Saturday, February 4, 2012

Our Team

We are middle, long and ultra distance triathlon training experts.

Contact Gordo to start the process of finding the right coach for your goals.

Our Elite Coaching Program, $275-475/month paid quarterly in advance

  • Review of goals and objectives
  • Annual training plan constructed
  • Training schedule blocks (2-4 weeks) provided via TrainingPeaks.Com
  • Telephone Call before/after each block
  • Schedule modifications provided based on need
  • Unlimited communication via email and text
  • Access to our team forum where you have access to our full roster of coaches and experts
  • “A” race plan covered in detail
  • General and race day nutrition consulting
  • Power and HR consulting

Our Web-Based Coaching Program, $125/month paid quarterly in advance

  • Review of goals and objectives
  • ATP constructed to “A” race
  • Schedule provided in full until specified “A” race
  • Access to EC forum where you will have access to all coaches
  • Our team forum is your primary means of communication for plan support
  • Telephone support provided at preferred rate of $125 per consult

Coach Gordo
My athletic accomplishments are listed below but they are secondary to what makes me an effective coach. I believe the most relevant part of my athletic background is my journey from an obese “finance guy” to an elite athlete.

My athletic career started when I decided to go for a walk in 1993. That walk led me to my first season of triathlon (1999) and, eventually, to elite athletics (2001). Along the way, I logged a lot of miles and made many mistakes. This site offers me a vehicle to help you avoid most of the pitfalls that I discovered.

I have studied under the leading coaches in our sport: Scott Molina, John Hellemans, Dave Scott, Mark Allen and Joe Friel. What you will find here is a synthesis of my own experience with the teaching from these master coaches.

My preferred way to interact with athletes is shoulder-to-shoulder at the training camps that we host throughout the year. In my opinion, you will learn much more from a week spent living triathlon with me than just about any other investment you can make in your performance.

Here at Endurance Corner, our main business line is our endurance team, which offers excellent value ($125 per month) and access to the entire Endurance Corner professional team.

I am available for consultations at $275 per session including: running through your agenda via telephone, reviewing your notes as well as post-call follow up. I find the post-call follow-up is essential to make sure that we communicated effectively.

Athletic Highlights:

  • World Champion Ultra Distance (2002)
  • Multiple podium finishes at international races (2003/2004/2005/2006)
  • Swim, bike, run across America (2004) and New Zealand (2010)
  • Personal best of 8:29 at Ironman Canada (0:51 Swim, 4:48 Bike, 2:46 Run -- 2004)
  • Co-Author Going Long (over 50,000 copies sold)

Click my name (above) to contact me with your needs. If I can't help then I'll try to find you someone that can.

Click here to see Gordo Byrn's Endurance Corner Articles or here for his blog.

Alan Couzens
My benefit to you, as an athlete looking to discover your potential, is that I am a lifelong student of the sport of triathlon with exposure in equal measures to sports science theory:

- Masters degree in Sports Science (2000)
- Triathlon Coach (2007)
- NASM Performance Enhancement Specialist (2002)
- NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (2000)
- ASCA Level II Swim Coach (1996)
- ASCA Level I Strength and Conditioning Coach (1994)


And putting this theory into practice at all levels from novice to the very elite:

  • Australian Institute of Sport Practicum with the Olympic Swim Team (1996)
  • Coaching Apprenticeship with Doug Frost, coach of multiple world record holder, Ian Thorpe (1996)
  • Head Coach of #1 State Swim Squad – Jones Developmental Squad (1998)
  • Coach and consultant to a wide array of triathletes:
  • First time Ironman athletes
  • Kona qualifiers
  • Elite triathletes

Click here to see Alan Couzens Endurance Corner Articles or here for his blog.

Justin Daerr
I have been racing triathlons since 2000 with a primary focus on long distance events. In 2006, I began to race professionally and it has brought me both humility and happiness. I look forward to the challenge of climbing the professional ranks and working towards those goals every day is a true joy. Additionally, I began working with Endurance Corner in 2007 and have equally enjoyed my time here.

I have no formal background in any of the three sports so I had to train both my knowledge and my body to make any real progress. This is extraordinarily valuable because I have put my studies into practice to find what will result in success “in the real world”.

I have experience with athletes that race long and short (generally Half Ironman to Ironman). My greatest success comes with athletes that have some experience in the sport (and enjoy the work), but need assistance and direction to make it to the next level. Often times this includes helping athletes execute their races properly by learning how to maximize their fitness on race day.

Click here to see Justin Daerr's Endurance Corner Articles or here for his blog.

Monica Byrn
My background is competitive swimming which, ultimately, led to me triathlon. My experience as a mom, short-course triathlete and woman helps round out the EC Team.

Having started swimming when I was 4, I am a life-long competitive athlete and have been blessed with a number of successes:
- Winning State Championships for 200 IM;
- Obtaining a scholarship to swim for the University of Wisconsin (Madison); and
- Leading Ironman Hawaii.

Along the way, I have coped with a range of challenges that have taught me about coping with adversity - injuries and race disappointments, mainly.

I work best with athletes that are looking to breakthrough on their swimming, as well as, helping post-natal moms lose their "baby weight". I have had successes working with athletes across the entire performance spectrum.

Jonas Colting
2010 will mark my 20th season as a triathlete and I have managed to make a career out of what initially was a hobby and a passion.

I've been professional since 1996 and have always considered myself a scholar and a student of the sport. I've written two books on health, food and fitness as well as writing for numerous magazines including Runner's World.

I bring extensive athletic experience as well as a personal passion for health & wellness to Endurance Corner. As I have been self-coached my entire career, I can relate to, and answer many, questions about training. And not just training to win or improve as a triathlete which is all good, but more importantly how to enjoy and stay healthy in this magnificent sport. Over the long haul!

Athletic accomplishments;
- Two time Ultraman World Champion
- Two time medalist, ITU World Championships, LD
- Two time medalist, ITU European Championships, LD
- Several times Swedish Champion
- Ironman winner and podiumfinisher
- Ironman PB 8.23, IM-marathon 2.44
- First person to complete Swedish Classic nonstop in 25 hrs (3 km swim, 90 k roller ski, 300 k bike, 30 k crosscountry run + transportation)

Click here to see Jonas Colting's Endurance Corner Articles.

Marilyn McDonald

My athletic carreer started at age 9 as a equestrian show jumper. I competed at a top international level until I was 26 and jumped professionally from 18. At 18 years old I was one of the youngest level 3 show jumping coaches in Canada. By 25 years old I had a national level show jumping squad where we were competing, and placing, in top levels.

I started triathlon in 1999 and turned professional in 2004. Over 4 years, I raced 15 Ironman with a victory in Malaysia and 10 top ten placings.

2008 saw a change of direction for me and I spent 2 years in the pro peloton racing my bike exclusively. This period, included a World Cup event in New Zealand, the NRC circuit in the USA, and Nationals in my home country (Canada).

I've had many mentors throughout my athletic career: sports psychologists as well as master coaches

I work best with athlete's who are goal oritntated and open with communication. I enjoy helping people in the largest sense - working on the factors that drive them (as an athlete) and shape them (as an individual).

Click here to see Marilyn McDonald's Endurance Corner Articles or here for her blog.

Ron Tribendis

I have been an athlete my entire life, playing baseball and basketball through high school and college. During chiropractic school, I developed an interest in Triathlon, and after competing in a few small triathlons in 2004, I successfully completed my first Ironman.

I supplement my personal experience with extensive knowledge in human physiology, biomechanics and ART (active release technique) as well as extensive research on periodization training, performance testing, nutrition and recovery techniques. All of these components combine into a comprehensive approach to my personal racing and training philosophy and my customized coaching.

I continue to learn and develop as a triathlete and coach. I am a big believer that in order to achieve success in the sport of triathlon you need patience and truly love to "do the work."

- Licensed Doctor of Chiropractic
- Active Release Techniques (ART) certified
- Completed more than 10 Ironman Races
- Hawaii qualifier
- 3 time 70.3 championships qualifier
- USA Triathlon Level 1 certified

Click here to see Ron Tribendis's Endurance Corner Articles.

Chris McDonald

My athletic background prior to triathlon was a little different than most . I spent 10 years playing field hockey as a youngster. I played hockey at State Level before learning what it was like to party. From my late teens to early 20’s I blew out to 245 pounds, before I realized how much I missed sport.

I took-up triathlon in late 2001 and kicked-it-off with a 70.3 race in Forster, Australia. From there, the rest is history. Since my first race in 2001, I’ve now completed 36 Ironman races. I competed as an age grouper in 5 of the races - while running my construction business. My personal best is 8:17 over the IM distance and 3:46 over 70.3 distance.

In my athletic career, I’ve had the chance to work alongside some of the greatest coaches and athletes our sport: Scott Molina, Dave Scott, and Brett Sutton, to name a few.

I offer personally tailored coaching package and take on a very small group of highly driven people. I like to work with athletes that are looking for big gains in performance, that might be from 16 hour IM to 15; or from 9:30 to 8:30 IM.