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IRONMAN today announced IRONMAN University™, an innovative and intuitive on-line education and certification platform that will offer instruction for coaches and endurance athletes of varying skills and abilities. Features of this new program include coaching certification, coach matching, coaches’ forums and clinics. This new global standard for endurance sports training and education will be focused on IRONMAN® and IRONMAN® 70.3® races with a mission to foster a community of well-trained coaches and athletes who are better prepared to handle the physical and mental challenges of IRONMAN events. Pre-enrollment for the coaching certification will open on May 19 with IRONMAN University officially launching its entire platform in early fall 2015.
“As a leader in the endurance industry, we look at IRONMAN University as a platform that ultimately helps ensure that our athletes are sufficiently prepared to have the optimal experience during one of the most memorable days of their lives,” said Andrew Messick, Chief Executive Officer for IRONMAN. “Our athletes train for an average of six to nine months to prepare for an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3 event and we have a vested interest in making sure that coaches have the knowledge and acumen that is so critical to race day enjoyment and success.”
As part of the certification process, IRONMAN University’s core curriculum will be delivered through 11 different modules including topics ranging from IRONMAN history and coaching philosophy, the art of coaching, the development of training plans, the business of coaching and event preparation to swimming, biking, running, strength and conditioning, understanding exercise science, and sports nutrition. Additional specialized modules will be available at a later date.
The basis for the curriculum has been a collaboration of subject experts as well as seven IRONMAN University Master Coaches with extensive endurance sports background and knowledge, who are regarded as leaders in the triathlon coaching world.
The IRONMAN University Master Coaches include:
Mark Allen
Mark Allen is a six-time IRONMAN World Champion. He won 66 of the 96 races he entered during his 15-year career as a professional triathlete. Mark won the inaugural ITU Olympic Distance World Championships in 1989 and amassed a 20-race undefeated winning streak from 1989-1990. Mark is now a motivational speaker, lecturer, coach and author. He won numerous book awards for both Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to a Healthier, Happier You that he wrote with Brant Secunda, and most recently for The Art of Competition.
Matt Dixon
Matt Dixon is an exercise physiologist, former professional athlete, elite triathlon coach and author. He is the founder and president of purplepatch fitness, a fitness and coaching company that caters to triathlete and endurance enthusiasts of all levels. He has developed a track record for success in coaching, including over 175 professional victories and podiums in IRONMAN and IRONMAN 70.3 events while also qualifying over 125 athletes to the IRONMAN World Championships in Hawai`i. He has collected his extensive triathlon knowledge into his book, The Well-Built Triathlete: Turning Potential into Performance.
Troy Jacobson
Best known for starting his industry-leading indoor cycling workout series in the mid 1990’s, Spinervals Cycling, Troy Jacobson started coaching triathletes in 1992, and was one of the first coaches to effectively market his services and build a successful business working with athletes of all levels. A member of the inaugural USAT Coaches Committee, Jacobson raced as a top age-group athlete and pro, with seven IRONMAN World Championship finishes to his credit, cracking the top 20 overall in 1998. As the Official Coach of IRONMAN from 2010-2012, he has helped guide hundreds of athletes to successful finishes. As the senior National Director of Endurance Sports Training for Life Time Fitness since 2008, he mentors and develops professional coaches at Life Time clubs throughout the United States and Canada.
Siri Lindley
Siri Lindley is a two time ITU World Champion (triathlon and aquathlon 2001). She won a total of 12 ITU World Cup races which led to her holding the world #1 ranking to the day she retired in 2003. She has an impressive roster of successful athletes that she has coached to win major events at every distance. She was also the coach of the USA’s only Olympic medal in triathlon, Susan Williams who earned bronze 2004. She has coached athletes to numerous wins at ITU World Cup races and to Olympic qualification. She has coached athletes to win’s at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship and IRONMAN World Championship. Siri has coached professional athletes to IRONMAN World Championship wins on four different occasions (three with Mirinda Carfrae and one with Leanda Cave). Her excellence in coaching is evident by the success of the athletes that she has coached.
Paula Newby-Fraser
The “Queen of Kona,” Paula Newby-Fraser has won the IRONMAN World Championship eight-times and recorded a total of 24 IRONMAN race victories in her career spanning 1986-2002. The eight-time IRONMAN World Champion is considered the greatest female endurance athlete ever. A well-decorated professional athlete, Paula has been involved in coaching development for over two decades working with first timers and World Champions alike. Most recently she has coached star athletes such as Hines Ward and Apolo Ohno as part of the “Got Chocolate Milk Become One” and “Built with Chocolate Milk Campaigns.”
Dave Scott
Dave Scott is one of the most recognized athletes and coaches in the sport of triathlon. He is a six-time IRONMAN World Champion and the first inductee into the IRONMAN Hall of Fame. Dave’s career in triathlon began with the inception of the sport in 1976. He won his first IRONMAN World Championship in 1980 and went on to win again in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987. Dave currently devotes his time educating and inspiring athletes of all abilities and ages, leading sport camps, clinics and races across the country and running his own training group in Boulder, Colorado. He was the national coach for Team In Training (TNT) from 1999-2013, helping to certify TNT coaches nationwide. His business Dave Scott, Inc. offers individual and group fitness and nutrition consultations as well as corporate and triathlon club speaking engagements and clinics.
Lance Watson
Over a 30-year career, Lance Watson’s coaching accolades are nothing short of extraordinary. Watson coached National Teams to gold medals at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and Pan American Games. Watson has also led athletes to over 20 IRONMAN victories, and numerous IRONMAN World Championship and International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championship podiums. As head coach and builder of Canada’s National Triathlon Center, he was recently named to the Triathlon Canada Hall of Fame. He continues to coach with LifeSport Coaching, as its founder and President.
More information on IRONMAN University and the limited pre-enrollment can be found at http://university.ironman.com. Program inquiries can be directed touniversity@ironman.com and frequently asked questions can be found at http://university.ironman.com/
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