My name is Russell Opatz, a behavioral healthcare executive and performance coach based in Salt Lake City.
I work with athletes to push boundaries both physically and mentally, drawing from endurance experiences using the reflective elements of experiential learning.
Endurance training and racing push the body and mind to places rarely found in the comforts of today’s world. Applying the experiential learning framework to endurance training helps you discover what you are truly capable of. Through this process, you gain greater self-awareness and a much deeper understanding of your strengths as well as areas for growth.
My introduction to adventure and experiential learning came early in life. After participating in a 30-day wilderness canoe trip in a remote part of Manitoba at 15 years old, I was hooked. The result of this formative experience led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in Outdoor Leadership from Warren Wilson College. Throughout my time in college, I continued pursing my passion for leadership and wilderness travel as an instructor, leading canoe expeditions throughout remote regions of Canada and the arctic.
These experiences led to a career in experiential and adventure education. After spending the majority of my 20s sleeping in the backcountry, I inevitably landed a 9-5 “office” gig. Sure, the consistency of this new schedule was great for family and personal obligations, but I yearned for the adventure of backcountry travel—enter trail and ultrarunning. Soon after my abrupt introduction to the typical American work schedule, I discovered trail running. I began using trail running as a vehicle to escape, but more importantly, free my mind and body while maintaining the confidence, strength, and self-reliance I found working in the backcountry.
Over the past decade, I have dedicated my career to leading teams charged with improving health outcomes for specific populations. During this this time, I have held various leadership roles from public housing and consulting agencies to executive positions within behavioral healthcare.
Throughout my career, from adventure education to healthcare, I consistently strive to help others reach their full potential. As a certified trail and ultrarunning coach, I am passionate about helping athletes stay injury free by using evidence-based training practices to stay on the trails.
We all need an external sounding board who can support and encourage growth and performance without bias. Through reflective dialogue, I create a space for athletes to process training and racing experiences, enabling athletes to call attention to the most important elements of training while also empowering them to apply the learning to their practice.
When he’s not wrangling his two toddlers, you can find Russell running, biking or skiing in the Wasatch mountains with his wife and dog.
I work with athletes to push boundaries both physically and mentally, drawing from endurance experiences using the reflective elements of experiential learning.
