Background After pursuing a pathway in cricket for 20 years and burning out, I decided to try something new and did my first triathlon at the sprint distance on the Gold Coast in 2013. I didn’t have a very fast day but what I did get out of it was a new passion and triathlon has since changed my life. I came to triathlon with a coaching background and after a few months in the sport preparing for my first 70.3 (Sunshine Coast, Sept 2013), I had begun to venture into coaching with the tri squad I had joined, as well as doing my own research to better understand the training methodologies behind my new found endeavour.
I was very fortunate to have great mentors during my first year of training and when I moved to Melbourne in 2014, just prior to my first Ironman (Melbourne 2014, 11 months after my first tri), I was forced to begin self coaching, which I would do for the next 18 months. This allowed me to experiment with various methods and ideas, using myself as the guinea pig, and culminated in my first Kona qualification and race on the big island in October of 2015. During this time, I also coached other athletes – from Ironman first-timers to 70.3 and short course athletes.
After coming 5th in Kona with a 9:16 finish time, I identified my need for a coach to come on board in order for me take my performance to a new level – it also allowed me to focus on my own athletes and taking away some of the pitfalls I had discovered with self coaching. That year (2016) became the turning point of my athletic career – I set the fastest amateur time in history at Ironman New Zealand (8:47), qualified for Kona and went on to 5th (6th overall amateur) at the 70.3 World Championships on the Sunshine Coast, before going to Hawaii and winning the 25-29 age group on the way to finishing as second place amateur and 38th overall. On the back of 2016 I turned professional, changed coaches and set myself up for a career in triathlon with my own coaching business to compliment my racing.
2017 was a year of great learning and development – I again changed coaches and I had some great results as an athlete but these were easily overshadowed by the results that my athletes achieved – 3 x Kona qualifiers and subsequent finishers (including a first time IM athlete at IM Cairns), a 70.3 World Championship qualifier, improving from a 6hr finish time at Cairns to a 5:20 and age group win as well as countless personal bests in both racing and training.
As a coach I am process driven – ‘Focus on the Process, not the prize’ - and detail based, with flexibility and balance at the core of my philosophy for getting the best out of athletes. Secondly, triathlon should be fun, and should be something that provides enjoyment and satisfaction. To get the most of an athlete and their training, I act as much as a guide and sounding board as I do in setting out the training – at the very heart of coaching someone to be their very best self is the relationship itself, and I focus on communication and understanding in order to build a strong and trusting relationship.
I have learnt a lot since beginning this triathlon journey in 2013 and I will continue to learn, develop and refine my coaching techniques and philosophies coaching under the T:Zero banner.
Coaching highlights:
Coaching multiple first time Ironman athletes, including a first timer that qualified for Kona
6+ Qualifiers to the Ironman World Championships and Ironman 70.3 World Championships
1st – 2016 Asia Pacific Ironman Champion – (F40-44) – IM Cairns
I met Nath in September 2015 riding along the Queen K. Like all Aussies in Kona we introduced ourselves and asked the usual questions, where you from, where did you qualify, how has your prep been and where are you staying. I instantly got a good vibe from him. We caught up quite a bit more in the 4 weeks we were there and became friends. Fast forward a year and I was looking for a new coach, one of the toughest decisions an athlete has to make. I was after a coach who was a quality human first, coach second. One with integrity, professional, someone I respected and I could trust. Including the knowledge and experience of coaching long course triathletes. Not much to ask, right! Well Nath fitted perfectly and it was a bonus I already knew him and we lived in the same city. So I asked him if he would coach me, praying he had room in his stable for another athlete. He did and said he would be honoured to take me. I honestly cried I was so happy.
I train mostly solo for convenience and time crunching. I now live in Western Australia and nothing has changed between Nath and I except the time zone difference. We have been successfully working together now for 14 months, which has been the most consistent period of the past 5 years with results and health. My programmes are very different to what I was used to but I put my trust in him and its working out really well. He has guided me to 10 podiums from 12 starts which included trail runs, duathlons and triathlons. He has encouraged me to add Pilates, strength and conditioning to my programmes which I believe has been the best decision for my ageing body. I feel stronger, more robust and it’s kept me injury free.
I have also loved watching and supporting his journey from an elite age grouper to a Professional athlete. I think the move to T:Zero is a perfect fit for us both. I look forward to being part of the collective and watching Nath develop further as a coach with some excellent mentors at T:Zero. - Jody G
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