PODIUM SPORTS, LLC

About Colleen Gulick

After 19 years in the sports of field hockey and cycling it's not hard to believe that I have an incredible passion for athletics.  In the sport of field hockey I worked my way up from a local Pennsylvanian youth league (PMYC) through USA Field Hockey's Futures Elite Program, AAU Junior Olympics, and 6 years of both indoor and outdoor club field hockey (X-Calibur Club).  When I attended a private boarding school for high school, The Hill School, I set their All-Time Scoring Record with 101 points and will receive the honor of being inducted into the school's Athlete Hall of Fame in 2021.  I was recruited by the top 20 division 1 NCAA field hockey programs in the country.  I chose to attend the University of Maryland on scholarship and began the first of my four years as a starting midfielder and defender for the number one program in the nation.  All in all, I had an exciting, rewarding, and enjoyable college career (see a few accolades below).   

Being the helpless sport addict that I am I could not stay away from field hockey for long.  Only 3 months after graduating college I was back on the pitch.  However, this time I took on a much different role as the assistant coach of The Hill School's Varsity field hockey team.  I was surprised how much I absolutely adored my new position, especially since it was on the sidelines.  I have always prided myself on my ability to break down a skill and teach it to others (drive, slap shot, drag flick, areal, stick stop, etc).  I thoroughly enjoyed putting these skills to use and helping a team of 18 wonderful high school girls develop their game.  The girls were quick learners and won their first league championship in five years.  I would love to continue to help players improve everything from specific skills to field vision and fitness in order to reach their potential.

My cycling career also began as a young weeble wobble with training wheels.  Happily, I was able to advance past the training wheel stage.  With the help of a local community program (Air Products) in Trexlertown, PA, I learned the basics of racing and training.  From there I transitioned to a high level junior development team (Salamander Racing).  Before entering college I had already amassed three national titles, two national records, and established myself as a promising young rider.  Throughout college I had continued to pursue my career as a cyclist on the side, often riding after 4 hour field hockey practices or 6 mile runs.  Thus, when I graduated in 2013 I decided to pursue cycling full time.  Since then, I have raced in 8 countries, earned a Red Hook Championship win (Brooklyn), and earned three VPCC Pro Women Rider of the Year titles.  I have represented the USA at a World Cup and Pan American Track Cycling Championship, where I earned a silver medal in the madison event.  In 2017, I created the Pickle Juice Pro Cycling Team, an international women's team that I continue to race for and manage.  Since 2017, the team has been comprised of some of the best female track, road and fixed gear criterium riders in the world.  We raced hundreds of races, boasting an unprecidented 30% win rate and approximately 50% podium rate.  We give back to the sport by way of promoting a yearly downtown criterium and running a cycling mentor program for young women.  I am thoroughly enjoying the continual challenges that accompany racing and managing a team.  I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with others.

In August of 2015 I relocated to Fullerton, California to earn my masters degree in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton.  While there I worked with professional MMA fighters on performance enhancement research.  I was also employed by USA Volleyball and worked with all USA Beach Volleyball national team athletes to design their strength & conditioning programs leading up to the Rio Olympic Games.  After California, I moved to Dunedin, New Zealand for 2.5 years to pursue my PhD in exercise physiology.  My research focused on the interplay between exercise, dietary protein and a hormone called insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).  I successfully defended in Nov 2020 and earned my PhD.  Also in Nov 2020 I bought a house and moved cross-country to Long Beach, California.  I currently work as an exercise physiologist for 3 biotech and supplement companies (Levels Health, Upgraid, CrossClimber Inc.).  I work with these companies to conduct new research and break down the existing literature to tell everyday individuals and athletes how they can implement scientific principles for success.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to ask via the contact form on the home page.  I look forward to working with any future field hockey, cycling, or strength and conditioning athletes.  See you soon on the pitch, road, track, or gym...