Coaches – Zoom Performance

Meet the Coach: Summer Rehkemper

Zoom Performance — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:32:24 +0000

Want to learn more about the Zoom Performance team of coaches? We will be highlighting one coach at a time, giving you the opportunity to learn what makes them tick, how they came to join the team, and their best advice to athletes!

First up, is Coach Summer. We asked her to share a little about herself. We hope you enjoy this little look behind the scenes!

Name: Summer Rehkemper
Hometown: Indianola, Iowa; currently live in Urbandale
Husband: Bobby
Boys: Drake (15) and Blake (7)
High School: Indianola
College: Drake University
Degree: Elementary Education
Athletic background:
High school: track, cross country, basketball
College: track, cross country
Years coaching: Coached high school athletes for 4 years; I’ve been coaching with Zoom Performance for 4 years
Coaching or related certifications: USAT, USATF official, high school coaching endorsement
Areas of specialty or expertise: Running
How did you get into coaching: When I was getting my teaching degree I knew I also wanted to coach, so I got my coaching endorsement
Activities outside of training/coaching: I am 100% hockey mom
Favorite memory from coaching: Anytime an athlete finishes and they accomplish their goals – just the excitement it is so much fun to be a part of
Favorite memory from racing: My favorite memory from racing is racing Worlds in Chicago and having my parents and Bobby and our boys all there.
First job or strangest job you’ve ever had: I worked at Drug Town.
Most embarrassing moment from a race (for yourself or one you witnessed): I flipped over my handlebars at the bike dismount (coming in hot!)!
Favorite piece of gear/training equipment: Love my Garmin watch
Best/worst advice you’ve been given: Live in the moment.
One piece of advice you would give to every athlete: Have Fun! You can’t control everything.
Favorite race: Worlds in Chicago
Favorite place to train: Hawaii
Other sports you’ve played/competed in besides swim/bike/run: Track, cross country, basketball, softball
Stupid human trick you can perform or other unique talent you have: I can rap, Ice Ice Baby!
Any other interesting facts or things you’d like people to know about you: I throw up before every race.

Greatest Workout Jam Champion is Crowned

Zoom Performance — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 20:04:55 +0000

Greatest Workout Jam- Finals!

Zoom Performance — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 22:09:59 +0000

Aussie rockers AC/DC were taken down to the wire but ultimately earned a division title.
Meanwhile, Black Betty barely broke a sweat.

THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE. Vote in the finals!

[polldaddy poll=9361223]

Case Study — solving tendonitis

Matthew Zepeda — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 19:30:14 +0000

Many cyclists have experienced knee issues in one form or another. I can remember having bouts of tendonitis where riding was out of the question for extended periods. The high volume of miles, hours and pedal revs will wildly magnify any imperfections or alignment issues in the pedal stroke causing inflammation and irritation in the hip, knees or ankles. Two years ago I had a local pro with a notable US Pro team approach me with pain in one of his knees. Due to the knee issues, the athlete had missed going to Asia with the team to race. He was frustrated because traditional methods hadn’t yielded results. We agreed to work together to resolve the issue.

The athlete, we’ll call “A” had worked with a noted fitting agent on his bike and they had made some changes to the balance of the bike and how he sat on it. A’s team requires him to use a sponsor saddle and the saddle was not the right width for him causing him to hold himself ever-so-slightly just off the saddle. We were able to communicate with the team to get a sponsor correct saddle that was the right width for him. That allowed him to comfortably sit ON the saddle without constant tension on the legs. This got us going in the right direction. He also made changes to his shoe/cleat interface based on recommendations from his team resources.

A chronic problem with cyclists is weakness in the gluteal complex (butt muscles) that cascades all the way down to the knee and ankle. In A’s case, this weakness caused his ankle to collapse at the power phase of his pedal stroke AND created misalignment of the knee. Because A had made the above mentioned changes to his shoe/cleat interface, this partially eliminated the collapsing of the ankle and knee alignment issue.

Next, we began a strengthening program that addressed three elements.

First, we worked to strengthen his gluteal complex. Because of the linear motion of pedalling, the musculature that helps to stabilize the pelvis and femur can become inactive and disproportionately weak compared to the rest of the gluteal muscles.

Second, we worked to create synchronization in the firing or activation of his quadriceps muscles. (medialis and lateralis). A, like most cyclists, has tremendously well-developed quads but his inner quadricep muscle (medialis) fired before his outer quadriceps muscle (lateralis). This created a slight turn of the patella (knee cap). The patella slides in a “groove” at the bottom of the femur and any misalignment is incredibly irritating which leads to inflammation.

Third, we worked on core strength and stabilization. The muscles of the hips, legs, spine and of course, abdominals are attached to the pelvis. When a cyclist pedals the musculature of the legs, spine and abdominals pull on the pelvis. His legs and glutes were already quite strong but we needed to shore up the low spine and abdominals. If you’ll recall one of the t-mobile or HTC/Highroad physios a number of years ago said that …”if you’re core is weak, it’s like shooting cannon while in a canoe.” (I’m paraphrasing here) We also added in some stabilization exercises to “wake up” his little stabilizer muscles starting in the foot all the way up to the hip. Many of his exercises were done bare- footed and/or on an unstable platform. Many moves also involved holding weights over the head to elevate his center of gravity there-by destabilizing “the platform.”

This combination of elements allowed us to get A back on his bike in a limited capacity in 30 days and back at full capacity in approximately 75 days. I also gave him “homework” to do while he was on the road to help maintain the work we did.

At the time of writing he had been able to put in a considerable amount of mileage at team camp as well as on his own.

A holistic approach to issues with the hip, knee or ankle often yields favorable results. In my experience there is usually no ONE factor but a constellation of factors that lead to irritation/inflammation issues which in turn become tendon or joint issues.

Ainslie MacEachran, the author of Simple Cycling Performance, is a Level 2 cycling coach with www.getzoomperformance.com. Ainslie is a AAAI/ISMA certified personal trainer and a Level 2 USACycling coach.

Meet Coach Antonio Vega

Zoom Performance — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Even though the running bug didn’t bite Antonio Vega until his senior year of high school, his late start into the running scene didn’t keep the University of Minnesota graduate from grabbing All-American honors while there and then going on to become a National Champion in 2010. In 2012, Antonio joined forces with Zoom Performance to bring his winning ways to our coaching team. Read more about our conversation with Antonio.

ZOOM PERFORMANCE: What is your background as an endurance athlete?

ANTONIO VEGA: I started running as a senior in high school. At the time I was a two-sport athlete playing soccer and a place-kicker for my high school football team. With some encouragement from the high school cross country coach I was persuaded to come out for the high school cross country team. I agreed, on the condition that I could still play soccer and play football. With some negotiation I was able to convince all three coaches to play on the three different team. Being busy with my three different teams I had to do all of my training runs on my own, but not alone as my Dad would accompany me on all of my training runs.

After my senior year of high school I was recruited by the University of Minnesota, where I earned the honors of Cross Country All-American and Midwest Regional Athlete of the Year. Following graduation from the University of Minnesota, I decided to take a leap of faith a pursue a professional running career with Team USA Minnesota. With Team USA, I have become a National Champion in the half marathon (running a personal best of 61:54),earned a 12th place finish in the marathon (personal best of 2:13), and was the United States Track & Field Athlete of the Year. I have represented the USA on two different occasions.

ZP: What would people be surprised to learn about you?

AV: I am a bit of a beer connoisseur and brew my own beer. I currently have 15 gallons of beer brewing.

ZP: How did you find your way to Zoom?

AV: I was new to the area of Des Moines, Iowa, and during my time in the city, when I was out on runs, I noticed a lot of athletes wearing the Zoom Performance gear. I did a little research and found out more about the company. I was lucky that Des Moines is such a close-knit community, and through a friend of a friend I was introduced to the coaches of Zoom Performance. For the last 2 years I have been with the company. I now live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and have brought the philosophy of Zoom with me to the Twin Cities.

ZP: What is your coaching philosophy?

AV: As a coach I feel it is my job to unlock the hidden potential of any athlete that I work with. My belief that there is no one-size-fits-all training program; each program needs to be tailored to play on each athlete’s strengths. My training program is design to help every athlete to run faster from 5k all the way up to the marathon.

ZP: What is your goal as a coach when working with an athlete?

AV: As a coach I feel it is my job to give my athletes the tools to succeed – to reach new levels that they once thought were unattainable. The beauty of endurance sports is that everyone has the same goal to become faster, stronger, and better. No matter your ability level or experience, we’re all in this together!

ZP: Anything else you’d like to share?

AV: As a coach I hope to help athletes reach goals that they once thought unattainable. Regardless of age or ability level, everyone has a goal, whether it is to run faster, qualify for this race, or complete this distance. With my background and passion for running I will help you reach the next level.

You can learn more about Coach Antonio Vega here:
Coaching Bio: HERE
Coaching Programs: HERE
Athlete Profile: HERE
Email: antonio@getzoomperformance.com

Meet Coach Alex Libin

Zoom Performance — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Getting things done and doing them well is no new concept to recent college graduate, professional triathlete, and Zoom Performance coach Alex Libin. Though he is a new transplant to the Colorado Springs area, this Des Moines native is making waves in the triathlon pro ranks in just his first year as a professional. We sat down with Coach Alex to hear more about what makes him tick as a coach and athlete.

ZOOM PERFORMANCE: Tell us a little about yourself.

ALEX LIBIN: I recently graduated from the University of Iowa and am currently completing class work at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs to earn my RD and enter the sports nutrition master’s program there.

My days are typically filled with training, eating, napping, studying and working. In 2013, I took my professional triathlete card and am trying to live the dream and make it all work out. Triathlon doesn’t quite pay the bills however, so I also coach for Zoom Performance, the same coaching company that got me started on my athletic journey back in 2008. Being a recent college grad, I couldn’t be happier with where my life is right now.

I have a younger brother, Michael, who is 8 years younger than me and already, smarter, stronger and most importantly taller than I was at his age.

I live with my girlfriend Kelli Putnam, who is largely responsible for turning me into the person that I am today. She’s awesome!

ZP: What is your background as an endurance athlete?

AL: My endurance athlete career started itself back in high school. I swam all 4 years of high school and qualified for state my senior year. Prior to this I had very little swim training experience, I knew how to swim and that was about it. I entered swimming hoping to learn how to flip turn and gain some proper form. And for me, trial by fire was the best way to get that done.

I was also on a junior cycling team during this time. I never really got any good at bike racing, but the skills and knowledge I gained during this time became invaluable as I developed as an athlete later on. Plus it was on this junior team that I would end up meeting the people that got me involved with triathlon in the first place.

Although I tried football first, I eventually found myself running cross country. Turns out I had some natural ability when it came to running and even though I only had 2 years in the sport, I made my way to state my senior year.

Senior year of high school I got into off-road Xterra triathlons. The laid back atmosphere, awesome courses, and new challenges got me hooked into triathlon. Once college came around I took a little bit of a hiatus from sports…too many college distractions! But I eventually found my way back and have been turning triathlon into my life more and more ever since. It’s crazy how a little sport and can give a lost college kid so much direction and purpose.

In 2010 I began to focus more of my energies on triathlon and my sporting career. Over the years I watched as my training and performance increased. I started out with local races and soon found myself traveling around the country to race tougher competition on bigger stages. This progressive build up eventually led to me becoming a professional in 2013. It’s been an amazing ride so far, and a ride that I hope to keep building upon.

ZP: What is your background as an endurance coach/education?

AL: I received my B.S. in human physiology from the University of Iowa. Being a curious mind, I always questioned why I was doing a certain workout a certain day. So I took it upon myself to combine my formal education with what I really wanted to know. I began reading extensively about anything endurance training related – books, research studies and even magazine articles. I used this knowledge to help answer questions that others had, and was eventually able to put everything to good use by becoming a coach and having a few athletes under my guidance.

ZP: What is one thing about you that many people don’t know?

AL: I was born in Moscow, Russia. I’m frequently told I don’t look Russian, whatever that means….

ZP: And, how did you find your way to Zoom?

AL: I began my own triathlon journey with the help of Zoom coach and co-founder JJ Bailey in 2008. As I progressed as an athlete and through my studies of human physiology I became more and more interested in the coaching side of endurance sports. I began an internship with Zoom in 2012, learning both the coaching and business side of things, eventually gaining my USAT Level 1 certificate and becoming a full-fledged coach in 2013.

ZP: What is your coaching philosophy?

AL: I believe that motivation requires structure in order for it to be maximally productive. Through my many years of training experience I have found that applying yourself to an incredible endurance feat can provide you with the self-confidence and accomplishment that will drive you through all facets of your life. The proper training structure can help you achieve not only your athletic goals, but to also help you get the most out of life. Because when training is going well, life is going well.

ZP: What is your goal as a coach when working with an athlete?

AL: My goal when working with an athlete is ensuring that the athlete gets to their target race or major goal happy, healthy, and ready to rock. By having an open line for communication, I try to build a relationship with the athlete so that questions are asked and answered. By addressing minor concerns early and learning that there is no such thing as a dumb question, it allows me to ensure that the risk of injury is minimal and that the odds of success are maximized. By being goal-oriented and holding each other accountable to those goals, I really enjoy building relationships with my athletes and seeing them progress.

ZP: Any final thoughts?

AL: My goal as a coach is to ensure that my athletes are reaching the goals they set for themselves and becoming happier in their everyday lives. Whether it’s getting back in shape, winning their age group at a major race, trouncing their local rivals, or just gaining some confidence, it’s the greatest feeling in the world to be able to help someone set new limits and achieve their goals!

Meet Coach Andrew Carlson

Zoom Performance — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Though new to Zoom Performance, Andrew Carlson is not new to the national running scene. A high school state champion, three-time All-American at the University of Minnesota, two-time USA National Champion, and current Team USA Minnesota runner, no one can argue with his resume. Besides his passion for going fast, Coach Andrew has the educational background and the strong desire to see each of his athletes achieve his/her potential. We sat down with Coach Andrew to learn more about his drive to Reach the Next Level.

ZOOM PERFORMANCE: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

ANDREW CARLSON: I grew up in Fargo, ND playing all types of sports – mainly baseball, basketball and football. I always thought I would be a professional athlete, but certainly never thought it would be as a distance runner! I was convinced I had all the tools to be a great quarterback, shooting guard, or short stop. For a young person I worked insanely hard at these.

ZOOM: What is your background as an endurance athlete?

AC: I started running in 8th grade to get in shape for basketball. That mind-set did not last very long, though, as I tasted a small amount of success as a runner, and I have been at it ever since. I was the North Dakota State Cross Country champion my senior of high school. Coming from a small state I certainly wasn’t highly recruited, but thankfully I chose to attend the University of Minnesota. I struggled through my first few years of college before really figuring out what it meant to train hard and race at high level. My third year of college I was an All-American in cross country, and in my fourth year I dropped my 5K time from 14:16 to 13:48 (a school record at the time). By the time my college career was over I had attained 3 All-American statuses and had a 5K time of 13:44. I then began my professional career in earnest with Team USA Minnesota in the fall of 2005. I have found my strength is in the longer distances where I have won two US titles (15K-2008 and 25K-2010) and have represented the US in world competition 4 times. My career highlight so far has been my debut marathon at the Olympic Trials in 2012. I was able to place sixth in a time of 2:11:24 (the seventh fastest debut in American history).

ZOOM: What is your background as an endurance coach/education?

AC: I graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Kinesiology degree. I was a volunteer coaching assistant at Northern Arizona University in the fall of 2008. I have been well-coached from high school all the way through my professional career and am excited to utilize this knowledge to help athletes achieve their goals.

ZOOM: What would people be surprised to learn about you?

AC: I am the second fastest in my household as my dog, Rocket, has some serious wheels.

ZOOM: How did you find your way to Zoom?

AC: My good friend Antonio Vega spoke very highly of Zoom and encouraged me to get in contact with Matt Zepeda.

ZOOM: Describe your coaching philosophy.

AC: Someone once said, “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” My philosophy is that there is an athlete that lives in every one of us, and my goal is to create a program that allows athletes to become the best athlete they possibly can. I will not mince words – it does take hard work to achieve big goals. I want to assist athletes in that pursuit.

ZOOM: What is your goal as a coach when working with an athlete?

AC: My goal as a coach is understand and figure out what elements of training and racing bring out the best in each athlete. Running can be a very simple and complicated sport at the same time. What works for one athlete may not work for another, so my goal is to help athletes attain their goals and then to achieve things they never thought possible!

ZOOM: Any closing thoughts?

AC: There is an athlete that lives in every one of us and my goal is to bring that best athlete out. Whether your goal is to complete your first 5K, run a marathon, qualify for Boston, or qualify for the Olympics, I want to be there every step of the way helping you realize your goals!