Dr. Marshall Milbrath
My journey to becoming a learning and development expert is characterized by both planned and unexpected opportunities. My interests took shape in my youth while exploring new interests and ideas through literature. Favorite youth novels of mine included The Hatchet (G. Paulsen, 1986), which nurtured a curiosity for the outdoors in me, while youth novels sports and athlete stories, especially the junior novel The Shadow Brothers (A. E. Cannon, 1992) inspired a love for sport participation. Always determined in whatever I took on, I entered my teen years with my eyes set on placing in the 1-mile run at my middle school track meet. But as I prepared for the annual event, I decided I wanted running to transcend a single even - I decided I wanted to become a runner.
For me, being a competitive Cross-Country Runner included more than rigorous daily training; I embraced becoming a student of my sport - reading magazines, books, and blogs on training. Additionally, unlike many student-athletes' experiences, my training almost always was at wildlife refuges or forested parks. My weekly retreat to the woods to train fueled not only my love of sport, but the wonder that I held for nature. |
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By the time I was part of three-time conference champion cross-country team at an NCAA Division III school, I had decided that I wanted to add coaching to my list of personal challenges, coaching for 6 years during my career as a science teacher, and into my graduate student years on my way to understanding learning and development.
During my career as a coach, I sought out clinics and coaching education schools to learn as much as I could about coaching. I refined my interests, delving int strength and conditioning, coaching, and coach development. A drive to help people facilitate positive and fulfilling physical challenge propelled me along a route of studying coaching, and what makes a good coach, a good coach, regardless of what they coach.
My own journey shifted to longer physical endeavors, prioritizing physicality in natural environments. I continued to nurture my love of the outdoors, and completed two of 50-mile ultra marathons in 2012, including a 20th place finish (8:29:55) at the 2012 USATF Nationals at the Tussey Mountainback Run in State College, Pennsylvania. In 2021, I thru-hiked the 2193-mile Appalachian Trail while collecting personal narratives from other hikers, also partnering with other scholars to better understand the physical and psycho-social determinants of long-distance hikers. In the summer of 2022, I hiked the first half of the 485-mile Colorado Trail, before returning to the Appalachian Trail to re-hike sections with new friends I had made while doing trail magic that spring.
Living in Northwest Virginia with my 15-pound cat (some say he's a mini bobcat!) I continue to explore and be inspired by the haunts of nature, seeking fellowship with nature, herself, as well as those around me who also do so.
During my career as a coach, I sought out clinics and coaching education schools to learn as much as I could about coaching. I refined my interests, delving int strength and conditioning, coaching, and coach development. A drive to help people facilitate positive and fulfilling physical challenge propelled me along a route of studying coaching, and what makes a good coach, a good coach, regardless of what they coach.
My own journey shifted to longer physical endeavors, prioritizing physicality in natural environments. I continued to nurture my love of the outdoors, and completed two of 50-mile ultra marathons in 2012, including a 20th place finish (8:29:55) at the 2012 USATF Nationals at the Tussey Mountainback Run in State College, Pennsylvania. In 2021, I thru-hiked the 2193-mile Appalachian Trail while collecting personal narratives from other hikers, also partnering with other scholars to better understand the physical and psycho-social determinants of long-distance hikers. In the summer of 2022, I hiked the first half of the 485-mile Colorado Trail, before returning to the Appalachian Trail to re-hike sections with new friends I had made while doing trail magic that spring.
Living in Northwest Virginia with my 15-pound cat (some say he's a mini bobcat!) I continue to explore and be inspired by the haunts of nature, seeking fellowship with nature, herself, as well as those around me who also do so.