Atlanta Woman Takes on Triathlon Training

In the 10 years since Lisa Marshall founded her Alpharetta-based business, Multisport Explosion, a triathlon training program held at facilities around metro Atlanta, she’s watched her high-performance team (the only one of its kind in Georgia) expand not only in size but also in caliber of athletes. In fact, the team finished the 2019 season with a No. 3 national ranking led by teens who have been with Marshall since the beginning. “The athletes that performed so well all season have been with us since we started this program in 2010. They were 7 to 9 years old. They bought into our philosophy and have become some of the top youth and junior triathletes in the country,” Marshall explains. The road to success hasn’t always been easy, especially in a male-dominated industry. “As a strong-minded and passionate female, I’m often referred to as ‘aggressive’ or ‘difficult.’ All the while, if a strong-minded and passionate male coach was to say, act or behave in the same manner, he’d be called a ‘powerful’ and ‘passionate’ coach. It’s a double standard for women coaching any sport at a high level.” Despite the challenges, Marshall says she hopes to inspire her athletes to be diligent and determined. “I want them to learn that hard work does pay off. If they put in the time and effort, they will see the results, and I want them to apply this to everything they do—from sports, school, relationships, and beyond.”

How do you decompress?
I work out. I still train by swimming, biking, running and lifting weights like I have for 25 years when I started participating in triathlons. I just don’t compete anymore. I have made the switch from being a competitive athlete to being a motivated coach. I have to stay in shape to keep up with these young athletes! I also like to escape to the beach or lake just to be near water and be still.
https://teamexplosion.org