The Tristar Difference
Breaking down what separates Tristar Coaching from the rest
I began competing in triathlons back in 2009. I loved everything about the sport and ate up all information available as a new student in the game. While training and racing fed my obsession, being self-coached presented several challenges, namely a performance plateau. I enjoyed a brief stint with a coach in 2011 that produced some desired results and overuse injuries that ultimately steered me away from coaching for another 4 years. While I tried to recreate the PRś achieved under a coach between 2012-2015, I simply wasn't getting faster, which was a problem.
In 2013 and 2014, I tried my hand at the 70.3 distance and was thoroughly humbled. By mid-2015, my wife and I welcomed our first daughter, Keelyn, into the world, and I realized that to keep triathlon in my life while being a present husband and father, I would need to develop much more structure in my training. So I did some research and came across Tristar Athletes. I submitted an inquiry and received a call shortly after from Cliff Scherb. I was immediately impressed by the turnaround time, thoughtful questions, and clear path offered to better results. I was sold and gave myself a second chance with a coach.
I began my athlete-coach relationship with Tristar in June of 2015. I was signed up for Maine 70.3 in August and was hoping to redeem myself at this distance after a previous PR of 5:13, which was not where I wanted to be. I went through that summer with a completely new approach to training that had me training smarter, but not necessarily harder, all the while allowing me to spend quality time with my newborn daughter. By the end of the summer, I was hoping to break 5 hours at Maine but wasn't sure if it would be possible because I felt like I didn't train hard enough.
After a detailed race plan discussion with Cliff and some disbelief on my part that his time projections were not improbable, I took a third shot at the distance that had humbled me badly two times before and came out with a 40 minute PR of 4:26.
Since that first significant race with Tristar, I've completed seven more 70.3 races (all sub-5) and have been on the overall podium 15 times. I should also note that during this time, I have changed jobs, had another child, moved, and gone through graduate school. Life happens, and somehow my coaching through Tristar factors that reality into my training such that I can get the most out of my training and still have a life outside the sport.
My experience with Tristar motivated me to become a coach myself, and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join the Tristar team as a coach back in 2017. Having been a part of the Tristar family for the past 5 years, 3 of them as a coach, I now know what makes the Tristar experience proprietary. Here are some of the top differentiators in my opinion:
Incredibly detailed yet comprehensive training blocks and workouts. The first time you read a Tristar workout, it can be a bit overwhelming, but that is only because you are not just being told what to do, but how you can do it as well as WHY you are doing it : ). Within the first couple of weeks, these workouts become easy to read and help give you that extra push because you know each workoutś value.
Training plans informed by seasoned coaches and athletes.
Knowing that my coach was one of the fastest amateur Ironman athletes on the planet and no less a diabetic really put things in perspective for me that these plans are being created with absolute precision to ensure maximum efficiency.
Collaborative coaching methods
Each week, Tristar coaches discuss training analytics and philosophy while also breaking down individual athlete progress. We share our ideas and help each other better understand how we can best support our athletes.
Caring and supportive coaches
We build genuine relationships at Tristar. We care about each athlete's well-being and become life coaches along the way because training can be all-encompassing, and we realize the sacrifice some people make to get to race day.
Community
Our Zoom gets together, and social media presence allows our athletes to get to know one another and even connect for group training sessions. This was never more evident than during our virtual races in the summer of 2020 when Tristar athletes from all over the country came together to race in small groups in lieu of a typical race season.
Being a member of the Tristar Athletes team has changed my life for the better in so many ways, and for that, I am forever grateful. Please know that it is the best investment you can make in this sport for anyone considering getting a coach. If you decide to join the Tristar Athletes family, you will find that that investment will be dividends in your triathlon and personal life for years to come.