Coaching

I personally went through the process of trying to find a coach a few years back, after having a unsatisfactory performance at Ironman SA in 2006. I felt cheated by the information I had, the coaching methods I was told to follow, and, especially, the protocol leading into the race.

After speaking with various coaches I found them to be very uninformed about what it took to ENJOY the preparation and participation in an Ironman. I fully believed in the dream of having a great, energy filled build up with a great race that has me smiling all day.

But there were no coaches here preaching that. They all spoke of killing yourself in training, preparing for your girlfriend to leave you, and forgetting about your friends.

Not cool.

So I went to study myself. I did a TrainingPeaks Level 3 coaching course, and studied roughly 1000 hours of material, techniques, books, etc

I came out with a solid philosophy of what it takes to complete an Ironman, which for me means running the entire marathon, with a smile, even if its masking the pain.

In terms of a coaching philosophy, I coach off the 4 pillars that Joe Friel & Gordo Byrn use, which for me are the underlying success factors in your preparation for ALL triathlon racing, not just Ironman. I coach Xterra, Olympic Distance, 1/2 Ironman and Ironman athletes. Here are the foundations;

1. Recovery
2. Aerobic capacity
3. Flexibility
4. Nutrition

So where does the speed come from? From being well fed, from having slept enough, from having an aerobic super engine to train speed off, and from being injury free, which comes after you are flexible.

I have had almost more success as a coach than I have as an athlete. I have advised 4 athletes going to Kona this year. I have 2 athletes going to Xterra Worlds in Maui.

I have had 2 girls complete their Ironmans this year with smiles on their faces, only months after telling me they could never do it. For me, that’s as big an achievement as the Kona & Maui guys and girls.

I help your entire lifestyle, your time management, and your outlook on life. As triathletes, we tend to be overly serious and super intense, which is not necessarily a good thing. Our obsessive behaviour translates to our eating habits, our sleeping habits, and how we treat other people.

I am coaching people to age gracefully, as well as smash their own perceptions of their abilities, in the interim.

Currently there are two forms of help that I offer – tailor made programs and general programs.

For more, please enquire via the contact page.

Thank you.