I'm still riding the high. It would be an honor to summarize the Trivelo experience. I can write a novel on how valuable you all were towards my preparation and ability to execute ...
The day I decided I was going to do a full-length Ironman, I quickly realized I couldn't get away with piecing together a few workouts that sounded adequate. Leading up to that day, I had never been an endurance athlete. I was a 27-year-old, 200-pound weightlifter with no business pretending 5 months would be enough time for me to prepare myself for race day off the little I knew about endurance training.
I needed information. I needed a plan. I needed a mentor. I began scouring the internet, writing down every bit of information on Ironman training and nutrition. I watched video after video on YouTube. Found training plan after training plan. While all of this was beginning to give me a sense of what this was going to take, most of the information was geared for 6-12 months of training; much more time than the 5-month window I had allotted myself.
Moreover, I had so many questions I simply couldn't find online. I didn't know anyone who had completed an Ironman so there was no experienced guidance for me to turn to. Then, one day, as I was looking through podcasts, I stumbled upon the Trivelo channel. After listening to five straight episodes, I quickly learned that Gerard's coaching and training approach were very comprehensive, and data-driven.
It was evident he was a no nonsense, practical, and mindful individual with an intense passion for the sport and most importantly, the success of his athletes. His credentials only solidified my conviction that he was the one I wanted to guide me through this journey. I reached out immediately, hoping my situation would even be entertained. Within a few hours, Gerard and I were on a call.
Right away, I knew we were aligned in our personalities. It was clear to me that he was someone I could trust to have my best interest at heart. The question was: was he willing to take me on? When we arrived at how much time I had till the race, how little experience I had, how I had no equipment (bike, shoes, trainer, etc.) I could hear the hesitation in his voice.
Only now as I write this, do I understand his caution in consideration. He understood what it was going to take and as a newcomer, it boiled down to my commitment. I pleaded with him to make a special case for me on the contingency I would follow the Trivelo plan and strategy diligently. He agreed, and we got to work immediately. The Trivelo resources were remarkably impressive.
Beyond the one-on-one direct contact, Gerard and Jordan have built an entire ecosystem of resources for their athletes. This includes a dedicated website with an entirely comprehensive library of information, community groups, daily/weekly newsletters, and so much more. The access to their internal infrastructure provided me insight into everything from testing, training session execution, gear, nutrition, planning, and detailed explanations into the rationale behind the strategies.
It is abundantly clear that Gerard and Jordan take immense pride in setting their athletes up for success, evident in the time they've invested in all of the working components of the Trivelo package. Equally noteworthy is their continued pursuit of knowledge and education in the realm of endurance sport, despite their already extremely well-rounded wealth of knowledge. They are constantly developing themselves, interviewing professionals, exploring innovations, and adjusting to constantly improve.
This, for me, is a significant indicator into who they are and their commitment to excellence. The five months of training was a gradual build as I started from ground zero. Gerard was adamant on asking questions and collecting information on how I felt, where my head was at in training and outside, and what my thoughts were on progress. We were closely aligned with my development and adjusted things as needed.
I can say without a shadow of a doubt, the structure of the customized training plan, and Gerard's mindfulness to my capabilities were instrumental in the success of my development as an endurance athlete. Over time, not only did my thresholds and sustainability grow, so did my confidence. By staying consistent and following the plan, I was able to execute training sessions that would've sounded impossible had you asked me in the beginning.
The gradual build and constant communication contributed to my consistent improvement while simultaneously mitigating risks of injury. There were setbacks along the way, make no mistake. But, I was never alone in how I was going to navigate overcoming them. Finally, I was able to clearly build the race inside my head with the experience of training to fall back on which simulated and prepared me for what would happen during the race.
Leading up to race day, during the taper phase, Gerard and I had a call to discuss what the strategy would be in each event during the race, based on the months of data we had collected during training. At the end of the conversation, I was clear and confident on the strategy we had put together and my ability to execute. Nothing new on race day, as they say.
The day of the Ironman, I felt a keen sense of confidence and calmness. I knew I was prepared. All the work had positioned me to execute. I attribute this solely to the Trivelo team and the methodical training plan put together for me. Mentally and physically, I was ready to perform. During our very first discovery phone call, I told Gerard I didn't want to just finish an Ironman, I wanted to finish it strong.
I wanted to finish it like I had been training for years as an endurance athlete. Sure enough, we accomplished this together. Not only did I complete the Ironman, but I also ended up shaving off an hour to an hour and a half off my projected time. More importantly, I enjoyed every single second during the race. I crossed the finish line having learned more about myself than I ever thought I would.
It is a day I will never forget and a journey I will reflect on for the rest of my life, taking the lessons I've learned and applying them to other areas. It isn't about reaching the destination. It's about the journey and who you become on the way. Gerard and the Trivelo family are directly responsible for making my journey so positively profound. I cannot recommend them enough to anyone seeking coaching and aspiring to improve their abilities in endurance sports. Thank you for everything, Trivelo. Plan. Prepare. Perform.
You both have done and continue to do an incredible job with Trivelo, and I truly mean that. ... Endurance sport has solidified its place in my life after all this. ... You all will always have my unwavering support and I've already had numerous people reach out to me with questions and whom I've referred to you all when/ if they ever take the leap.
