ASICS GTC-ELITE Coach Laura Caldwell Featured on Women's Coaching Panel

Top Left to Right; Amy Yoder Begley, Shalane Flanagan, Laura Caldwell, (Bottom, L-R) Lauren Fleshman, Shelia Burrell and Charlotte Lettis Richardson. Photo credit: Women's Running.

ASICS Greenville Track Club-ELITE's Laura Caldwell was one of five featured women's coaches, who coach post-collegiate and pro runners, that were on a panel presented by the Women's Running Coaches Collective. The ZOOM presentation was produced by the non-profit organization and moderated by former distance standout, coach and WRCC co-founder Charlotte Lettis Richardson. The panel included Caldwell, Lauren Fleshman (Oiselle Little Wing Track Club), Shalane Flanagan (Bowerman Track Club), Amy Yoder Begley (Atlanta Track Club Elite) and Shelia Burrell (San Diego State Univeristy + pros). While all five women were outstanding athletes at the national level, the latter three were also Olympians. 

 -In a wide-ranging conversation, Shelia Burrell, Shalane Flanagan, Lauren Fleshman, and other pro coaches talked to Women's Running Coaching Collective about their experiences, plus the state of their profession and our sport. -
                         Elizabeth Carey, Women's Running.com

The online/website Women's Running published an in-depth article highlighting the ZOOM presentation that was expertly covered by their Elizabeth Carey. To access Carey's article please visit ​​Women's Running article.

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In his weekly newsletter The Morning Shakeout, running writer/thinker/podcaster Mario Fraioli wrote the following: 

— The Women’s Running Coaches Collective recently brought together a panel of five top female coaches from across running and track and field—Shelia Burrell, Shalane Flanagan, Lauren Fleshman, Laura Caldwell, and Amy Yoder Begley—to discuss their respective paths in coaching, why there are so few women in the profession, creating more opportunities, and more. This is a condensed version of the conversation that occurred for the panel and I found it to be honest and insightful. The system needs to shift and more opportunities need to be created for women to grow and develop as coaches at all levels of the sport. As someone who was coached by a woman in college, I agree with what Laura Caldwell, coach of the ASICS Greenville Track Club Elite in South Carolina said, “My husband thinks that women make much better coaches. I would say I think he’s right.” The reason I agree with Laura (and her husband Michael) is that in addition to being just as capable on the X’s and O’s side of things, women generally tend to be more patient, nurturing, empathetic, and understanding than men, which, when you’re developing an athlete and looking out for their best interests, are important tools to have in your belt. We need more of that in the profession and I think more male coaches can learn from those examples. (Elizabeth Carey, Women’s Running) 

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​For more information on the Women's Running Coaches Collective please go to WRCC.