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May 9, 20243 min read
The Gift of a Space to Be Creative
(Series: Coaching: Creating a Practice Environment Where Athletes Will Thrive) When you read the title of this piece—The Gift of a Space...
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Jun 30, 20232 min read
Learning Mindset through Self Compassion
I am an Athletics/Track & Field fan, and June 2023 had some very exciting racing. Faith Kipyegon had two amazing world-record runs! A...
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Jun 21, 20233 min read
Summer Training: Strategies to Beat the Heat
By Alex Maycock MSc, BPHE, NCCP T2T Coach Have you ever noticed marathon runners switching wet hats during a race or putting wet towels...
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Jun 15, 20235 min read
Summer Training: Rest Days
In an early post, I suggested that the hardest thing an endurance athlete will do is get into shape. It takes time to develop the...
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Jun 8, 20233 min read
Summer Training: Heat and Bad Air Quality
By Kevin Shields Wix Media In this second short article on “Summer Training,” I will first discuss the importance of managing your...
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Jun 1, 20234 min read
Summer Training
photo: Wix media By Kevin Shields Are you searching for ways to structure your summer training for endurance sports? If you're a...
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May 22, 20232 min read
Summer Training for Cross-Country Skiers
As winter sports athletes, cross-country skiers must find alternate training modes to stay in shape during the summer. These can include...
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May 11, 20233 min read
Keeping Active as a Masters Athlete
For many years, Masters sports organizations and events have provided a platform for older individuals to come together and participate...
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May 5, 20233 min read
What is the hardest thing an endurance athlete faces to become good?
Getting Into Shape. And the first hard thing is that getting into shape takes time. It takes regular and consistent work to get into...
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Apr 28, 20233 min read
Transitions Through Our Athletic Life
Sports performances are inspiring. Here are three athletes that have inspired many athletes; Steph Curry, Conor McDavid and Usain Bolt....
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Apr 24, 20232 min read
The Masters Athlete Experience: Living and Competing as Your Authentic Self
(this is a free event or provide a donation) Mile2Marathon and The First Lap Coaching are excited to collaborate on a speaker series to...
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Apr 21, 20233 min read
Woody Kincaid is Making Wise Choices
“April Showers bring May flowers” - and they also melt the snow bringing the winter sports season to a close. April for cross-country...
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Apr 14, 20233 min read
Canadian National 2023 Ski-Orienteering Season Recap
Ski Orienteering is an emerging sport in Canada. It combines the speed of skiing with a mental component of map reading on the move and...
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Mar 23, 20232 min read
The Next Lap with XC Ottawa Race Team, New Season 2023-24
Thefirstlap.com Mission Statement (The First Lap Coaching is a new service of Canadian Wintersports Inc./Skiwax.ca) With another ski...
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Mar 9, 20232 min read
Coaching with XC Ottawa
Article by Kevin Shields Image, Wix media I feel that coaching with XC Ottawa will be an excellent opportunity to combine my learning...
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Mar 7, 20233 min read
Team Carleton U @ the 2023 Ontario University Ski Championships
by Jenny and Kate Tag! Go-Go-Go!! Helen McCulligh tagged Mallory Williams; Kate Mason tagged Maggie McClure. Mallory then would tag Emma...
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Mar 3, 20232 min read
Announcement - XC Ottawa and Canadian Wintersports Partnership
The XC Ottawa Race Team has been an inspiring team for many years. Formed in 2001, this team has contributed greatly to the ski community...
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Feb 28, 20234 min read
Summer Olympians Winter Sport Choice? Cross-Country Skiing.
On a beautiful snowy January day in Gatineau, Québec, Canadian Wintersports and The First Lap brought out three Olympic athletes to have...
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Feb 2, 20234 min read
Canadian University Cross-Country Ski Racing
By Kevin Shields, Canadian Wintersports Inc. The strength of the university cross-country ski scene in Canada is growing. Several...
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Jan 28, 20233 min read
A Community of Caring and an Event that Brings Joy
This past weekend, I remembered my introduction to the caring community of cross-country skiing many years ago in Southern Ontario. Our...
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