AIMTRITEAM
Our team of coaches work together to produce "Coach's Corner" articles each month for the team newsletter. Feel free to check out the archive for tips and tricks on all things tri related!
Karen Mackin, Head CoachKaren Mackin’s athletic pursuits have always been based on fun and passion. Over the course of her 25 years of involvement in endurance sports, she has found most success in sports she is passionate about. She finds it is much easier to commit to the necessary hard work when she loves what she is doing. This definitely applies to her coaching as well. Although originally an Electrical and Computer Engineer, she found her true calling as a coach. She enjoys helping her athletes learn about balance, commitment, persistence, and overcoming obstacles; and watching them grow and succeed in whatever sport they find their passion. Karen believes that coaching is not just about writing training plans - it’s about building a coach/athlete relationship which ultimately enhances the athlete’s capacity for self discovery.
Karen lives in Massachusetts, with her husband and two children. She enjoys the challenge of pursuing her own athletic goals, coaching athletes of all levels, and managing an active family.
Athletic and Coaching Highlights
Karen Mackin
USA Triathlon Certified Level 1 Coach
USA Cycling Level 2 and Training with Power Certified AFAA Certified
Personal Trainer coaching@aimtriteam.org
Kendra McDowellThis is Kendra McDowell’s second year as a coach for AIMTriTeam. She comes to AIM with a 20+ year competitive swimming background as well as being a rower for Boston University’s crew team and masters swim team. Kendra continues to be US Masters swimmer and swims for the ABC Grey Sharks. Kendra is currently obtaining her US Swim Coaching Level one certification and is a year round youth swim team coach at the Thoreau Club in Concord.
She began competing in triathlon 12 years ago as recreational athlete. After taking time off to start her family she jumped back into competing in swimming and triathlon and has qualified for the USATF National Age Group Championship for the past 3 years, attending the championships in Kansas City and Portland, OR.
Kendra has been a member of the AIMTriTeam since its inaugural year. She enjoys working with athletes of all ages and all abilities and knows what it’s like to fit in training into a busy family life!
Kim DonovanKim has been both coach and swimmer for over 20 years, coaching people young and old. Kim is a Level 1 and Level 2 US Swimming coach. Fifteen years ago she began coaching masters swimming, which is simply coaching for the adult swimmer. Her coaching philosophy is developing swimmers' stroke techniques and training programs with the goals of each swimmer in mind. She respects the goals of each individual whether it's swimming in a masters swim meet, competing in a triathlon or building general fitness. She always strives to provide interesting workouts with varied ability levels. Ultimately, her personal goal is to support swimmers’ life-long commitment to fitness while they also manage busy lives.
For more information contact: ABC Gray Sharks Masters Swimming
Julie NockaJulie Nocka was a Division III collegiate athlete in cross-country running, swimming and track at Wesleyan University and received the Suki Hoagland award for Outstanding Contribution to Women's Athletics as a senior. She went on to compete in Modern Pentathlon, a multi-sport competition that requires athletes to compete in horseback riding , fencing, shooting, swimming and running. Julie was a seven year member of the U.S. Modern Pentathlon National Training Squad and was the Bronze Medalist at the 1987 Modern Pentathlon National Championship. She competed at the annual US Olympic Festivals as well as in Europe during that time.
After a hiatus to start a family, Julie returned to multisport and began her triathlon career at the age of 40. She has since been a USA Triathlon All American Age Group Triathlete for several years. Julie has been coaching AIM Triathlon members since 2004. She incorporates her own training experiences into her coaching as well as knowledge gained from coaching many youth, middle school and high school field hockey, lacrosse, swimming, track and soccer teams. After many years of many, many races, Julie now especially enjoys sharing the process of training and the health benefits gained from a balanced schedule and cross training in several sports.
Julie is a Certified ASCA and US Swimming Coach, Certified US Cycling Coach as well as a certified USA Triathlon Coach. In the fall and spring, she works on area playing fields as a Certified Field Hockey and Lacrosse Official. In her spare time and on weekends, Julie can be found somewhere outside with her husband and four children.
Kirsten PetersonKirsten Peterson coaches weekly track workouts for AIM Tri Team. A founding Board Member for AIM, she has been participating in sprint through half iron distance triathlons for six years.
Kirsten has been a competitive runner for over 25 years and has coached middle distance and distance runners at the middle school, high school and adult levels. As an NCAA Division 1 scholarship athlete at Montana State University, Kirsten was a school record holder and a 12-time Big Sky Conference All Academic Team member.
Kirsten enjoys coaching track for AIM because it gives her a chance to support and encourage all levels of athletes while maintaining her own fitness and social life. When she is not working, Kirsten loves to spend time with her husband Erik and two daughters Elsa and Britta; run, swim or occasionally cycle with AIM teammates; and dream about when she'll have the time and energy to complete an Ironman triathlon.