and outside of sport.

And I know that because I’ve lived it. When I was new to triathlon, I was in a really tough place in my life and felt pretty alone. The sport gave me something I didn’t even know I needed, a lifestyle that made me stronger, inside and out. (If you’re curious, I wrote about that in my blog: “How Triathlon Unwrecked Me: From Survival to Strength.”)

I found myself surrounded by a community of triathletes, some with coaches, some who coached themselves, and some who were coaches. Those paths worked in their own way, and it was eye-opening to see that there wasn’t just one “right” approach to the sport. But what stood out to me most was the support and perspective athletes gained from working with a coach. That contrast made something click for me: I didn’t have to do it all on my own. That realization was huge, and it made a fundamental difference on so many levels.

Plenty of athletes choose to self-coach, and that’s a completely valid path. But what I discovered is that the value of having a coach isn’t about whether you can figure it all out yourself, it’s about what happens when you don’t have to. A coach helps you navigate the learning curve, brings a wealth of experience to the table, and continues to grow their own knowledge so they can serve athletes with purpose and care.

That’s why there are countless reasons athletes decide to work with a coach, from being brand new or feeling “triathlon curious,” to years of experience, to hitting a plateau, or simply juggling a full, messy, beautiful life.

There’s another side too: the reasons athletes hold back. One of the biggest is this idea of not being “good enough.” Sometimes athletes feel they need performance milestones first, or more experience. Others believe coaching is only for elites. Others question whether they belong, because they don’t see themselves reflected in the usual images of athletes. And others hold back because they assume coaching is out of reach financially, when sometimes the reality can be more approachable than they think.

Here’s what I believe: coaching isn’t reserved for the fastest athletes, a certain body type, or a specific level of fitness. It’s not something you wait to pursue until you’ve hit certain self-imposed milestones, the ones you think you have to reach before you’re “allowed” to have a coach guiding you in your journey and dreams. Coaching is about progress, balance, and building both confidence and capability. It’s about having someone in your corner who sees you as the whole athlete and helps you move forward from exactly where you are.

Working with a coach isn’t just about following a training plan, it’s about showing up for the process. That means being willing to look in the mirror. Endurance sport isn’t just physical; it’s a mental game too. As you train and evolve, your identity shifts. Sometimes that growth feels exciting, and sometimes it feels uncomfortable. Too often, athletes resist owning the very progress they worked so hard for. Coaches help athletes step into that shift, reminding them that the mental and physical go hand in hand.

Showing up for the process also means bringing openness and curiosity. Growth requires trying new approaches, being willing to receive feedback, and communicating honestly about what’s working and what isn’t. It’s about asking questions, seeking clarity, and leaning into dialogue, because that’s how real transformation happens.

When I talk about coaching the whole athlete, I don’t mean just your training plan. I mean the person behind it all, your mindset, your energy, your stress, your confidence, your goals, and your life outside of sport. Because none of those pieces exist in isolation. Coaching the whole athlete means helping you bring them into balance, so you can grow in sport and in life.

It’s worth saying: this sport is meant to be fun. For me, fun isn’t optional, it’s part of the process. Yes, there’s hard work, structure, and growth, but there’s also joy, laughter, and the reminder that training and racing are supposed to add to your life, not take away from it.

Here’s what a coach brings to that journey: a focus on all that you are, not all that you’re not. They help you manage the seasons of life, and there are way more than four. Sometimes life feels like 20 tabs open at once, each one a different demand, responsibility, or curveball. Coaching adapts to those seasons and keeps your training aligned with your goals. And when things get messy, a coach helps you find the tools to fan the fire, spark it, and keep your shine shining.

I coach real people, living real life. People juggling families, work, stress, goals, doubts, and dreams. I’ve lived those seasons myself, the beginner, the comeback, the rebuild, the messy middle. And along the way, I’ve also had the gift of being coached by some incredible people. Coaches I admire, respect, and care about deeply.

They taught me exceptionally well, held me to high standards, and showed me what it looks like to coach with care. I carry their lessons with me, and I hold myself to those same standards every day. My triathlon coach is also my mentor, and when I asked him if he would guide me, he said yes without hesitation. On top of that, I’m part of an endurance coaching mentor group that gives me exposure, accountability, and support from an amazing community of coaches at all levels. We have an incredible leader in that group too, and the learning is infinite. I truly value embracing all the guidance I receive, and, just as importantly, taking action on it.

All of that matters, because it shapes how I show up for my athletes. Coaching is about more than workouts, benchmarks, and results. It’s about walking alongside athletes in all of it, the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It’s about helping people see what they’re truly capable of, and giving them the support, structure, and belief to rise into it.

The heart and soul of SHINE Multisport Coaching is rooted in inclusivity and belonging. This sport is for everyone, every body, every pace, every background, every identity. At SHINE, athletes are more than their numbers; they are people with light worth tending to in every season of life. Wherever your path takes you next, in sport or beyond, Keep SHINING. The world needs your light.

Thanks for being here.