I raced mountain bikes at the Expert level for several years before I decided to return to school to finish my degree. While attending school, I wasn’t able to ride for more than two years. When I was ready to race again I found that I had absolutely no fitness. I had just turned 31 and my body reminded me that I wasn’t a kid anymore. I also realized that riding as hard as you can whenever you can doesn’t help regain the fitness one once had.

Now, I race mountain bikes in the Semi-Pro class for the Landry’s MTB Team, I recently earned my Cat 3 license on the road and I’m consistently placing well in all my races. Heck, I race against kids half my age and sometimes I even win! A few years ago I would have never believed I would be racing this well in my mid-30’s.

My coach, Margaret Kadlick, has played a large role in not only my return to fitness but also in achieving a new competitive level in both on and off-road cycling. As a coach she’s been a motivator, an advocate, an organizer, and sometimes most importantly, an objective voice of reason, telling me when to go hard and when to rest.

I don’t think I would have ever achieved Semi-Pro status as a 34 year old and my Cat 3 license a year later with out her coaching. I needed, and need, someone to push me with my training and stop me when I need to rest. Thankfully, Margaret has been there for me for that last 5 years to do just that!

   -Michael Zocchi

USA Cycling Semi-Pro and Category 3 Racer
Coached by Margaret Kadlick for 5 years and counting