Today we’d like to introduce you to Ingrid Miller.
Hi Ingrid, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
After 10 years as a lawyer and having some kids, I found myself wearing spandex triathlon shorts under my wool suits so I could go directly to my workouts. Eventually I spent more time teaching swimming and learning new training methods than going to court. I was gradually able to step away it entirely and to train, race and eventually coach, I wrote training plans and eventually my first book on planning for an Ironman Triathlon. There were a few more books after that and soon my coaching business blossomed.
I never planned to have a triathlon club- the early days in 2014 were a gathering of local athletes that wanted to train together for a local 70.3 race in Oceanside, the group stayed on after the race and I found myself in the business of providing in-person training opportunities every weekend to a club of about 100 athletes. Most of my athletes come to me for help with open water swimming. As an ocean lifeguard in the 70’s (the first female in Laguna Beach ) I had dealt with panic in the water before so helping this kind of athlete was natural. I work with athletes to help them trust themselves in the water, trust that they won’t sink, and to understand that swimming can be as effortless as walking if done with the right attitude and technique. My clients are often older adults in their 40’s, 50’s and beyond- but I get some younger ones too. Typically they have tried to race a triathlon without adequate swim skills and come to me after suffering a panic attack in the water or at the very least- the realization that working hard, being strong and wildly fling arms and legs is not going to work for them. So I teach them to swim well enough that they can relax and not be hindered by the challenge. In triathlon, the swim is the shorted of the 3 segments ( swim bike run). Devoting lots of effort there rarely yield a great race result- but being tense and inefficient in the water can ruin your whole race. The hardest thing for people these days is finding the time and patience to practice- it is the only way to learn the skills and we live in such a quick fix environment that people expect that one lesson is all they need. Indeed, that one lesson from me is usually life changing as far as their understanding and ability to move through the water, but racing well in a complex and ever changing environment takes a high level of skill. So patience and practice will pay off.
Over the years, Fearless has become known as a beginner friendly lifestyle triathlon club. We train hard but we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We have signature workouts like the 3 hour “Brick-Ass” and an annual ChitChatMan metric distance Ironman where the distances are divided into shorter 1-2 hour events scheduled throughout the day. Each event has a theme or element of suprise to make it unlike a typical training day. This allows everyone to participate and have fun whether they go want to go far or not, and most important, we all go the same easy pace so we can stay together and socialize all day. It is a great way to prepare for a full Ironman race.
The thing I love most about my job is knowing that my club is the kind of place where athletes of all abilities can come together and have fun while staying fit and stiving to better themselves, and they are the kind of crew that will stop and dance in the middle of a run, just because they can.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Having been fiercely independent with training and racing on my own for so many years, I was taken aback by how much my athletes needed me at first. I really thought I could just give them a plan and they would do it. I have learned to take care of these people and this really one of the best things about what I do.
I have also struggled with drawing the line between friendship and coach- client business. I used to beat myself up about being friends with my clients, But when my husband passed away suddenly, the club supported us immensely and I came to realize that that this tribe is not only where my friends are, it is my family.
Some members have been with the club since 2014. There is a steady stream of new members and some retire, move away, have various level of participation and interest in the club but it is a family and there is plenty of friendship to go around.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am the founder and coach of the Fearless Endurance Triathlon Club in Orange County. We have Saturday open water swims and group bike rides, group triathlon training opportunities and personal coaching in person and online. I am best known as the “Swim Whisperer”. There are so many inflences out there that push people to work harder, be aggressive about every aspect of their sport and it is so counterpoductive and discouraging for beginners learning the swim. I am the one other coaches send their athletes to when swimming is a barrier to being able to participate in triathlon. I know that teaching someone to swim is not going to change the world, but for that person, helping them overcoming this obsticle opens up a world of possibilities and that is really gratifying.
What does success mean to you?
Having a hobby that keeps you fit, gives you a sense of community and friends, and brings in a little money is pretty good. But there are many ways to define success. Over the years I have considered creating an online “Master Class”, you know , one of those programs that drowns you in emails and promotion promotion promotion! But I have purposely avoided that. I never wanted my job to becomee managing a website and generating business. There are thousands of business like that. I am old school. Hands-on in person coaching and in person Saturday morning community where people can thrive.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Fearlessendurance.com
- Facebook: Fearless Endurance Triathlon Club and Coaching
