Coaching
Alongside bikefitting, I coach a select group of athletes to achieve their goals in triathlon. Whether you’ve never raced before, or are looking to qualify for the World Championships I take equal pleasure in helping people to get the most out of themselves. Keeping things small scale and working closely with each athlete is something I believe to be truly important; it’s not unusual for me to communicate with each athlete multiple times per day and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Where off-the-shelf plans are rigid and generic, I write workouts to athletes’ personal needs taking into account their lifestyle as well as modifying the plan when there are (inevitable) bumps in the road.
What you can expect from me as a coach
Balanced
My experience has taught me that you've got to put in the hard work to get the results you want – but if you also want longevity in the sport, you've got to keep some fun in there too!
Qualified
While some coaches rely on their experience as an athlete to coach others, I wanted to do things the proper way. I'm British Triathlon Level 2 Diploma qualified which certifies and insures me to coach athletes 1:1. On top of this I'm constantly researching, reading and listening to new methods to improve my coaching, day to day.
Pragmatic
Every session should have a reason and a purpose within the context of a greater timeframe (block/season). A good coach should be able to answer why a certain session is as it is.
Experienced
While I'm no wisened sage at 33, I have deep understanding of racing from almost 20 years of experience. I know what it feels like to come rock bottom in a mountain bike race but also cross the finish line first in an Ironman.
Personable
Humans are not robots; while following the right plan and understanding the science is important, listening to the athlete and adapting the plan when necessary is more important.
Holistic
Going fast isn't just about being the fittest. If your bikefit is awful or your nutrition sucks, you won't perform to the best of your ability. I like to look at a more wholistic process of making athletes faster – no stone unturned.
Additional information
I actively encourage communication – in fact, I think it's a key factor in a successful coach/athlete relationship! This can take many different forms: calls, TrainingPeaks comments, Whatsapp messages, in-person – whatever we need.
For instance, after an initial call, workouts will be written in TrainingPeaks (whether you have the Free or Premium account) and holidays/commitments can be added to the calendar so we can plan ahead. If plans go out of the window day to day though, it's not unusual for athletes to message me over Whatsapp if a speedy response is required! Comments on the session can be added by both coach and athlete and I can't stress how important this is to keep on top of as it really helps inform future sessions.
On top of training I’m always happy to give advice on general equipment selection, nutrition or race day strategy.
Want to be part of the team?
