My Training Day affiliated coach, Richard Alan Lawrie gives us the low down of his progression as a coach since joining My Training Day and how he has become passionate about working with an amazing group of enthusiastic athletes in the Friendly city (or Windy city) and home of Ironman South Africa:
After meeting Claire and Kent in January 2014 it became clear to me that I wanted to follow in their footsteps and become a coach. It has always been a lifelong dream of mine to make a living out of something that I am truly passionate about and I was quick to see this as a fantastic opportunity. Claire & Kent first took me on-board as a coached athlete and began working with me closely to ensure that I was ready to take on the role of coaching. After being a coached athlete for 6+ months, and attending the Joe Friel and TSA Level 1 Triathlon courses, I felt well prepared. This was when Claire gave me the go ahead & I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and have not looked back since.
It has been an amazing experience thus far and I have been very fortunate to work with athletes that are friendly, enthusiastic, disciplined and always keen to listen & learn. They don’t call it the friendly city for nothing you know. I have been trained the My Training Day & Joe Friel way & my athletes are also trained based on this methodology. I have seen major physical & mental improvements in my athletes.
I try my best to ensure that my athletes get equal attention & that they are working hard towards their goals in an enjoyable and friendly environment. Yes, I know that there are some sessions that are just impossible to enjoy i.e. Swim ‘leaving on’, Run ‘Hill & reps Fartlek’ & Bike indoor sessions, but it helps knowing that you have a buddy or 10 to suffer those sessions out with. The squad sessions have grown to full capacity now with 35+ athletes and I have begun working closely with MTD athlete and Coach Jeandre Marais to assist me in giving the best possible hands on coaching to the athletes. JD has proved to be a great asset to myself and the squad and I am looking forward to getting him more involved.
Much like the Cape Town squad I feel that all athletes get on well and there is really a great vibe at squad sessions and events. I’m looking forward to introducing the PE athletes to many MTD athletes around the country.
The Triathlon season is upon us now and there is plenty coming up in Port Elizabeth.
Upcoming races for PE athletes::
Athletes are participating in the ‘Zports Ocean racing series’ which takes place every 2nd weekend – 1km, 2km or 3km events.
Eastern Province Development Triathlon on 15 November – Sprint or Olympic distance.
29th of November will see 5 athletes participating in the Midlands Ultra Triathlon (1.9km swim, 90km cycle. 21km run), as well as 10 athletes travelling down to East London to participate in the BCTri Ultra Triathlon (1.5km swim, 60km bike, 15km run)
7 athletes are also hard at work for the MTD training camp in Cape Town from the 16th to the 19th of December. (mail Claire for your slot before it fills up)
Triathlon in PE is booming and I look forward to what the future holds for my athletes and My Training Day