I Came to Coach, I Left Inspired: My Week at USA Triathlon Foundation Training Camp

I landed in Salt Lake City on July 1 and was greeted by USA Triathlon's Project Podium coach Parker Spencer and a couple of campers he was also picking up. It was me first time meeting Parker in person; he told me it was his sixth round trip to the airport in the last 48 hours without an ounce of fatigue showing. 

The campers animatedly chatted with us in the back seat as we got to know them better. We pulled onto the road that led to Utah Olympic Park, and it was impossible not to be floored by the location. Parker pointed out places along the way where he planned sessions, and as we pulled up to the camp residences, a wide grin bloomed on my face.

“This place is insane!” 16-year-old me said.

After settling in, I helped organize generous swag donations from USA Triathlon partners and went on an easy run with a couple of the campers. We gathered that evening for introductions and to go over the plan for the week. Every detail was carefully thought out to expose these junior athletes to what it’s like to be in an elite daily training environment. 

What really impressed me was that Parker had planned for a healthy dose of fun along the way: attending the Fourth of July parade downtown, finishing off an open water swim with relay races that went down a water slide, and going to watch a ski jumping show. But sometimes fun happened spontaneously, like pivoting one of the open water swims to a hike in the mountains to an alpine lake. It was freezing, and everyone squealed in the cool water, but there were smiles all around. 

Coaching alongside Parker was enlightening. Many of the workouts included both the Project Podium athletes and the campers, creating immersive opportunities for the campers to observe and learn. I found myself gaining confidence throughout the week, stepping back into that version of myself who woke up and swam, biked, and ran every day for a living. I had insights to share, encouragement to give, and lessons to dispense. 

Parker led without ego, creating space for me to share my expertise. Soon, I found myself speaking up more and more. I watched the campers listen, absorb, and push their boundaries. I also watched the campers not listen, learn from not listening, and finish workouts tired but satisfied (teaching moments all-around!). 

Parker reinforced throughout the week important pieces of advice about group dynamics and being a good squadmate. I watched the athletes internalize this advice when they encouraged one another verbally and with fist bumps and high fives. This positivity was contagious, and I watched these athletes' bond deepen as the camp stretched on. 

From the get-go, every athlete was encouraged to operate within their own parameters. We took the time to get to know the level of experience of each athlete and created a safe space for them to speak up when they had hit their healthy limit. On the second-to-last day, Parker planned a big ride that would push the athletes outside their comfort zone. Before the ride even began, we had a detailed plan that included multiple stopping points to refuel the athletes. Project Podium athletes were ride leaders and guided the campers on the first half of the ride. 

It was incredible to watch these athletes navigate the mountain, push themselves, confidently admit when they were done, and receive high-fives from their fellow campers. We stood atop the final climb of the day, with the athletes now all within a mile of the summit. We waited with cold beverages and snacks next to an alpine meadow with wildflowers in full bloom. One by one, athletes made it to the summit, exhausted but so happy. 

As each camper came into sight, we got louder and louder, cheering them on their way to the top. My heart nearly burst — I was so proud of these kids. I looked over at Parker and thought to myself, he knew exactly what he was doing when he put this workout on the schedule. 

Even outside of workouts, the athletes were exposed to many learning opportunities. It was appropriate that the first speaker was a dietitian and retired pro triathlete, Megan Foley. These athletes were exposed to healthy fueling all week. Every single meal and snack was catered in the kitchen by family members of one of the Project Podium athletes who happened to be professional caterers. These meals were nourishing and delicious. I watched the campers say thank you and the caterers smile back in return, making sure every athlete had what they wanted. 

Professional runner and Olympic medalist, Grant Fisher, spoke on the second night. He shared so many valuable lessons with the campers on everything from overcoming failure, navigating pre-race nerves, to what he did between winning two Olympic medals at the Paris 2024 Games last summer. 

I had the pleasure of speaking about pre-competition planning, a mental training technique that I felt was particularly transformative to my career as a professional triathlete. On the final evening, a Q&A panel with the Project Podium athletes covered topics around sport, school, and social life balance. 

As the camp came to a close, we met as a group one last time. We asked the campers to share their key takeaways from the camp. As a coach, you always hope that you made a difference, that there was something, however small, that will stick with them and make their experience in the sport just a little better. 

As each camper spoke, they shared with confidence what they learned, and my heart was full. It became clear that this camp wasn’t just a triathlon camp; it was a transformative experience for the campers, not just as athletes but as human beings. We gave them a master class in pursuing triathlon professionally, but we also taught them skills that will transfer into everything they do. 

As I said goodbye to Parker at the airport, I thanked him for everything, and as I walked away, I shouted, “16-year-old Alicia had the best time! And so did grown-up Alicia!” 

Alicia Kaye is USA Triathlon's Manager of Strategic Partnerships and a retired professional triathlete.