After running cross-country and track for nine years, I switched gears and decided to pursue whitewater slalom seriously. By seriously I mean moving across the country and training under who I consider to be the best coach I have ever worked with in any sport, Cathy Hearn. Apparently I am not the only one to think this. Cathy is the US Canoe Team Slaom Coach.
After finishing grad school in May 2005, I moved to Charlotte, NC. Knowing nothing about the town, I knew an artificial whitewater course on par with the best in the world was being built there, and this was enough. Further, this facility was going to be an official US Olympic Training Center. This was enough for me. I threw a few things in my '96 Toyota pickup and drove to Charlotte in August 2005. My net worth was just under 2,000 dollars. I had no place to live and no job. By a combination of luck and determination (really mostly luck), I found both.
Now, I draw on my base of athletic experience learned from nine years of competitive running combined with Cathy's analysis and input into my training plan to train full time here in Charlotte. Cathy's methods are interesting. In 26 years on the US Team, she learned a few things along the way. Formally educated in Feldenkrais, this combines for a truly unique and very innovative coaching style. Still, Cathy is one of the most attentive students of the sport and of her athletes I have ever met.
Every time she returns from an international trip, she has new ideas about technique and methods for Coaching learned from studying the best atheltes' technique. In addition, she studies her athletes almost like a science project, noting how they uniquely move and even respond to training. Having the privilege of working with her has been a huge factor in my progress in this sport.
Not a fan of being boisterous about goals and aspirations, they are not published on this site. However, these goals are lofty. They are based on a belief my college track coach instilled in me, "dream a REALLY BIG DREAM, not just a sort of big dream, but a REALLY REALLY BIG DREAM!" Coach McGuire, don't worry, my dream is big, and I am going after it with gusto!
