Testimonials

Seeing as I'm still working on getting the new website up and running I figured I'd get some testimonials from the spring posted here.

***********************************

Mark knew when to push me, when to back things off and approached the whole process with an infinitely positive attitude. While I might have been able to do my first ironman without his coaching, I would not have done it as well and I certainly wouldn't have felt as confident at the starting line nor as good at the finish line. Mark managed my training schedule around the rigors of graduate school while I was 1200 miles away in Cincinnati just as effectively as when I was 12 blocks away in Boulder. More important than telling me what workouts to do, he taught me how to train and how to think about my training.

-Brendan Dillon

***********************************

Mark Van Akkeren is an awesome coach! I am very pleased with my results and the way Mark communicates with me frequently to tailor my schedule to fit my busy life. After a 15 year layoff from consistent training, in only a few short months Mark helped me earn some podium finishes and guided me to an age group win in my first long course race. In 2010, Mark coached me to several other age group wins and podium finishes including the 2010 Boulder 70.3, where I took nearly 14 minutes off my previous year’s time. Let’s just say I had several MAJOR life stressors and limited training time during the past two seasons, and Mark worked with me to create training schedules that would not overburden me during the stressful times while maximizing my fitness with the perfect balance of high-intensity workouts, endurance workouts, and recovery. Like most age group athletes, I have limited training time, but I also have complete confidence that every workout Mark prescribes will put me one step closer to achieving my lofty triathlon goals. Thanks Coach! You ROCK!

Gail Matherly

***********************************

When I first approached Mark about a training plan, I had already built up a somewhat impressive resume as an age group triathlete: several ITU Age Group World Championship top 10 finishes, two Ironman World Championship appearances and a couple of overall and age group wins at 70.3 events.

He asked me what I wanted from him and I basically said that I thought I was under-performing at the IM distance. So the goal was to not only re-qualify for Kona, but to cross the finish line there light years ahead of my past performances.

Mark analyzed my past training plans, my strengths, my weakness and formulated a plan to help me achieve my short-term goals listed above as a part of a longer term blueprint for reaching the Kona podium within the next couple of years.

My training plan was very specific and to the point and if I ever had any questions about the execution of a workout or a race, Mark was quick to provide an excellent response. In addition to this, Mark was also keeping tabs on how I was feeling throughout the season...feeling stong? Full steam ahead. Feeling a little tired and sluggish? Let's back off the volume and intensity for a few days. Traveling? The schedule was modified for the week depending on where I was headed and what equipment I would have at my disposal.

It was this responsiveness to me as an athlete and as a person with real-life responsibilities and commitments that made the training plan easy to execute.

Not only did I qualify for Kona, but I set personal best times all year long including a breakthrough at Kona: I negative split both the bike and the run, finished in the top 15 in my age group, top 100 overall and 36 minutes faster than my last performance on the Big Island. Thanks Coach!

Steve Johnson

***********************************

I benefited from two years of Mark Van Akkeren's coaching. Before going to Mark I spent a great deal of time, money, and energy coaching myself with moderate results to show for it. I was skeptical towards the idea of having someone else tell me how to train my body, but Mark is a great listener and allows for athlete input on a weekly, even daily basis. It was only after working with Mark that I began to see consistent improvement and major gains in my training and racing.

Dan McIntosh

***********************************

I started working with Mark in 2009 and I have not looked back since. The 2010 tri season was my most successful to date. I am a better athlete now than I have ever been. I really like the emphasis on sufficient recovery and quality over quantity. On average I now spend fewer hours per week training than what I did in the past. That said, what I appreciate the most is the sense of partnership. I feel that Mark is genuinely interested in me reaching my goals. Mark is just not writing my schedule but I also receive actual coaching. He monitors my progress and makes adjustments to the schedule as necessary. The coaching part might seem like a silly comment but I know athletes that receive semi-canned schedules and very little feedback. That is not what I receive from Mark.

Jon Moen

***********************************

During my first full season competing in triathlons I decided that working with a coach would be a great way for me to optimize my training time and I wanted to be a competitive half-iron distance triathlete. Throughout the spring and summer I worked an internship, took summer school classes and trained for triathlon. Needless to say, I thought Mark’s task was nothing short of impossible. Mark was able to develop a plan that integrated quality workouts that were doable with my hectic schedule. In addition, Mark was ALWAYS available and quick to respond when I had a conflict or was feeling tired/ run down during workouts. I cannot describe how valuable and helpful it was to have a coach who was responsive, attentive and truly invested in me as a person, not just a swim/bike/run machine. There are very few coaches that are as devoted to their athlete’s as Mark. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have had such a leg-up on my triathlon career during my first season with Mark.

Leanne Miller