Joe Cieszynski

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Joe Cieszynski is one of Wenzel Coaching’s main Midwestern coaches, living and working in the Northridge, Ohio area. He brings with him a plethora of endurance sports experience including road racing, mountain bike racing, cyclocross, track racing, XC ski racing, and ultra-marathon trail running. Joe has his Bachelors Degree in Exercise Science/Athletic training from the University of Toledo, a Master of Science in Exercise Science from Eastern Illinois University, and is a Level 1 Coach in both USA Cycling and US Biathlon. On top of his credentials, he’s also been a category 2 road racer, an expert mountain bike racer and a competitive Nordic skier for a number of years.

Joe has worked with all types of endurance athletes, from juniors racing on the international level, to weekend racers reaching for their best in their local series, to mountain bike riders becoming professional racers. One of his 2011 coaching client highlights was a medal at the US Collegiate MTB championships. He enjoys helping all reach their personal bests in their chosen athletic endeavors.

As a full time athletic trainer and strength coach, father, husband, and weekend warrior, Joe knows the importance of having an organized, well-planned training and racing program. He takes a realistic approach when setting up plans for his athletes and designs them around the real life challenges that face endurance athletes in their everyday lives. He has a true passion for endurance sports and coaching and takes personal satisfaction from passing this on to his clients and seeing them achieve their goals.

Joe became interested in cycling in high school after watching the movie “Breaking Away.” He ventured into a local bike shop that catered to racers and was encouraged by the owner to join their racing team. He got his first racing license in 1985 and worked his way up to category 2. After several years of road racing, Joe was introduced to mountain biking as a way to keep in shape for road racing during the cold Midwest winters. Joe continued to race through college.

After racing Superweek in Milwaukee and riding the trails of the Kettle Moraine, Joe decided to move to Milwaukee where he coached and works as a licensed Athletic Trainer and Strength and Conditioning specialist for Brookfield East High School as part of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare’s Sports Medicine Outreach Program. He now lives in North Ridgeville, OH as a Physician Extender/Athletic Trainer.

Joe still likes to compete in as many events as his schedule allows. He races with the masters in road racing, is an expert level mountain bike racer, and braves the super competitive 40+ age group in XC ski races. He also has participated in the Ice age 50km Trail Ultra Marathon for the past eight years,
finishing 2^nd in the Men’s Open category in 2002.

Events: Cross Country Skiing, Cyclocross, Endurance Mountain Biking, Gravel Grinders, Mountain Bike Racing, Road Racing, Running, Track Cycling, Trail Running, Ultra Endurance Running

Services: Clinics/Camps, Consultation, Skills Training, Training Programs

Specialties: Beginning Racing, Dirt Skills, Elite Athletes, Elite Development, Master Athletes, Preparation for Adventures, Return from Illness, Return from Injury, Return from Overtraining, Road Skills, Working Athletes

"Hi Joe,
Here is a quick summary of my 1st year skiing. ... Wow! What a great year. I started my journey last February as the season snow had just melted. I decided I wanted to become a cross country skier. An online search connected me with my new coach from Wenzel, Joe Cieszynski. Joe set me up with a summer training program and customized workouts. He also was instrumental in helping me choose appropriate equipment. The program was even tailored to work around my other activities like XC running, track and field and vacations. One year later (never having been on skis before), I've had great success! I finished 6th place in the Junior Michigan Cup and made it to the finals of the Michigan High School Nordic Ski Championships. I could not have asked for a better first season. Thank you Joe and Wenzel Coaching! ~Edison Byrum"

"I found Wenzel in an internet search, and the cross focus and menu of services and pricing caused me to pursue Wenzel. Then I was introduced to Joe, who I immediately felt a connection to. He is my age, understands family and job balance, knows cross and MTB (in fact trains on some of the same areas I have in Wisc). These things gave me a good feeling about deciding on Joe as my coach. I started a little late in the season but Joe quickly got me on track to target cross races in Sept-Dec. His plans fit my schedule, he coached me out of my over training tendencies, he was able to connect my training to the demands of cross. In fact in the past I would push too hard and get sick, which was not a issue this year for all 5 months including racing, allergies, and 3 changes of seasons. WOW! I trusted his assurance to stick with the plan, he had a great balance of encouragement and the realities of training. He was always very responsive to emails and phone calls ... Thank you for a great coaching experience. A huge thank you to Joe Cieszynski for all his great coaching!! " ~ John H

• Beat the Heat

  by Associate Coach Joe Cieszynski Anyone who has raced Superweek in Wisconsin knows firsthand how the heat and humidity of a typical Midwest summer can make any training session or race miserable, unproductive, or even downright life threatening. Like many …

  Beat the Heat Read More »