Case Studies

I joined a Couch To 5k Group, bought a second hand bike and entered a Sprint distance race for the following season (2015). I worked through the winter and in May 2015 completed my first race. That year I did two more races. By now I was properly hooked on the sense of achievement and the weight loss that I was seeing too. In the close season of 2015 I joined a local gym and met Phil who ran the Triathlon Club within. We discussed a more structured plan and approach to my training, however, I thought this was for the more elite athletes and really not something I would benefit from.

As my fitness developed at the Triathlon Club sessions, I re-evaluated my goals for 2016 and I decided to enter a local middle distance 70.3 race. At this point decided it would be a good idea to employ some help and I had no hesitation in turning to Phil. My goal at this time was to just get round and complete the race. Since then, I can only describe the support I have received from Phil as “truly exceptional”.

Phil structured a programme around my fitness levels and the Goal. I sent him Heart Rate fitness data from fitness tests he asked me to conduct and he worked out training zones for me to work at. Previously, I had grabbed training sessions where I could and went as hard as I could – every session! Phil, however, was starting to ask me to train the majority of the time at lower intensities. This took some time to adjust to and was something of a leap of faith. I questioned the benefit of only training at higher intensities once or twice a week, however, on reflection, I was wearing myself out with what I was previously doing and having an expert to guide me has been a revelation!

Phil sets my training plan around my lifestyle. I tell him when I am busy at work or have family commitments and he works out the plan around this. He is always mindful of building in recovery time from the higher intensity sessions, meaning I can go at them harder on those days; knowing that the lower intensity sessions will allow me to recover fully and re-charge the batteries. It’s been great to have the plan set out – all I have to do is look at the week ahead and do what I have been set out. The sessions are always well structured and there is clear guidance of what I need to do or how I need to do it. I then send the data back to Phil and he reviews my progress.

I have also found Phil to be really caring. He really cares about my progress, well-being and achievements. He wished me well on race day and went out of his way to re-enforce my confidence.

So, this is all very well – but what about results? If you pay for a coach you want results…

Since working with Phil I’ve lost a further 2 stone (4 ½ in total), admittedly my diet has changed a great deal too, however, I decided if I was going to put the effort into my training I should ensure I fuelled that training as best I could. Most importantly, I completed my first 70.3 in 6 hours – beating my revised goal of 6:30 by some margin!

I feel fitter, stronger and healthier and have now decided to enter the full 140.6 Ironman Weymouth – something I never thought I would have the confidence to attempt. With Phil as my coach though, I am confident that at least the plan will be effective and that all I have to do is follow the Plan!

If you feel, like I did, that you are not at a level to employ a coach, reconsider! Your efforts are worthy of the extra support that Phil can bring, whatever your goals might be. The structure, discipline and support he provides will, I am sure, transform your performances and achievements. Moreover, if you’re as lucky as I’ve been, it will transform your life too!

I worked with a different coach for a month or two, but with 7 months before my Ironman, I felt terribly unprepared and still found the prospect of the event very daunting.

I decided to switch coach and found Phil. It took less than an hour of chatting to feel at ease about the event. Phil broke everything down, made everything sound so much easier, and got me excited about training again.

With Zwift and Garmin, every session I had was already loaded. The less time I spend thinking about a training session the better, and the more chance I’ll do it properly, so having everything set out like this was perfect.

Sessions were great, often good fun (yes, really) and very rewarding. My fitness shot up, I felt like I could run, cycle or swim for days.

Fortnightly calls kept everything grounded but kept confidence high. I always felt like I knew exactly what I was doing and why.

Covid ruined my chances of Ironman Finland, so I had to switch event and compete in Ripon with Yorkshire hills replacing gentle undulation. This meant my goal of sub 12 wasn’t realistic, but I will be back with Phil next year to get ready for the deferred Finland event and a crack at sub 12.

I couldn’t recommend Phil highly enough, especially for someone new to triathlon who wants that helping hand.