About
Hi! I’m Joel.
Joel Young
Owner & Personal Coach at Carolina Multisports, LLC
USA Triathlon Level 1 Certified Coach
Original Strength Certified Pro
Functional Movement Systems Level 1 Certified Pro
My Why
Carolina Multisports, LLC was born out of my love of connecting with people and helping others to discover, learn from, and excel in endurance sports.
But it’s more than that…I want you to discover something new about yourself. I want you to pursue a meaningful path. I want you to excel in your efforts. I want you to do something that might seem impossible today.
As a kid, I found sports enjoyable. I played soccer and I wrestled. I enjoyed the camaraderie of my teams and I was influenced by great coaches, mentors, and friends. I learned many life lessons along the way that shaped my life with unforgettable experiences. Through adversity and success, lasting memories and friendships were created.
As an adult, I found myself spending each day locked in the routine of “everyday life.” I was struggling with my marriage. I was struggling with addictions. I needed to change. Each year that went by, I was losing the vitality and excitement that defined my youth.
I looked to my youth for inspiration. At the invitation of a friend, I took on the challenge of learning a new sport. I hired a coach, trained diligently, and completed a sprint triathlon. I was hooked! First, because I did something that I never thought I could or would do. Second, the sport was teaching me more about myself and what I’m capable of.
As I was training for my first Full Triathlon (140.6 miles), something really special happened. The longer the workouts got, the more time I had to spend inside my head. Initially, I started training as a way to get away from my problems by doing something I enjoyed, but the opposite happened. My mind forced me to face my problems each day. Those were uncomfortable days, not only physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually too.
Through the medium of sport and competition, I have developed the patience, perspective, and strength to acknowledge, confront, and overcome many of my personal flaws and limitations. Through my coaches, both past and present, I have also learned that someone else will push you harder than you’ll push yourself. Through it all, new milestones have been achieved, and lasting memories and new friends continue to be a constant reward.
Carolina Multisports is not only a great fitness outlet, but a place to rebuild your confidence and change your life. I want to join you on your journey. I’m on a mission to pay forward what the coaches in my life have given me.
Training Philosophy
This process is applied at the macro or seasonal level as well as the micro or daily level. As you traverse through your training plan, repeat this process consistently.
Your Why
Your training should begin with a clear and concise reason for why you are training. Why not do something else instead? “Your why” will keep you focused on the process and serve as motivation when times get tough.
Specific Goals
Purposeful training starts with having a clear goal for the season. Setting specific goals will define that path. To support your goals, every workout has a reason and a purpose too.
Training without purpose leads to haphazard training and poor performance. Before you start any training session, ask yourself, “What is the purpose of this workout?” If you focus on the daily training goals, the larger overarching goals will take care of themselves.
Education
Every workout has a purpose. Understanding why you are doing something is very important. This knowledge will help you complete workouts and other goals with exactness avoiding potential injury, setbacks, and burnout. Being able to execute your race plan and adapt when needed is crucial.
Consistent Practice
Massive amounts of physical exertion are not required to achieve your goals. Trying to do more is just another way of saying “overtraining.” Swinging back and forth with a week of hard training followed by several days or more of rest because of excessive fatigue, injury, or other setbacks is not productive.
Consistency is more about moderating your efforts over time to improve your fitness. This means that you seldom push your limits. As you remain consistent, your limits this week, this month, or this year will increase beyond what they are today.
Moderation also involves paying close attention to your body. It can’t be forced to adapt to an artificial schedule just because you have a race coming up. There are no shortcuts. Be patient.
Feedback
Performance improves when it is measured. Furthermore, we are more likely to accomplish our goals when we are held accountable. The question you should always be asking is, “Did I accomplish the purpose of the workout?”
TrainingPeaks offers immediate feedback by color-coding the workout according to its compliance. I follow up with additional thoughts and comments as needed. This constant feedback ensures you remain on the path to accomplishing your goals.
Methodology
Before any training begins, I start with an Original Strength Screen and Assessment (OSSA). I believe that we need to move well before we embark on any type of endurance sport. I focus strength training on exercises focused on total body movement and muscle chain activation as opposed to traditional weight training that focuses on symmetrical loading of individual muscle groups.
Training within each discipline is based on heart rate, utilizing zones to ensure you’re training at the correct intensities. Pace and power zones are also used to optimize training.
Being mindful of the volume of training required for endurance sports, I focus on form and mechanics first, then purposeful low-intensity training designed to build energy systems.
Appropriate high-intensity interval training (HIIT) is also used to load the muscle groups and energy systems appropriately.
I consistently remind athletes that we don’t get stronger when we’re exercising. It’s the adaptation of the body during the recovery process that builds strength. Soft tissue work, sleep, and nutrition are highly encouraged and monitored. Athletes track their nutrition and sleep as part of their training and do soft tissue work regularly. This helps place the emphasis on providing the body with the building blocks to adapt to the loads placed on it.
Expectations
I want your athletic experience to complement your life experience. Therefore, family relationships, work careers, and other priorities come first. I will support you as you pursue a training balance that is right for you.
It is my goal to get you to the starting line injury free and prepared both mentally and physically. Therefore, training plan compliance is very important. I do not expect every workout session to be completed perfectly. Your training plan is unique to you and is flexible. If you miss a workout, just move on to the next day. It is my job to analyze your progress and make adjustments.
Individual workout compliance is also very important. Completing a workout as planned not only develops physical fitness but also mental fitness and discipline which helps reduce the potential for injury and burnout.
Finally, communication is critical. There are many peripheral areas that require your attention, support your training, and may necessitate a change to your training plan. Make it a habit to communicate regularly by reporting on your workouts and communicating other important things in your life that are pertinent to your training.
You can do this!
Tim Anderson, the Co-Founder of Original Strength teaches that change in our body can happen at the “speed of your nervous system.” That’s fast. A smile is a powerful thing and one of the fastest ways to positively affect your mood, and therefore your performance.
Getting you to race day injury free and prepared both mentally and physically is my first priority. Then it’s up to you.
When I can, supporting my clients at their races is also one of my favorite things to do. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader!
“When I needed a friend the most, he was there to encourage me on! Thank you Joel Young!!”
— Nikki
“Joel is all heart! He cares more about the success of his athletes than his own. He’s not just a coach or trainer. His wisdom and experiences are beyond his age! He is an amazing listener and can relate to every athlete’s personal and athletic situations. Be careful, he might just become your next best friend.”
— Degaulle
