Name: Sarah Barber 

Nickname: Barbwire

Birthdate: 11/7/1976

Hometown: born in Nashville, TN, but Boise has been home since 1977

Education: BS in psychology and pre-med from Stanford University 

Coaching Certifications: Stages Indoor Cycling Instructor, USAC Level Three Coach (pending)

Top 5 Professional Cycling Accomplishments: 

2013 USA Masters Time Trial National Champion, 35-39

2016 and 2017 USAT Duathlon Age Group National Champion, 40-44

2017 ITU Duathlon Masters World Champion 40-44

About Sarah:

Sarah Barber is a Life Flight paramedic by profession but an endurance junkie at heart. As she is not a fan of labels, she won’t call herself a “triathlete.” However, she has been a bike racer for many years who also loves to run…and she swims decently, too. Sarah considers herself fortunate to have stood on some podiums, but her motivation to pursue excellence in sport comes from the joy it gives her. Her ultimate goal is to help everyone find joy in their fitness activities at whatever level they choose.  

What inspired you to become a coach?
I absolutely love endurance sports, as I think they keep people physically, mentally, and spiritually healthy. As a coach, I hope to encourage participation and goal achievement at all levels—one person’s goal is just as important as any other person’s goal, whether it’s to win nationals or run a mile without taking a break to walk. I also feel balance is crucial to living a sustainable and quality life. Having a coach can really help people juggle all their commitments while incorporating sport, so I hope to provide that for athletes of all ages.

Best tip for a new bike racer?
Make sure your first race is FUN—it needs to be a fun experience so that you’ll want to do another one!

Favorite ride food?
Picky Bars and CLIF Bars

Favorite post ride/race meal?
Pizza and beer (unless recovery matters…then it’s probably overnight oats with Greek yogurt and fruit ;-)

Motivational warm up song: I’m currently liking “Survivor” by Pop Evil but I’m sure that will change. Generally, I like upbeat, high-energy music, tending towards house music (think Deadmau5).

Best advice you’ve ever been given:
“Enjoy your breakfast.” That’s from Kristin Armstrong! The point is that, on the day of your big event, don’t be so stressed and nervous that you forget to enjoy everything else in the day. Let the nerves work in your favor for the race, but don’t waste energy being nervous hours before when you’re sipping coffee and enjoying your favorite pre-race breakfast.

Tell us something about yourself that people may not know:
Many people don’t know that I did not get into endurance sports until later in life. I spent my youth riding horses—not bikes!

How can you help a client reach their goal?
I rely on exercise science and well-tested principles of training to incorporate the right balance of frequency, duration, and intensity for the individual athlete. Coaching is tailored specifically based on everything from goals to available time to what the athlete most enjoys. Communication is one of my strong suits, so the athletes I work with can expect to have a lot of input in designing an appropriate program.