Episode 3: Skin in the Game – Kris Swarthout

About this Episode

Today podcast comes to you from frosty Lake Pokegema in Northern Minnesota where coach Kris Swarthout is practicing the art of social isolation with his extended family during the COVID-19 Pandemic.   

Kris Swarthout is the head coach and owner of Final K Coaching services who I met during a USAT Triathlon Coaching Education program in Tuscon AZ.

Kris has been a competitive presence in triathlons since 2001. First as an athlete now as a coach. Kris is currently assisting with the Paratriathlon National Team and is a presenter for the USA Triathlon Coaching Education Department. Between 2010 and 2014 he served as the Official Age Group Coach for Team USA and accompanied them to the ITU World Championships around the globe. Kris is also a co-founder of the Leanda Cave Foundation helping to empower women through triathlon.

Kris has coached athletes ranging from professional to first time amateurs. He strives to help people achieve the ultimate balance of family and sport in their lives.

Today we lead off by taking about the many “shelter in place” orders and social distancing strategies to help flatten the COVID curve.  Kris shares how he is helping token his athletes focused, motivated and engaged when many upcoming races have been postponed or cancelled, swimming pools and gyms are closed and group training sessions are largely looked down on right now.

While our social isolation orders won’t go on forever, some of the strategies he shares can be useful anytime.

One Fun fact: Kris is a retired police officer. He shares candidly with me what being an officer meant to him and why he left, and what he took away from that experience that makes him a better triathlon coach.

Finally we talk a bit about the Leanda Cave foundation that he is co-founder of.

I think you’ll enjoy this chat with Kris.  Here we go.

Episode 3: Transcript