We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marilyn Chychota a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Marilyn thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

In 2004 I sold everything I had, house, car, business I currently had and took a risk on being a professional triathlete. I packed up my bags and started traveling the world to train and race. I spent from 2004- 2012 traveling the world racing as a professional athlete with nothing but my gear and one bag. I had a successful racing career, that allowed me to develop my coaching career along side racing and then eventually full time coaching when my raining career was complete.

Marilyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have always been an athlete. My main sport from age 9-26 was equestrian show jumping. I had a successful career in that arena. I had started running, lifting weights and doing more physical fitness outside the horse world for some fun. My passion for running grew and the gym I was a member at had some triathletes that worked there. They convinced me to come join their local triathlon club practice. I could barely swim, I had no formal bike experience. I did my first local sprint triathlon and was hooked on the fun, health, community, positive lifestyle and everything it brought to my life immediately. I competed at a provincial level from 1999-2003. My dedication and interest in the sport grew. I started to wonder if I had what it took to race in the professional field. I took a huge leap of faith in 2004 and went for it. I raced Ironman Malaysia in 2004 where I won the overall woman’s professional race by 18min. For the next 8 years I continued to race to podium results in Ironmans and half Ironmans all over the world.

I have been coaching my entire life. I was a trainer and coach in show jumping. As my professional triathlon career grew I knew I wanted to give back to the sport by continuing to coach, but now in this arena. My mentors and coaches in triathlon were some of the best in the world. They took me under their wing to learn from them from 2004 until 2018. I developed my coaching career under the Endurance Corner brand with their mentorship. In 2018 the group decided to close the EC brand and encouraged me to continue on my own under my own brand. I opened MCC (Marilyn Chychota Coaching). I help people achieve goals they never thought possible. I see their talents, teach them, guide them, and help them achieve the lifestyle, goals and results for themselves they have always dreamed of. I do personalized coaching, public speaking, in person camps, teach courses and work with athletes of all ages, abilities and different goals. I provide insight, structure, education, team support and personal insight for people to achieve the things in their life they hope for. My program is special because the individualized personal relationships we develop. Each persons goals are unique and important, my program focuses on what each athlete needs for them specifically.

MCC’s symbol is the fern:

In the face of adversity I discovered my ability to endure through sport. I grew despite obstacles, and realized the joy in helping others achieve the same. Our team symbol, the fern, represents my journey and the journey I share with the other members of our team:

AYA = “FERN” is a symbol of endurance and resourcefulness. The fern is a hardy plant that can grow in difficult places. Individuals who wear this symbol have endured many adversities and outlasted much difficulty.

“Marilyn has built her coaching record through the tireless dedication she puts into every one of her athletes, bringing her lifetime of athletic achievement to help them achieve their goals. She has a rare combination of elite experience, coaching versatility, and commitment to her people.”

Coaching MCC Offers:

Premium Coaching

Basic Coaching

Strength Training

Consulting

Public Speaking

I am USAT certified, Safe Sport certified, Red Cross certified and Iron Athlete certified.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

In my team we share our knowledge, our fears, our success and our failures. We support each other, we keep each other accountable and we push each other. I respect each member of my team for their strengths. I give them the platform to showcase their strengths and share their knowledge, passion and experiences to elevate everyone on the team. We each play an important role. Myself as the leader demonstrate by sharing my struggles, knowledge, fears, goals and lead by example. They need to see me succeed and lead fearlessly, but they also know I will show when it’s difficult, scary or hard for me. We band together and lift together when we are strong and when we are weak. With this we know we are always moving forward through the journeys our goal present.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

To be successful in this field you must always put the athletes goals first. As a coach it can be tempting to highlight your own success, get emotional in times of success or failure. It’s most important to step aside and let your athletes shine when they succeed and be there to help when they miss the mark.

Always seek to be better as a coach and learn from each athlete.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marilynchychotacoaching.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marilyn_chychota/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarilynChychotaCoaching
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilyn-chychota-b73906126/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLwRPztSFt0OqoFZ5PA7qKg

Image Credits
Marilyn Chychota