Welcome to the third episode of our Parent Athlete series! Today, I’m thrilled to have Mark and Katrina Coogan on the podcast. Mark is the head coach of Team New Balance Boston, and his daughter, Katrina, is a standout runner on the team. This summer, she competed in the Olympic trials for the 10,000 meters and recently won a half marathon in her off season!

Katrina also served as the team captain for track and cross country at Georgetown University. In this episode, we dive into raising hardworking kids and how to foster a healthy relationship with sports, even in a competitive environment. We’ll hear about Katrina’s experience being coached by her dad on Team New Balance Boston, which has had an incredible year with many talented athletes. They recently sent Elle Purrier-St. Pierre and Emily Mackay to the Olympics in Paris—an exciting achievement!

The team has a fantastic dynamic, and it’s clear that Mark provides outstanding leadership. If you’re interested in learning more about his approach, he published a book last year titled Personal Best Running.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that Katrina is the daughter of two Olympians, and we explore what that means for her journey. I hope you’re enjoying this series as much as I am!

What we talked about:

5:05- Nurturing your kids’ love for sports

18:00- Being coached by your dad/coaching your daughter

25:00- Katrina’s battle with injuries at the Olympic Trials

29:35- How to manage emotions in sport when you’re going all in

36:35- Instilling a hard work ethic in your kids

40:40- Proudest moments

46:40- What to look for in a coach

1:08:00- End of podcast message

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