I’m Accepting New Personal Clients

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Coach and Bree

I’m currently accepting two personal clients on a first come, first-served basis. 

If you are looking for a coach – click here for details regarding what Personalized Coaching with me entails and to arrange a conversation to see if we would be a good match.

Thanks and I look forward to talking.

Riccitello Coaching’s Cycling and Triathlon Apparel Store Is Live

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If you’re in need of some new stylish and functional cycling and/or triathlon apparel, I’ve got you covered.

I’ve been using Squadra Cycling apparel for as long as I can remember.  It’s durable, functional, fashionable and comfortable - all of the things I demand from my workout clothing, and it’s why I chose Squadra.

The tabs at the top of the store provide plenty of information about the fit and technology of the clothing, but I’ve included a few general comments of my own below:

The short sleeve jersey is very comfortable whether its 45F or 105F outside.  For temperatures between 45F and 60F, I typically pair the short sleeve jersey with a base layer, arm warmers, and a wind vest or wind jacket.  If you live in an area prone to cold weather (below 45F), the thermal vest and jacket provide significant added warm versus the wind vest or jacket, along with protection from the wind and rain, and will be invaluable.

The triathlon apparel is comfortable, form fitting, quick drying, yet provides coverage from the elements.  The fabric has a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) of 50+ and shields both UVA and UVB rays.

Click on this link to take you to the store: Riccitello Coaching Cycling and Triathlon Apparel.  Apparel will be shipped to the address you provide.  Do not select the “Will Call” option unless you want to personally pick up the clothing at Squadra in Carlsbad, CA.  If you’re a France Camper, remember that I’m providing a cycling jersey for you. 

Should you choose to wear my clothing - I’m honored beyond words and look forward to seeing it on the roads and trails.

I know you’ll enjoy it and thanks!

Athlete Accolades

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Stacey "SW" Finerman in Oceanside.

Linday Vigil "Ante" rocking the bike in Oceanside - on her way to second place in her age-group.

Ken Rideout sets a PR in the NYC Half Marathon. Looking good in the NYAC kit! Photo by: Nils Nilsen

Lots of early season racing going on by Riccitello Coaching athletes!  There’s nothing like starting out with a bang.

Stacey “SW” Finerman followed up a great result in the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon with a stellar performance at Ironman 70.3 Oceanside.  Despite battling a nagging staph infection picked up in SF, Stacey raced to a personal record in Oceanside.  Stacey is toughness personified and never ceases to amaze me with her accomplishments.

Linda Vigil “Ante” showed that her Olympic distance training is paying off.  She raced to a second place in her age-group and a 25-minute PR.  I’m looking forward to watching this Super Mom continue to kick some triathlete booty.  I’m also looking forward to showing the Vigil boys a thing or two about Air Hockey.

Kudos to Ken “Big Apple” Rideout who continues to set lifetime bests across the board.  He followed up his podium in Escape From Alcatraz with a PR in the half marathon on a tough course in downtown NYC and Central Park.  A bout with pneumonia has done little to dampen his spirits for the drive to a killer performance at Ironman Canada.  Keep up the good work, Ken!

Susan “Smooh” Hayden continues to impress and inspire all who come in contact with her.  A killer, all things considered, performance at Ironman 70.3 Galveston bodes well for her upcoming assault on Ironman Lake Tahoe.  I’m sure Smooh’s hard work on Smooh and Riccitello’s Run Challenge will come in handy during Ironman training!  By the way – stay tuned for our next challenge …

Congrats to Vic “Tattoo” Riquelme who continues to manage work, family and training in an admirable fashion.  Vic and his Body By Vi p/b VeloVie Cycling Team are racking up the results in an impressive manner, proving what can be done with comradery and teamwork, including second and third in last Friday’s Tour de Mesa Twilight Criterium and first and third last Saturday’s Tour de Mesa.  Keep up the good work, Vic.

Jenny “Legs” Lagerquist is back on the circuit!  Congrats for starting the season right with a 6th place overall/1st Age Group/1st Masters finish in the Smithfield Triathlon.  Look for JL to continue to find her legs as she gears up for Ironman Lake Placid.  And congrats Coach Jenny and her athletes who are also enjoying much success.

From The Outside Looking In

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I was self-coached during my 20 year stint as a professional triathlete.  This was more a function of the lack of triathlon coaches and the lack of dollars to pay a coach than it was the desire to captain my own ship.  As Plato said, necessity is the mother of invention - so I figured it out on my own.

I sought out the best triathletes, runners, cyclists, swimmers that I could find and tirelessly sorted through their routines and cobbled together a plan that I felt would work for me.  Over the years I tweaked and refined the plan depending on what was working for me.  As a result I saw steady progress in my fitness each year until I stopped twenty years after I started.

I feel that part of what allowed me to improve a little each year that I raced, was that while I was the Captain of my ship, I never shied away from the advice of others.  I sought the knowledge and intuition of those around me who were able to evaluate my plan a bit more objectively than i was able to.  I listened to anyone willing to weigh in, and then sorted out what worked best for me.  We’re different, after all.

My point is that most of us know what we’re supposed to do, but we need a coach or confidant to tell us what we should do.

Fortunately for today’s triathletes and unlike the primitive triathlon era that I grew up in, there are now plenty of experienced and intelligent triathlon coaches out there to help guide you on your journey to becoming the best triathlete you can be.  So when you can’t see the forest for the trees, seek advice from an experienced coach or from those close to you.

Aspire

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I'm the little one.

Competing – it’s in my blood.

I blame it on swim team.  During practice you compete, or are aware of the notion of competing, from the moment you dive into the water for warm up.  There is a fast lane and a slow lane.  The lanes are not gender specific.  Within those lanes, there is the fastest person – the leader of the lane, and there is the slowest person.  No matter who you are there is someone right behind you, just ahead of you, or right beside you.  Because everyone wants to move up in their lane and then over to the next fastest lane and then towards the front of that lane, it is guaranteed that most of the people in the pool will be “bringing it” for the majority of the practice.  It’s like this every day – all year long.

When I started swimming, for two long years I toiled in the slow lane – first as slowest person in the slow lane, and eventually as fastest person in the slow lane.  Before moving over to a faster lane, I joined a different swim team (year-round) - which put me back to tail-gunning the slow lane.  But as the old Cherokee, Lone Watie, discussed in The Outlaw Josey Wales (the greatest movie ever made), I endeavored to persevere.  I don’t know why, really, but the challenge was addicting and intoxicating, and I never felt discouraged or inadequate despite the fact that I was never the fastest (and was often the slowest) in the pool.

Based on my description, swim practice may seem like a cruel world.  But to the contrary – even though I was quite terrible at first, I aspired to be the fastest in the lane, then the fastest in the next lane – even the fastest in the pool.  Aspiration, fortunately, is a concept that can be learned and nurtured through healthy competition.  I know that the dynamics and competition of swim team helped me grasp the concept of bettering oneself.  I carry that concept with me to this day and apply it to as many areas of my life as I can - because there are MANY pools in life, after all. Even though I was far from the best in the pool – the competition made me a better swimmer -and a better person - a better parent, a better worker, a better spouse, a better partner, son, friend, sibling – you get the picture

My point is that we should not shy away from competition just because we’re not the fastest, and we should not steer our kids away from competition because we’re afraid that they can’t handle losing.  Competition - both winning and losing - can teach us good lessons.  After all, as the profound Steven Tyler of Aerosmith told us (since I’m quoting today), “You got to lose to know how to win.”

Anyway, as I watch my children compete in swimming, soccer, basketball, Jenga, Monopoly, walking around the block – one thing is abundantly clear.  I want to compete again – with other people.  I see my children’s drive and the drive of their peers and I’m reminded that healthy competition with others will encourage me to better myself as an athlete AND as a person.

So there – I said it.  I want to go to swim practice, group bike rides, track workouts, and races again.  I want to tell my workout partners and race buddies to watch their backs.

I most likely will not be the fastest, and that’s okay.  Because I will aspire – and that’s a good thing.