In 1999, Marlene founded Roylerow Performance Training Programs to individually train rowers; designing their workouts and providing support via email. Roylerow.com was the first online coaching service for rowing. Marlene's athletes soon started reaching the podiums of major regattas. Marlene's coaching has produced numerous world masters champions, masters national champions, Head of the Charles winners, and personal bests. Her programs are also used by coaches, pre-elite athletes, and juniors, as well as, those training for general health, re-entering the sport after injury, or just starting to compete.
As a competitor, Marlene has won major titles in sculling and sweep rowing including a US National Championship, a Collegiate National Championship, and a Head of the Charles title. She was awarded the Melissa Hale Spencer Award at the West Side Rowing Club of Buffalo in 1980 and the Beverly Jean Cook Award while on the Boston University Rowing Team in 1982. She also served as Boston University Crew's Varsity Women's Captain in 1985. In 2000, she set two world records on the Concept2 Indoor Rower. She is a registered occupational therapist, in addition to being educated in physiology, massage therapy, and strength training. Royle’s publications include: Tip of the Blade: Notes on Rowing, Skillful Rowing, and Technical Drills for Sculling. Tech Tips is Marlene's column on the Craftsbury Sculling Center website and her column Training appears monthly in the international journal, Rowing News.
Marlene was among the first coaches in the United States dedicated to masters rowing. For 20 years she coached at the Craftsbury Sculling Center and was the center’s associate director from 2004-2006. From 2005-2009, Marlene was the head coach at the Florida Rowing Center. Currently she coaches at Craftsbury Sculling Center, Aviron Knowlton Rowing, Lemon Bay Crew Club and offers camps and lessons by arrangement. Marlene is married to Russian author, Sasha Sokolov.