GRIT2GREATNESS ENDURANCE

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 " I've had many coaches in my life, and what stands out about Rich is his ability to make space for you as not only an athlete, but a person. People are so multidimensional that it's nearly impossible to ask only "the athlete" to show up during training and coaching, and Rich welcomes that. Being able to show up authentically as Laura the corporate leader, wife, daughter, sister, external processor, endless question asker, learner, etc allowed Laura to athlete to grow and thrive. By welcoming all of me, he provided scaffolding on which I could climb to evolve into this next (new, better) version of me - athlete and otherwise."  

"I have been running marathons for almost 30 years, but after watching a couple of Ironman races and seeing the amazing grit the athletes portrayed, I knew it was time to take the leap and give triathlons a try. I had little to no experience with the swim and bike so I knew I needed the help. I met Kristin through a friend, and I consider that lucky as she is the perfect fit for me. Kristin is an especially strong athlete all around, but her superpower is teaching others how to swim properly. She even gave me one on one coaching in the water, and continues to guide me by watching my swim videos and giving me tips. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to biking and running as well. She knows when to give that little push I need, and also when to tell me it’s okay that I missed a workout or couldn’t hit my speed goals. Last year she coached me all the way to the finish line of my first Ironman at Lake Placid. She worked closely with me on planning the right nutrition, making a race plan and strategy, and ensuring the training got me there. This year she is helping me to work on my speed and accomplish my 2nd Full Ironman in Ottawa. 

Another aspect I love about Kris is she has created a team from her athletes that she coaches. She builds the camaraderie through group calls, team chats with shoutouts to various team member achievements, and plans clinics and organizes team races. In fact next weekend she is hosting a bike clinic to teach us all kinds of skills. A few weeks before IMLP we will have a training camp in Lake Placid (so fun last year). Because of her, I have made some great friends and have just fallen in love with this sport. I highly recommend Kristin as your coach. She continues to grow each year as she expands her network and talents. Sign up with her - I can’t wait to meet you! "

 " I am beyond grateful to have Rich. There’s simply no way my training would’ve been half as good without him. Of course, a coach makes you accountable and less likely to skip or shorten sessions, which is a temptation that I think never truly goes away. But knowing I have someone who had all my answers, whether it’s spending time in the pool, talking about pacing strategies, and nerding out over gear, is wonderful. As much as I like to be pushed, I appreciate Rich’s gentle and understanding approach. This sport is mental as much as it is physical, and I know Rich truly understands that. 

As far as the race day experience goes, I got two for the price of one! Even though April isn’t technically my coach, I’ve loved getting to know her at the bike camp and at Boulder 70.3. I know that April is fully in my corner, and having both of them in transition in Boulder was an absolute godsend. 

Rich literally pumped my tires race morning—not because I couldn’t do it, but because I think he knew I was stressed and that it would be a small thing to help.

I can’t recommend him (and April!) enough."  

“ When I decided to pursue an Ironman last summer, I had absolutely no experience in swimming, cycling, or long-distance running. I had spent my life as a competitive hockey and Ninja Warrior athlete, and was also coming off a 360° labrum tear and bicep tendon injury. I chose an Ironman because it genuinely scared me—it was something I never thought I could do. In less than a year, KO took me from a complete beginner to crossing the finish line of my first Ironman at Lake Placid. Throughout the entire process, she has been an incredible coach, teacher, mentor, and friend. What makes her such an amazing coach is her ability to meet you where you are, teach you how to improve, and somehow know exactly when to push you outside your comfort zone and when you need encouragement and reassurance. She has an incredible amount of knowledge, but more importantly, she genuinely cares about the athletes she coaches and wants to help each person become the best version of themselves. She has also helped me navigate training alongside being a full-time student, conducting research and writing a thesis, working EMS, and still making time for adventures and life outside of training. Beyond the coaching, I am incredibly grateful for the community she has helped create. From training weekends at the Little House and bike clinics to team triathlons, constant encouragement, and some of the best cheering squads I could ask for, team KO and the G2G community has become so much more than a team—it is a community and a family. I am forever grateful that KO believed in me enough to take on something I never thought I could do, and I cannot wait to see where she guides me next as I chase new goals of qualifying for the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships and running the Boston Marathon. I could not recommend KO or the G2G community more!.”

  “My husband and I moved to Colorado after Covid. As an older athlete, this beautiful state humbled me as my run, bike and swim times got worse and worse due to the altitude. Everything got slower. But I refused to let turning 60 stop me. 
I met Rich one day after an open water swim. He was so friendly and approachable.  He gave me some sighting tips before my next Tri which helped so much. I soon started to work with Rich every week to design a plan to improve my times for my 6th sprint Tri. He developed a plan for my busy lifestyle.
 My biggest hurdle was the bike. I personally struggle to enjoy the ride. Rich gave me a program to keep me interested and improve my leg strength. He also improved my run time by incorporating more zone 2 runs.   On my last triathlon, I shaved 16 minutes off my time!! This was a huge accomplishment over last year's struggle to finish. Rich was an amazing supportive coach.
I also attended the Tri Camp and met Coach April. The dynamic duo are a great coaching team. I learned some tips to allow me to do my best at 60.  The best tip for me “Run your own race “. It was my mantra - I didn’t worry about my time or anyone else. I did my best and I’m so thankful for their insight.“ 

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Sports have always been a big part of my life. I was an athlete growing up and stayed active into my twenties, but after developing cancer and undergoing a bone marrow transplant, everything changed. For years, I struggled to get back to the level of fitness I once had. Between the lasting medical challenges, balancing work and family, and simply not knowing the best path forward, I needed more than just a training plan—I needed someone who understood what I was going through.

I was referred to Kristin because of her medical background and experience coaching endurance athletes, and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve made. From day one, she took the time to understand my unique challenges and built a program around me, not just around a race. She has helped me navigate training through setbacks, guided my nutrition, improved my time management, and always knows when to push me and when to remind me to give myself grace.

Kristin’s knowledge of endurance sports is second to none, but what truly sets her apart is the way she genuinely cares about her athletes. She has been one of the biggest influences in my recovery, both physically and mentally. Thanks to her guidance, I completed my first Ironman 70.3 and am now training for Ironman Lake Placid—something I never thought would be possible a few years ago.

If you’re looking for someone who is knowledgeable, encouraging, and invested in your success, I couldn’t recommend Kristen more highly. She has been an incredible coach, mentor, and friend throughout this journey, and I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without her“ 

“After learning to swim and bike in my mid-to-late 40s, I wanted to see if I could complete a triathlon in my early 50s. Meeting Coach Rich at our community pool helped make that possible. Open-water swimming felt like something I could never attempt on my own, but his gentle, thorough guidance and encouragement helped me get in the water and control my nerves. His constructive feedback and structured training across all three sports helped me become race-ready in just three months. I’ve now completed a sprint triathlon, and I’m proud to finally call myself an athlete! You never know what you can accomplish until you give it a try.”

“After ten years in endurance sports, I started working with Rich because I was overtraining and needed better balance. Reducing my training to let my body heal wasn’t easy, but Rich listened to my concerns and worked with me to balance my goals with my recovery needs. Recently, I brought recovery goals into one of our coaching sessions—a big shift for someone who would previously have ignored recovery and just pushed harder. Rich has been a major part of my success over the past two years, including helping me come back from a major injury. If you’re looking for knowledgeable, supportive guidance in endurance sports, Grit2Greatness is an awesome resource.”