Hi! I’m Pat Spencer. I am a social worker a therapist with a private practice in central New Jersey and a mental skills coach for female and LGBTQIA+ cyclists and endurance athletes.

I am an avid gravel cyclist, former long course triathlete, marathoner, and open water swimmer. When I am not working you can find me lifting heavy stuff at the gym, exploring the roads in the northeast USA or scuba diving somewhere in the world. Of course I also love some down time on the couch with my wife, our cats while watching college football or Jeopardy.

I started doing endurance events in 2007 after doing my 1st triathlon. What a wonderfully scary day! I dove into the water not knowing what lay ahead of me or how much I would grow to love triathlon. Fast forward 9 years to 2016 I was doing my 4th iron distance triathlon. I had finished a couple of marathons, many 70.3 distance triathlons and a few open water races. In 2016 I was overtrained and under-fueled. I did not finish (DNF) Ironman Mont Tremblant. That morning I did not know that would be my last start of an iron distance triathlon, nor did I know it would lead to some challenging mental moments, and several years later eventually to my entry to the world of gravel cycling.

Throughout my triathlon years I would often look around at the start and see I was greatly outnumbered by men. When I would ask about women I would be told that they are not as interested (as we all know, that is terribly wrong!!). Also at the start of races I would also look around and ask myself “where are the gays? I cant be the only one?” When my wife and I would travel to races we often felt we had to test the waters before coming out. Would we introduce ourselves as partners or good friends? Could I kiss her before the start of the race without fear of someone saying something hurtful to me or to her?

As women, and as members of the LGBTQ community we know what it is like to be fit into somebody else’s space. Well, I want to make this mental skills coaching space a place specifically for us. Women, you are welcome here. Lesbians, gays, bisexuals, gender diverse, transgender folks, and other queer members of our community this is your space.