Meet Megan Patterson | Track Coach, Mental Health Worker, and Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Megan Patterson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Megan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
The initial idea for CTE Throws developed somewhere around my fourth/fifth year of college. I was a Division I collegiate athlete specializing in the shot put, hammer, and weight throw while throwing for the University at Buffalo (UB) in Buffalo, New York. In my sophomore year I threw my elbow out for the second time in my life coming off a great indoor season. The following year I had two surgeries on my elbow putting me out for the entire indoor and outdoor track season. During the year I sat out and the remaining years of my college career my workload was greatly reduced going from 60 throws a practice to capping out at 20 a session. At some point I began to check-out as an athlete finding that throwing wasn’t fun anymore. At UB we always put on throwing clinics during the winter and summer seasons for local track athletes. Those clinics were some of the highlights of my collegiate career as I was able to fully put myself into track without actually having to throw (and continue to hurt my elbow). I’ve been fortunate enough to be coached/mentored by world record holders and nationally recognized coaches in the sport. In the past 15 years or so Colorado has consistently produced nationally ranked throwers in the shot put, discus, and hammer in Mason Finley, myself, Valerie Allman, Haley Showalter, Kain Medrano, Giovanna Meeks, and so many others who aren’t mentioned. I couldn’t help but wonder how many more names could be added to the list with proper training and knowledge of the throws. Colorado Throwing Empire is setup to do just that; add to the list! All services are offered to middle and high school athletes free of charge during team practices twice a week throughout the summer and athletes are encouraged to invite friends who may be interested! Athletes looking for individual lessons will be charged an AFFORDABLE rate.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Pueblo, Colorado is known as the Steel City, named after the steel mill which began running in the 1870’s. Dutch Clark stadium hosts all Pueblo City football games, soccer games, and track meets (along with other events in town). The stadium overlooks the train depot where hundreds of trains would travel in daily making deliveries and carrying out shipments for the mill. This city was built on grit and iron and I’m so excited to continue this tradition with CTE Throws. To pay homage to Pueblo and uphold the pride that so many of us have for this city we will be “touring” Pueblo practicing at different locations around town as we honor athletes from all parts of the city while training hard and throwing around iron and steel implements!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Pueblo offers an array of activities throughout the year for locals and visitors to enjoy. In honor of the summer season! The State Fair, bands in the backyard, and the chili festival are a few places events to attend while in town. If you’re trying to get your outdoor fix in it’s best to head to the reservoir where you can swim, boat, fish, raft, hike, or bike. You can also visit the nature trail which offers several biking and running paths, fishing locations, picnic spots, or leisure time. Downtown Pueblo has several shops/boutiques, restaurants, museums, and bars making it a perfect spot to explore and eat. Bessemer features one of the original neighborhoods established in Pueblo, built for steel mill workers because of it’s close proximity to work. Bessemer is the home of great mom and pop places like Gagliano’s, Pass Key’s, Do Drop, and Ianne’s; all locally owned delicious!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Where do I begin?!?!?! There have been so many who have supported, taught, mentored, and loved me through this process. The community of Pueblo was always and continues to be the most supportive and loving community to date. There is nothing like Pueblo Pride being poured into you; I love you Steel City! I WOULD NOT have made it through my final college years without my teammates, therapist, roommates (Devon and Tyra), my throws coach (James Garnham), my athletic trainer (Lauren), or bum elbow buddy (Jess). My family and close friends, coach and mentor (Shannan Lane), my parents (Ken and Dee) and to my sister (Shannon Patterson) thank you for the time, patience, guidance, love, and support as I’ve built towards this. And finally, shoutout to my daughter Kennedy Patterson; the heir to my empire!

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Image Credits
Photo Credit: Katie Pick