#32 – (Iron Dream Team Part 6): Kelli Shupe- Feeling Alive!

Skill, coordination and determination are what it takes. Kelli Shupe, swimming coach at the Idaho Falls, ID Apple Athletic
Club, explains to us what it takes to learn how to compete in the great sport of swimming.
In this episode, we learn about Kelli and her swimming background and why she decided to help Rod Hutchins, founder
and athlete of the Iron Dream Team.
Kelli grew up in Idaho Falls, in a family that didn’t just expect swimming to be the thing to do, it wasn’t an option, it was
exactly what they did and how they lived their lives. She started competing at about 8 years old and continued
competing at the state level through high school. Teaching swimming was more her bread and butter, however. She
began teaching lessons at 13 years old and continues to teach and coach today. While attending BYU-Hawaii, she
assisted in teaching a beginner’s swim class. From there she knew that’s what she loved to do and really dove into that
passion.
Fast forward to today. Kelli teaches all ages, the youngest student being 6 months old to her oldest student at 79. During
the school year, she instructs 30-40 children per block to 80 swimmers in the summer blocks. Kelli starting running the
intermediate club swim program for children about 4 years ago and continues to do that today. For adults, she does
private lessons where she breaks down the structure of the stroke and teaches how it all functions. She then builds upon
the structure and functions from there to a level of competing and beyond.
Kelli believes everyone should learn how to swim. It can save your life or someone else’s. That is what drives her to
continue teaching and instructing.
Let’s bring in Rod! They met because he came to the club one afternoon to do a swim workout. Kelli was in the middle of
coaching a class. She had her students get out of the pool so that Rod could take a lane. She didn’t think it’d be too long
so she wasn’t too worried. However, after watching Rod for a few minutes, she realized they may be out of the water for
a while. After this lengthy hard workout, Rod introduced himself and thanked Kelli for allowing him space to swim. After
talking for a short time, and Rod explaining his story, Kelli decided to coach him, even though she wasn’t a triathlon
swim coach, but she knew she has what it will take to coach him properly.
When asked why she wanted to help him, Kelli responded excitedly – “Because he has a dream and I want to help him
achieve it!” She explained further that she would never want to turn down helping someone with their dreams,
especially when it came to swimming.
Some days are harder than others in their training, however, Kelli knows Rod’s determination and that’s another vital
component in this process. When they all believe together, the Iron Dream Team comes together for one main goal…
For Rod to finish the Kona Iron Man. In that, many other goals and dreams, are becoming realities. As for Kelli, being
apart of this team, gives her hope for her dreams to become realities too. To be a runner someday, amongst other
goals, as she describes herself as being a non-runner! She says that it doesn’t matter the age, there is nothing that
will stop her from doing what she wants.
Rod enlightens us with his take on the entire process. After being paralyzed, he realized that it’s a life process. He never
imagined how hard it was going to be to relearn swimming, let alone walking and running. He knew he had some deficits
to overcome and where swimming is concerned, he knew that Kelli would be the one to help him through because of
her knowledge, patience and skill.
The greatest lesson learned here… If there’s something you want to do  Do it! Get after it!

See More About Kelli

The post #32 – (Iron Dream Team Part 6): Kelli Shupe- Feeling Alive!  appeared first on Healthy Made Easy with Dr. Drew.