Working with Carol immediately took the stress out of training for the challenge that is triathlon. The fact that I made it from couch potato all the way to GB Age Group is all I need to say!
With Fiona’s coaching I have got faster and stronger in each discipline whilst remaining injury and illness free! I now see myself as a triathlete, rather than someone who does triathlons!
The monthly cycle takes feedback and adapts to coming months schedule accordingly so it is always tailored to progressively develop me as an athlete. In my most recent race, IMUK 70.3, I came in under 6 hours finishing in the top quarter of the field of an average of 7 hours training per week – 6 months ago I would have thought this result was way beyond me and I am pretty sure I would have been much further down the field without the coaching.
He immediately brought a quality and focus to my training, which I’ve no doubt helped me to a top three age group finish and Hawaii qualification.
Simon took a lot of time in the initial months to understand my aims, how much time I had to train, family and work pressures and my triathlon experience. My weekly schedules were always planned in advance following a wider plan aiming for my key race – Ironman Austria 2008. I was also able to schedule in holidays, work travel or times when I would not be able to train and therefore I never felt restricted by the training – in fact it was the opposite.
Simon was key in teaching me to manage my own training as well which meant that the training rarely felt like a chore. He also instilled in the value of recovery during training and also after races. Being on the Alpine programme I talked with Simon every week as well as some communication by email. I was able to talk through ideas, worries, thoughts and also to celebrate successful training periods or races. This opportunity to communicate was crucial for my success.
In the couple of months leading up to Ironman Austria, Simon was meticulous in his advice and help with my planning for the final weeks and days. This meant that as I waited to start the swim I felt better prepared than ever before. Simon’s advice had not only covered the training, resting, nutrition and planning but also elements of race psychology which helped me achieve my two main goals. I finished in 13.27 and also ran the whole marathon which I had never done before.
I would recommend athletes to talk to TheTriathlonCoach.com to see whether it is suitable for them. I believe that the financial cost was significantly more beneficial to my training and performance than any deep rim wheels or carbon frame could have been.
He has incorporated a much more specific structure to my training and helped me to transition to half-ironman distance racing very successfully in just one season. My long-term goal of racing at elite level is now much closer than I thought It could be after just 2 years of competing in triathlon. With the help of Simon I have managed to top 10 in the British elite Duathlon championships and British universities championships as well as coming 2nd in my age-group at the national long distance triathlon champs.
I am sure that I would not have been as successful this season had I not had Simon on board.
This has helped me to significantly increase my level of performance and ultimately to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii on 2 occasions.
He has not only provided me with a program to follow, but also loads of encouragement and guidance along the way. I am always amazed at how Simon manages to create a program which is challenging but still achievable, I find he is easy to talk to and very reassuring when things don’t quite go to plan.
I would highly recommend Simon’s coaching services to anyone whatever their goal.
In the time that I have been with Simon, I have completed 3 Ironman competitions 6 Half-Ironman competitions, numerous Olympic and sprint triathlons, as well as Marathons Half-marathons. All of which I was not able to do before I had the facilities of coached and progressive programmes to follow. There are so many opinions about how to train for different events, so the good thing about Simon, is that he takes time to get to know you and your goals, and also to discuss how to achieve them and how to adjust things if the progression turns out to be either slightly too quick or slightly too slow.
I made my choice with TheTriathlonCoach.com and I have done well from it. I will never set the world alight with my ability, but a coach has helped maintain my enthusiasm for a sport that is hard to do but gives a great sense of satisfaction from the personal challenges that I have achieved.
With the aid of of TTC coach Dave Green, I finished the 2007 Lanzarote Ironman in 9:55, 26th overall, taking 1hr22 off my previous time and qualified for Hawaii. I also won my age group (35-40) at the national duathlon championships in April. Previously I’d over trained and not tapered correctly.
TTC have helped take the guess work out of my training with a structured plan. I now train less, race harder and have better quality of life.
