 Mission Statement The Womens' Running Coaches Collective exists to support, unite, inform, inspire, encourage, and empower women coaches at all levels of our sport The WRCC Newsletter hopes to come out weekly. There will be interviews with women coaches from the youth, high school, college, and professional levels. We hope to bring you articles about building a team, planning a season of workouts, strength and conditioning, coaching leadership and much more to help you as a running and field coach. We want to build this community and we need YOUR input to do that! PLEASE contact us at womensrunningcoachescollective@gmail.com Tell us what you think, what you know, and what you would like to learn. ALL perspectives are welcome and encouraged, and we will try and publish some of the emails. We are looking for good ideas and suggestions! This is your journey too! You ARE the Womens' Running Coaches Collective. Melissa Hill Nikki Rafie Helene Hutchinson Charlotte Lettis Richardson Coaching and Leadership Coach Nikki Rafie Distance Running Coach Portland, Oregon Nikki Rafie is a 2-time US Olympic Marathon Trials Qualifier (1996 and 2000), and the winner of the 1995 Portland Marathon. In her 30 years of running, she has run 20 sub three-hour marathons, and continues to be a competitive master’s athlete. She still loves a good race, and remains active in the local running community. Nikki started coaching in 2004, working with adult distance runners of all levels. Her passion for helping women develop and succeed has made hundreds of women achieve their goals. She was a founding member of the Portland running club, Team Red Lizard. She has captained winning women’s and co-ed teams in the famous Hood-to-Coast Relay. As the Head Coach of Team Athena from 2008 - 2014, she helped grow the team to one of largest all women running clubs in the region. Currently a senior manager at Nike, she continues to coach and mentor women runners on a selective basis.  "The strong women in my family have taught me that women’s instincts and emotional intelligence can be extraordinary. Women coaches should use their instincts in working with athletes. What you feel and observe in an athlete can truly direct how you work with them. Use your emotional intelligence to connect with your athletes, helping them to find the right approach to training and racing." Coaching and Leadership Words of Wisdom from Coach and Runner Nikki Rafie Coaching and Leadership go hand in hand. To be a good coach, you must be a good leader. Women leaders and coaches are seeking a chance to be significant as we see the world through a prism of opportunity. The opportunities for women coaches are happening now. It is our time to become the best coaches and leaders possible. Women already possess many of the qualities needed to be a great coach – Having been a women's running coach for years, and also holding leadership roles in the corporate world, I’ve grown to understand the decision-making processes, and the dynamics and subtleties of women’s personalities and styles. These are the very same qualities needed to be a skilled coach and leader of a team and of athletes. A family tradition of strong and independent women – In my family history, I grew up surrounded by strong-willed, hardworking and purpose-driven women. It is through their leadership that the traditions, values and legacy of my family have been upheld. It is these same qualities that make great women coaches. Strong willed, hardworking and purpose driven. Overseeing a team, managing athletes' training and racing, and unifying a team and staff, require all of the above characteristics. The strong women in my family have taught me that women’s instincts and emotional intelligence can be extraordinary. Women coaches should use their instincts in working with athletes. What you feel and observe in an athlete can truly direct how you work with them. Use your emotional intelligence to connect with your athletes, helping them to find the right approach to training and racing. Coaches as managers – The best women coaches/leaders seamlessly manage crisis and change. They are turnaround experts, sensing and neutralizing any signs of danger well before it disrupts the peace. As a coach, you will be faced with athletes that are challenging and distracting to the team dynamic. Lead by example and bring them into the fold, putting them in roles of teaching and leading. A Head Coach has the responsibility of leading her individual athletes, team, and staff. She must be a leader and manager of her assistant coaches. She helps to shape the goals and attitudes of an entire team and staff. This is one of the most important aspects of having a successful team. Working with male colleagues - Many men do not understand powerful women. It can be difficult for men to understand how independent, self-reliant women think, act, and innovate. There are some males who have been closely and positively influenced by the women in their lives. My experiences have taught me that great women make it a point to teach men about our strengths as women, and not compete with them. It is important to respect and recognize that both men and women, though different, have equally valid perspectives. Working with male coaches and athletic directors, requires patience, intelligence, and perseverance. Know who you are, and what you value. Be confident, yet humble. Maintain your strength and conviction, and yet be open-minded and collaborative. Seek to understand, and share your point of view positively, diplomatically, but firmly when needed. Great and successful coaches – Great coaches believe in what they stand for, and understand it is simply a matter of knowing how to strategically activate those around them. Successful women coaches don’t rely on favors and drama! They earn respect by truly believing they can influence their own advancement by developing others. Look for respect, more than recognition. The most successful coaches don’t seek to become the star of the show. They coach and support their athletes to create a great show.  "Working with male coaches and athletic directors requires patience, intelligence, and perseverance. Know who you are, and what you value. Be confident, yet humble. Maintain your strength and conviction, and yet be open-minded and collaborative. Seek to understand, and share your point of view positively, diplomatically, but firmly when needed." - Nikki Rafie Our goal is to provide women coaches and athletes positive support, recognition, education, and community. We believe in the "hands up" approach. Let's help each other become the best coaches we can be. Invite others to join us! womensrunningcoachescollective@gmail.com Sign up for our list!  Copyright © 2019 Women's Running Coaches Collective, All rights reserved.
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We exist to support, unite, inform, inspire, encourage and empower women coaches at all levels of our sport.
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