About
I am a husband, father, leader, and coach. I am also a former speedskater and an avid cyclist – and have spent most of my life doing one or the other or both. Even in these relatively obscure sports, I never truly reached a consistent pinnacle of performance, however I did spend some time clutching at the edges of greatness competing in world championships in both sports and one Olympic games. More than that, someone once told me “Coyle you attract trouble like Pigpen attracts dirt.” It does appear that I’m involved with a lot of stories…
This is not, per say, a journal “what happened when” though there is some of that. Instead, is a celebration of the thoughts and feelings, highs and lows of athletic competition and the bonds that it brings. It is also a way to say “thank you” to those who helped and supported me along the way – many of whom were never properly thanked (see “People I owe…”)
PS: if you read anything here, consider one of the following:
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For the pure joy of travel and cycling: Cycling 2007 Race Report #2:http://johnkcoyle.com/2008/01/26/race-report-2-a-brief-tour-of-italy/
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For in introduction into the sport of short track speedskating: http://johnkcoyle.com/2010/02/13/vancouver-journal-7-an-introduction-to-short-track-speedskating/
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For a deeply personal insiders view into the Olympic games: http://johnkcoyle.com/2010/03/16/vancouver-journal-13-beginnings-and-endings/
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If you prefer to read about suffering: 2007 Race Report #14: http://johnkcoyle.com/2008/02/23/2007-race-report-14-suffering/
Hey John, sorry I missed you in SLC..maybe next time…Mark C.
So you were “the voice”. Often times, we the fans over shouted you, but all-in-all a fairly good service was provided in a place where acoustics are not the best.
Love your insight on the races and will be looking for “Korea” info across the www.
K. Reutter is amazing…could she become the female face for short track? Definitely.
John,
Don’t know if you are aware but Jeanne Omelenchuk passed away yesterday. She was a friend to us in the GMC Corvette Set. Thought you might want to know.
Hi John,
Nice to have met you in GR. I have known of you for quite some time as I used to race in the late 80′s and early 90′s with Chirs Johnson, Jeff Ensing et al. on Kinetic Systems. I was emailed a video of your filming from the crit in GR. Nice Blog, Very well done. I think it it will be helpful to many if they digest the Walden Rules and the rest of your blog. I was reared in the sport by a guy named Paul Mough, who learned from Mike Walden, so alot of what you posted I have heard second hand. Very Nicely Done John. Chris Johnson showed up to watch the masters race in Cadeaux in 2005 and pointed you out after the race and shared a bit about your palmeres. Anyway I look forward to seeing you around next season. Take Care
Houston
Hi John,
Long time no see.
How are things going?
I haven’t seen or heard re: your parents for years; I hope that they are doing well.
I am thinking about riding the velodrome since I have lost my “road-riding
nerves”(too many people on cell phones, etc)
Hopefully, I might catch you at one of the track events.
Hey john,
You will never remember me, but I speedskated for wyandotte back in the eighties and I remember you and your dad. You were just one of the up and comers and I was very impressed to see you win a national championship. I was older and didn’t talk with you much, but I remember talking with your dad, a real gentleman. He was always so supportive of you and it showed. I must agree with you that its amazing that indoor short track isn’t bigger and more popular. Take care and all the best on a writing career.
Jd winn
I love your site!
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Experiencing a slow PC recently? Fix it now!
John-
Stumbled onto your website. Not sure if you remember me, I was a fellow Wolverine in the late ’80′s as a Junior. I fondly remember your field sprint prowess.
In the mid late 90′s, I think we were both getting back into the sport back in Michigan racing the classics like Windsor Star.
After 12 years off the bike I am again racing- 2pts away from cat 2 in my first season back living in Oregon (were unfortunately road races outnumber crits!) Your writings are very insprirational. Keep up the good work!
robin
John:
Like the vids. Let’s connect at some point, my kids are getting into speedskating and I don’t have a clue.
Paul Swinand
Evanston, IL
Hi Grasshopper,
It has been awhile. I came across your blog and had to send my greetings. I was telling our kids about some of the adventures we had during the skating years. I haven’t told them the grasshopper story yet. Anyway, send me an email sometime. I would love to hear how you are. Stop by if ever in the twin cities.
John A.
John Coyle!
Long time no hear.
So I thought I heard your name mentioned on last night’s short-track segment — but it was in conjunction with a graphic of the short-track oval and I figured it must be someone else.
Then my mom sent me this link!
How cool!
I’m sorry I didn’t know you were in Vancouver for the whole time. I was up there last Tuesday with my daughter just to wander around downtown.
Actually, my office is right downtown — in the building where the Canadian Mint is having its exhibition. I teach at Simon Fraser University — but am not in town for the Olympics.
I’ll look for you on TV tomorrow!
best regards
Andrew
Hi John. It was great to meet you at USA House in Vancouver. I have a picture of the group I can send – can’t find a place to upload it here.
Hope you are enjoying the Games! I’ll be rooting for the US men’s team today from rainy London.
Jill
Dear John,
I’ve visited your website… really great! I think you don’t know my name, but i’ve met you once in Holland during ”kortebaan” sprint races on natural ice in Stolwijk and a Ammerstol in 1991. I was one of the skaters (age 26 at that time) there and I still have a photo of that moment. It’s on my Facebook page. You was there with two other guys, Marc and John Albrecht. I know from that tie that you where sleeping at a Dutch skater Rein den Haan. Ienjoyed the stories on your site but especially the storie with you and Eric Heiden (since I was a kid, he was my hero, and still he is).
Best regards from Holland,
Stephan Tellier
speedskater (masters)
Hi John,
Susan Russ suggested that I reach out to you today to see if we can ask your assistance in getting the word out about a new partnership that MapMyRIDE, the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, and Millennium Promise announced today: the USA Pro Virtual Cycling Challenge.
This summer, cyclists around the world will have the opportunity to participate in the first-ever USA Pro Virtual Cycling Challenge, an innovative technology enabled event designed by MapMyRIDE, that gives cyclists an opportunity to “virtually” compete in this summer USA Pro Cycling Challenge for Millennium Promise, the leading international non-profit organization dedicated to ending extreme poverty. For each mile registered during the Virtual Challenge, $1 will be donated by a private donor to Millennium Promise in support of Community Health Workers in Africa.
Free registration is available at http://www.mapmyride.com/usapro. MapMyRIDE’s last virtual challenge logged over 2.1 million miles from over 24,000 participants, so this offers a unique platform for raising awareness of the critical role of Community Health Workers in Africa.
We’d be incredibly grateful if you could help us raise awareness of this opportunity. In addition, we would be more than happy to connect you with officials from MapMyRIDE, the UPCC, and Millennium Promise if you’d like some good quotes.
All the best,
Joe Willens
Millennium Promise, Summer Associate
Hi John,
Great blog; I really enjoyed reading about all the old times. I skated for Midland from 1978 until 1985, when I moved to California. I know you old roomie, Scott Evans, and we chase each other around the velodrome out here now. I remember many conversations with your Dad about your ability to “spin”!. I only rode at the Detroit Vel once, but I still remember Mike’s coaching style. I sure wish we had more like him.
Best regards,
John Fitzgerald
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