This article was written by one of our athletes Joshua Stephens. The original post can be found here

Hiring a coach isn’t for everyone in our sport. Some people go around reading and researching everything they can about the tried and true ways to train. Some are coaches themselves, and can make their own training plans without being biased about their sessions. Others use triathlon just as a outlet, a hobby, and can’t warrant the cost of hiring a coach. But for those of us that have a coach, we need a good fit.

One thing I looked for before hiring my coach, Tony Hammett at Endurance Concepts, is a coaching firm that invests in their athletes. I’m talking a company who’s athletes aren’t just pay checks; they actually want their athletes to improve. And they want to really know you, more than just logging your hours each week. Knowing what you want from the sport, life, where you are mentally each day, ect ect. The relationship should be more than just athlete-coach, and that will translate to bigger and better results.

I’m not writing this to dote on my coach, but more to show how a coach should interact with their athletes. During my flat[s] debacle in Cartersville a couple of weeks ago, Tony asked me a question while Bethany, Tony, and I sat on the side of the road. I immediately threw out an answer, to which he just nodded and kind of grinned. I read people well, so I knew there was something else going through his head, but I didn’t know what. I thought it was a good answer. About 36hours later I sent Tony and email, with my real answer. His response was basically “I know” but in more words and with an explanation of how he knew what my answer would be. He knew me better than I knew myself, and it’s because of that that my training fits so perfectly, and that I trust his guidance.

Make sure you fit with your coach. They need to be more than just the person that updates Training Peaks; they need to interact with you. If that’s all you want, then you can get similar results a lot cheaper buying a training plan, or a book. One way that Tony and I look at my training is a quote from The Matrix. It shows that I can question my plans each week, even if it doesn’t make sense or I’m a little apprehensive, because he’s done each session for a specific reason tailor fit for me. “I’m trying to free your mind. But I can only show you the door. Yours the one who has to walk through it.”

Another huge racing weekend happened and as expected, there was fun to be had. Qualifications were achieved; PR’s were made and lots of podium pictures were taken. But many mental hurdles were cleared and soul searching occurred; that is what makes racing special.

Starting in the south, we had Tatyana Spencer decide it was a good idea to run from Marathon Key to Key West. Being the impatient person that she is, she proceeded to not only win the race, but set a course record by over 40 minutes.
Results can be found here

The Peachtree City International and Super Sprint had some fireworks as well.
Deanna McCurdy ran out of real estate to finish 2nd overall by just 5 seconds, Scott Gentles ran his way into 2nd overall, Fred ‘Cube’ Mehrer pushed his limit to a 2:30:20, Sandy Wisenbaker came in at 3:04:04, Mike Chrzanowski was 6th with a 2:25:25, Eliana Barnard took 2nd in the 15-19 age group with a 56:24. Deanna, Scott, Cube and Mike also qualified for USAT AG Nationals!
Results can be found here

Ryan Brooks decided to take his bike down to Gainsville, Ga for the weekend as part of the Georgia Cup Time Trial series. Way to push the roadies.

In Clemson, we had our SE Juniors team member, Cody Dorsey, rock it in a time of 1:10:39, while Ashley Pike survived a tough swim to clock a 1:30:47, and Coach Anne won her age group with a 1:18:34, not far behind was Nicole Chrzanowski for 2nd age group in 1:18:52 and Jared Meadows pushed to a 1:15:42.
Results can be found here

Down in the land of Mickey at Florida 70.3, Rachel Rasberry decided she wanted to take a trip to Vegas by earning her 70.3 World Championship slot in a time of 5:08:43, while Nick Donkar decided his first ever triathlon would be a HIM and pushed himself to a 7:06:57 finish. Way to survive the heat guys.
Results can be found here

At Irongirl, Lisa Bennett had a great race placing 4th in her age group in a time of 1:51:10. It’s hard being out front for the entire day.
Results can be found here

The second TeamEC race of the year was at Rev3 Knoxville and it did not disappoint.

In the Olympic distance, Yvonne Bedell took the top podium spot in her age group with a 2:27:34, Brett Alison overcame a swim deficit to finish in 2:24:14, Marc Thompson pushed to a 2:25:06 effort, Joshua Stephens managed a 2:28:37 with a cut foot, Justin Heineman ran through his age group to a 2:25:51, Coach Dan finished in 2:12:57.

In the Half Rev, Charlie Conway overcame some GI issues for a 6:47:20, Daniel Harris crushed the course in a time of 5:17:48, Team Ryals had a stellar day with Bethaney going 6:10:28 and TJ barely beating his wife with a 5:47:40, Coach Tony moved his way through the field with a time of 5:22:39, Doug McLaughlin earned himself a 5:13:27 performance, Kristen Deaton found herself on the podium with a swift 6:01:38, our resident Slayer Harvey Gayer pounded the course and the Clydesdale division into submission in a time of 5:13:47 to win his division handily. Last but not least was Chuck Mathison who soldiered on to a comfortable 7:12:44 and has the recovery drink to prove it.
Rev3 Results can be found here

Team warm up swim


This weekend was also a stellar one for the Friends of EC:
At the Keys 100, Jason Overbaugh, in a gutsy performance finished in 27:17:42. Way to find the line between brave and stupid and see what you’re made of!

Our own web designer Jill aka PoonStar had a huge day at Rev3 and you can read about it here

E3 Training Solutions had some big performances! Specifically at Zofingen Duathlon, Jana Richtrova aka the Czech chick earned her 1st win overall at the middle distance, beating all but 8 males and posting what seems a new course record. But that’s not all…check out the rest

The first TeamEC race of 2011 was a huge success. Team races are designed so that we can all have a spot to get together and encourage each other in a group setting. It just also happens that we tend to have to stick around for the awards ceremony as well.

John Tanner, with it’s lengthened bike course proved to be no match for our athletes. New for 2011 is the EC banner and we have a tent to hang out at. Here is Coach Shanks ‘modeling’ the tent and 2011 EC uniform.

We also had an injured reserve section at John Tanner that included TJ Ryals, Mark Shannon and John Southey. We also made it a family affair as Scott’s brother came from New York to race.

We had some great performances all around. Out of the 20 Endurance Concepts athletes on course, 12 earned podium spots that included two overall placements.

The Team Endurance Concepts athletes at John Tanner included:
Scott Gentles
Martha Hall
Lauren Cortjens
Bethaney Ryals
Yvonne Bedell
Lisa Bennett
Amy Hill
Cody Dorsey
Joshua Stephens
Joshua Reed
Daniel Harris
Andrew Shanks
Marc Thompson
Tony Hammett
Jason Insogna
Doug McLaughlin
Joe Whitwell
Fred Mehrer
Ben Holliday
Harvey Gayer
Havrid Usry

Results can be found here

Although some may choose to measure success by the number of podiums achieved, most age-group athletes can’t afford to sacrifice their livelihood for ultimate triathlon glory. The triathlon coaches at Endurance Concepts are focused on maximizing performance while minimizing the physical and mental stress in your life. Last minute business trips and sick kids happen. Endurance Concepts will draw a clear path to expose your greatest potential while dealing with life’s challenges.

The 2010 racing season was a banner year for the athletes of TeamEC gaining a total of 2,918 cumulative spots in the USAT-SE rankings. This success was achieved through countless hours of hard work by the dedicated and passionate athletes that race for TeamEC, Endurance Concepts’ racing team.

The complete USAT-SE rankings can be seen by clicking here. Below are a few standout athlete performances:

-Biggest overall mover: Ryan Brooks (gained 470 spots)
-Biggest age group mover: Jose Hevia (gained 127 spots in A/G)

TeamEC athletes also achieved:

• 70.3 World Championship (4 athletes)
• Ironman World Championship (1 athlete)
• ITU SC Triathlon World Championship (1 athlete)
• ITU LC Duathlon World Championship (1 athlete)
• 3 x Overall Victories
• Completed first Ironman (7 athletes)

Merge that with at least 3 marriages, 2 graduations, 6 new family members, 4 job promotions and a heck of a lot of fun and that totals an amazingly successful season for TeamEC. Now the work begins if 2011 is to be even greater! Go TeamEC!!!

The time of the year has finally come to order your TeamEC kit for next season. Louis Garneau was selected again this year following the rave reviews from our athletes regarding the overall fit and the top-notch chamois.

Your order must be submitted by Friday, January 7th!!

TeamEC Kit: $135, includes tax

To Order: click here

Design:The overall design has not changed drastically from last season. Taking feedback from our athletes, we’ve done a few updates to spice up the kits as can be seen in the preliminary rendering below. Please note that this design is not finalized and may change slightly.


2011 TeamEC Kit Preliminary Rendering

Sizing:Great news for 2011, Louis Garneau is offering two different length shorts. The rest of the fit remains virtually unchanged from 2010. The inseam options are:

-Mens: 8” or 10.5” inseam
-Womens: 7.25” or 9.75″ inseam

Sizing Chart – For more details and the Louis Garneau sizing charts, visit the LG website.  Keep in mind, these are intended to be a compression fit so they will be snug!
http://louisgarneau-custom.com/ordering/size_chart.asp

Fit Kit – If you’re unsure which size is correct for you, a fit kit will be available at the Resolution Run, a TeamEC event. Also, the wonderful folks at All3Sports will have the fit kit available for you to try on from Mon-Wed of next week, Jan 3-5, during normal business hours. For more information, please contact Coach Andrew Shanks at 757.636.8055.

Delivery Options:For Atlanta based Athletes:
Pick up at TeamEC workout on March 19th at Column’s Drive.
Ship to your house for a $7.50 S&H fee.

For Augusta based Athletes:
Pick up at TeamEC workout on March 22nd at Nacho Mamas
Ship to your house for a $7.50 S&H fee.

For athletes outside the Atlanta or Augusta areas, we will ship to your house free of charge.

To Order:Click here or call Coach Andrew Shanks at 757.636.8055

FAQs:
What if I don’t pre-order a kit?
Because of the large minimum order required by Louis Garneau, we only order kits once per year. A few extra uniforms will be ordered but we can’t guarantee your size will be available if you don’t pre-order.
What if it doesn’t fit properly?
We will do our best to accommodate anyone who selected the wrong size kit but we are ordering a custom kit sized specifically for you so an exchange may not be possible. Please take advantage of the fit kit and try on the sample uniforms if your size is in question.

Are cycling jerseys available?
TeamEC will have cycling jerseys available this season as well but they won’t be purchased through Louis Garneau. More information will be available soon about cycling jerseys.

Our very own Brittany Banker makes the IRONMAN homepage with a write up by Kevin Mackinnon. Root her on as she attacks IM Louisville tomorrow! Read the article!

Help us track all of our TeamEC athletes tomorrow as they pursue their dreams of becoming an Ironman!

#73 Bethany Cockburn
#164 Bethaney Ryals
#176 Brittany Banker
#423 Sandy Nadeau Wisenbaker
#598 Carol Schaeffer
#884 Daniel Harris
#1209 T.J. Ryals
#2303 Mike Chrzanowski

Many words come to mind when you ask me about TeamEC athlete, Harvey Gayer. He is a family man with a kind heart and a tremendous psychologist. However, when it comes to racing, he can only be known as “The Slayer”. This article gives you a little insight into the man, the machine. You’ll also learn about his new tattoo!!

—–
By TeamEC athlete, Harvey Gayer:

Upon the recommendation of several athletes on Beginnertriathlete.com, I joined TeamEC at the end of my first tri-season in 2008 with the goal of completing an IM. While I learned how to swim, James got me well-fitted to my bikes and Dan directed me towards Shanks, who has coached (i.e., tried to tame) me since that time. However, all of the coaches have been helpful along the way. Likewise, TeamEC possesses many solid age group athletes who were very supportive and formed a great big loving network to cheer you on, give you training feedback, offer some perspective on injuries, etc.

Shanks and I set the race plan for 2009 of a progression from sprint (Tri the Parks) to Olympic (Philly) to half Ironman (Augusta) to the full distance (Arizona). Shanks said he could get me through the finish line without an IV and I trusted him. The boy has not let me down yet. As I worked through the training and distances, I cleaned up in the Clydes division and the mantel got full of awards, all of which were exciting in their own right. However, I knew the biggie still loomed in November. I could not stop and relax and appreciate the accomplishments yet.

Training ramped up and I dealt with natural wear and tear of training. IM Arizona eventually came and Shanks offered to come out with me. How many coaching firms has a coach offer to fly out for race day support? It was not necessary as my family came, so he cheered me on from the East Coast, along with whole coaching staff and team (or at least it felt that way).

I made it through that day in 11:14 and finally celebrated in the way an Ironman does. I earned self-esteem for life. I learned alot along the way but was afraid to lose my fitness so I got back to training as soon as possible. The tattoo would have to wait. I needed to get my sister in law, an artist, to create the design after she heard all about what the journey meant to me personally. I sat down with her and explained it and this is what she came up with.

I wanted the tattoo design to reflect my main motivation for doing this thing of ours, which was facing up to the fear of death. The symbolism is that the M-dot contains the grim reaper, but the the reaper ultimately retains control. Even so, I feel more alive now than ever even with the reaper lurking for all of us.

You see, I came to running and triathlons weighing near 300 lbs. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. Now I hover around 210lbs and am pretty darn fit and much happier. I am a better psychologist, father and husband. I couldn’t have done all of this without my TeamEC crew. Hope you think its as badazz as I do. Gotta get back to training….

The phrase ‘Escape from Alcatraz’ evokes a myriad of thoughts and emotions if you’re a convict. No fool would ever consider swimming in the frigid San Fransisco Bay to ESCAPE. However, when TeamEC athlete Chuck Mathison heard those words, he wanted to test his insanity and see if he could make it to shore.

Plunging from a barge just off the shores of Alcatraz Island, he swam 1.5 miles to shore in frigid water and a torturous current.  Once Chuck reached terra firma and his mind thawed, he realized he had 18 miles to bike and 8 miles to run before completing the ESCAPE From Alcatraz triathlon. With his heart pulsing, Chuck pushed up the steep ascents around San Fransisco and descended with confidence. Once off the bike, the race brought Chuck through Golden State Park for an energy-sapping trail run on soft, sandy soil.

Most athletes (or escape convicts) would have given up at this point. However, the ESCAPE has a special surprise for its competitors. The Sand Ladder: 400 uneven sandy steps. Having persevered thus far, Chuck decided to test himself by powering up the sand stairs two at a time. Here is proof that Chuck not only ESCAPED from Alcatraz, but did so with the heart of a champion.  Congrats Chuck!

Click here to see Chuck ascend the Sand Ladder.

To read more about Chuck’s ESCAPE From Alcatraz, read his blog.