Coach Profile

About Rhonda

Rhonda Morin likes to get dirty. It's why she excels at cyclocross races, stage races and endurance running. The nastier the conditions, the more likely she'll outlast her opponents.

Originally from Maine, where if you wait a minute the weather will change, Rhonda brings to Wenzel clients lessons in the grit and determination it takes to succeed at your goals. Whether it's upgrading a road racing category or getting better at clearing cyclocross barriers, Rhonda can provide you with the tools, training and guidance to get to the next level.

Rhonda is a USA Cycling Certified Coach. Her background in emergency medicine and experience as an EMT and a wilderness search-and-rescue team member have honed her skills in understanding how your body and mind respond to stress. She helps clients learn the cool-headedness and perseverance that will help you remain steady. Rhonda spent her early career working as an Outward Bound instructor and ropes-course facilitator, and has a strength in working with groups. In addition to coaching, Rhonda is a professional writer and editor who holds degrees in journalism and women's studies and is recognized by her clients for her excellent communication skills.

As a master and Cat 3 racer and career professional, she has a keen interest in assisting others who strive for better health and fitness results while balancing their life, family and jobs. She's also a firm believer that you get better with age, and she prepares training plans that propel clients to new places in their golden years.

Rhonda and her husband moved to Oregon several years ago to be closer to big mountains and to be able to spend more days a year in the saddle. She has thrived in the cycling atmosphere of the Northwest, capturing numerous victories in local races in cyclocross and road racing, including 4^th overall in the Category 3/4 field of the 2011 Mt Hood Cycling Classic and 1^st overall at the masters category in the 2010 Elkhorn Classic Stage Race. Other notable road highlights include finishing the 2011 Death Ride/Tour of the California Alps, 3^rd place overall in the Category 4 at the 2004 Green Mountain Stage Race in Vermont, and 4^th overall in the Category 4 at the 2004 Fitchburg Longsjo Classic Stage Race in Massachusetts.

As a runner, Rhonda has had multiple successes as a middle distance athlete, including a 3:17 marathon in Columbia, S.C. on a U.S. Olympic trials course. She was also a cross country athlete at the University of Maine.

Cyclocross is one of Rhonda's passions, and her victories include 1^st place in the Category 3/4B at the 2005 US Cyclocross National Championships and 3^rd place at the 2006 USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships, Master 40-44. Additionally, she won the Grand Prix Molly Cameron series in the Women's A category in 2011, and has racked up multiple 1st place finishes in the USGP of Cyclocross/Stanley Portland Cup Cyclocross races and at the infamous Cross Crusade series.

Rhonda lives in Gresham, Oregon with her husband, who is a mechanical engineer and Marine, and their cats. Though cycling is one of her favorite activities, she learned long ago that multiple interests make a person happier. So she also enjoys mountaineering, paddling rivers with her husband, training in search and rescue techniques, traveling, gardening, and her newest interest - canning and preserving food.

Testimonials

"Rhonda Morin offers consistent coaching that covers all bases: nutrition, recovery, technique, and injury prevention. Throughout my 9 months of Wenzel training, I've learned how to increase my endurance, improve my bike handling skills, and decrease my recovery time. Compared to one year ago, I am excelling in cyclocross racing as a result of Rhonda's racing experience and ongoing support!" ~Elsa B.

"Rhonda and I worked together for a couple hours on Friday, working on my descending skills, and it was terrific. She had great patience with my learning curve while maintaining the full expectation that I could do much better than I was doing - and she was right! I could not have asked to get more out of our time together." ~ Andrew O.

"Keeping things in perspective, so far the program has resulted in:
• A greater understanding of heart rates ....
• A greater understanding of my aging body
• A much wider mid zone of endurance (not toasted all the time- especially now racing weekly) especially not wasted after a race
• Smooth(er) skill set in mounts/dismounts, improved run ups
• Use of a trainer for warm up (...really smoothes out the warm up)
• A little more rest at times
• Use of massage to augment my stretching
• Higher general fitness level
• Use of post-race recovery fluids …
• Speed coming up"
~ C. Linke

"I was looking for a way to jumpstart my first cyclo cross season after previously bike racing other disciplines over the years, and did not have a lot of free time to attend clinics. I found Wenzel Coaching, and was directed to Rhonda as a local coach. We had a 2 hour private session at a large local park that had all the requisite elements. During the session she introduced all the basics of 'cross, then proceeded to watch and comment as I practiced them until she saw I had grasped them. Her style was casual and fun, yet focused so that I came away with a firm skillset foundation. The training has been invaluable- as I watch other riders struggling with the basics- I can spend my time concentrating on racing!" ~ Chuck L, Portland, Oregon ("Cross capital of North America!")