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THE COACHING TEAM
Tyler Quinn, Ph.D.
Tyler is a 'super nerd' and multi-sport athlete with a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. He coaches individuals from many different disciplines, bringing science-based training to each athlete. As an experienced ultra distance athlete, he has completed many events including; the Leadville 100-mile run and mountain bike races, Ironman triathlons, marathons, gravel races and multi-day cycling races.
He believes that every athlete should enjoy the process of reaching their goals. "If you're not having fun, don't do it!" By day, he is a professor and researcher in public health and epidemiology. So if you want a scientific data-nerd with an impressive race resume, he's your guy.
Erin Clark is an experienced ultra distance athlete and our team Registered Dietitian with a passion for helping others reach their full potential through proper nutrition. Erin has a variety of working experiences including; collegiate athletes, recreational athletes, non-athletes, and everything in-between. Erin believes strongly in an ‘anti-diet’ approach and finding the proper nutrition plan that will not only help you reach your specific goals, but one that also succeeds in finding the balance between feasible and enjoyable.
She is known among her teammates as "Ultra Marathon Barbie" because she seems to be the only one of us who looks beautiful and photogenic while running. She would prefer to run a 100k over a 5k any day, she lives in her dirty yellow crocs and often spends her day having full conversations with her dog, Sydney. Erin has always had a strong passion for nutrition and believes that she has been able to succeed in so many races because of proper fueling both on and off the race course. She looks forward to working with you and helping you reach your nutrition-related goals!
Lulu Searles,M.S.
Laurie “Lulu” Searles is an accomplished ultra endurance athlete and our Director of Outdoor Education & Adventure. She holds a M.S. in Lifelong Wellness and Adapted Physical Activity and has decades of experience leading a diverse community in the outdoors. Lulu has completed numerous challenging events including 24-hour obstacle course races, the Obstacle Course World Championships, and multiple ultramarathons including the 50 mile and 100 mile distances. Lulu experienced late-in-life profound deafness and can be seen leading outdoor adventures with the help of her amazing service dog, Molly. Lulu continues to inspire others to seek adventure and overcome personal challenges with the help of the outdoors.
Karen Brooks, PMBIA Level2
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Karen is doing her best to check off every square on the “Bike-Related Job” bingo card — wrenching and managing in bike shops, writing and editing for various magazines, advocating, consulting, you name it — but by far the most rewarding part of her varied career is skills coaching. She holds PMBIA Level 2 Air and BICP mountain bike certifications, and is a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor. She has been coaching professionally for 10 years. Karen rides a bike for transportation most days, but also enjoys the rocky-rooty-muddy trails of the Eastern woods, has found a love for jumping at bike parks, and goes on bikepacking adventures when she can. Like so many women, she first got into mountain bikes through a boyfriend, then ditched the boyfriend and kept the bike. She would love to help you skip that first step and find true love — mountain biking! — the easier way.
Ian Donovan, M.Sc., EP-C
Ian is our Head Strength and Conditioning Coach. This guy is very experienced working with high-performing athletes, has multiple degrees from the University of Pittsburgh in exercise science, is ACSM Exercise Physiologist certified, is a Navy veteran, and is just an overall rockstar. He is a brilliant, innovative, science-based coach and an all-around great human.
Sally Sherman, Ph.D.
Sally is an ultra endurance athlete, educator, researcher, yoga teacher and meditation coach. She has a Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh where she serves as a professor of Exercise Science in the Department of Health and Human Development. As an athlete, Sally has competed in ultra distance cycling events, mountain bike races, marathons, ultra marathons and Xterra and IRONMAN triathlons.
She specializes in helping athletes find their true purpose, conquer their fears and seek joy in achieving their goals. Sally is a devoted mother to her fellow-shredder, Lorelei and knows first-hand the challenges associated with conquering epic goals while maintaining balance. She believes great coaching requires solid science, eating like a champion, sleeping like a baby and lots (and lots) of pep talks.