Leia Tyrrell

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As a coach, Leia Tyrrell brings her enthusiasm for life and its possibilities into her clients’ lives. Leia’s athletes benefit from her experience and knowledge of road racing and swimming at an elite level, her educational background in human and animal physiology, and her experience in recovering and rebuilding from a traumatic injury.

Leia learned about balancing athletic training with a busy schedule as she pursued athletic excellence while in college. She enjoys using her experience to help others who are fitting training and racing into limited time. Leia’s experience at the elite level at a relatively early age helps her relate to young, developing riders with large goals.

When needed, Leia can share the benefit of her own experience dealing with the challenges and anxieties involved with returning from a very serious injury, as well as overcoming the post traumatic stress associated with a bad accident. Leia’s personal experience with returning from injury started in the spring of 2011 when she suffered a traumatic brain injury from a crash, resulting in a coma and subsequently requiring extensive mental and physical rehabilitation.

After more than a year of rebuilding, Leia came back strong in 2012 and 2013 to win multiple regional stage races, including the Baker City Cycling Classic, the Tour of Walla Walla, and the Eugene Celebration, as well as the 2012 OBRA Time Trial Championship and the 2013 OBRA Road Race championship.

Leia’s experience as a Category 2 road cyclist also includes a 3rd place at the 2010 Collegiate Nationals Division 1 Criterium, competition at Elite Road Nationals and the Nature Valley Grand Prix (where she raced as part of a Collegiate All Stars team). Leia began her athletic career with many years of competitive swimming before switching to competitive cycling. She returned to swimming as part of broadening her training and racing experience to triathlon winning a few Oregon triathlons along the way.

Leia lives in Luverne, Minnesota. She believes that so many goals achievable if you have someone to help channel your focus correctly. In her other work, Leia trains horses and instructs riding lessons.

Events: Endurance Road Riding, General Cycling Fitness, Gran Fondos – Centuries, Gravel Grinders, Learn to Ride, Olympic/Sprint Triathlon, Road Racing

Services: Clinics/Camps, Consultation, Learn to Ride, Training Programs

Specialties: Beginning Racing, Beginning Riding, Elite Development, General Fitness, Junior Athletes, Return from Illness, Return from Injury, Return from Overtraining, Women Athletes, Working Athletes

"Leia’s energetic, honest, no excuses approach is exactly what I need in a coach, she listens intently and develops a plan that fits my schedule, often making adjustments along the way. Leia challenges me to push past my self-imposed limits, cheers me on when I reach a new goal and encourages me to keep going when I can’t find motivation." ~B. Gilpin

"Leia is an inspirational and knowledgeable coach. She pushes me to new levels but is always supportive. Whenever some sort of obstacle is interfering with my training, she calmly and wisely helps me work through it. Her energy is contagious and I feel lucky to work with her." ~ Helen K

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