Announcements

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Startlinecoach

Adult Swim Classes, Open water swimming, Swim camps, Swim coaching, Swimming instruction, Triathlon

3 Day Triathlon swim camp in St. Petersburg, Florida | April 30 – May 2 | Early registration price – $550 | Max occupancy: 24 athletes

Outdoor pool. Open water swimming. Florida sunshine. Brilliant coaches. The only thing missing is you! The camp is limited to 24 participants and filling fast. Move quickly to reserve your space.

We know that pool time has been scarce and it’s time to get back in the water. We’ve secured our own lanes at St. Petersburg’s top-notch North Shore Aquatic Center, programmed in sunny weather, and prepared an awesome swim camp – all in keeping with USAT and USAS COVID-19 safety practices.

With 3 coaches on deck, you will receive lots of individual attention, work hard, and leave better prepared for the summer swim and racing seasons.

Questions about COVID-19 and refund policies? Scroll to the bottom for complete information.

Event Details:

10 hours of pool & open water swim instruction & training
Strict COVID-19 protocols following USAS, USAT, CDC, and local government protocols
Low athlete coach ratio ensuring plenty of individual attention
Classroom sessions that discuss correct form using samples of video captured of athletes attending the camp
Dryland strength sessions & instruction to supplement your pool time.
Optional 1 hour one-on-one endless pool swim form analysis with a coach (6 slots only)

Camp Location: North Shore Aquatic Complex, St. Petersburg
Camp Start: 4:00 pm 4/30/2021
Camp Close: 12:00 noon 5/2/2021

Note: The safety of all athletes, coaches, and staff is of paramount concern as we collectively face the health and safety risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. All Startline Coaching programs follow USA Swimming best practices, USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines and Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors and the directives issued by federal, state and local authorities. All athletes, coaches, & staff engaged in Startline Coaching programs are expected to follow the USA Triathlon Return to Racing recommendations for Athletes as well as Startline Coaching Return to Training Safety Code of Conduct.

Note: As of Oct 1, 2021, and without exception, all participants in Startline Coaching programs must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attendance at any and all in-person Startline Coaching training or clinic sessions.

Covid-19 safety protocols:

Arrival, departure, & class room & on deck protocols

Swimmers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in. Vaccination is mandatory to attend
Swimmers must be COVID-19 symptom free to attend
Swimmers are asked not to share food/drink
Masks are not required

Refund Policy:

We recognize that the COVID-19 pandemic creates considerable uncertainty for every athlete thinking about attending the camp. To support you in this uncertain time, we have established the following policies to protect your investment.

Camp Cancellation: Should the camp be cancelled, you will be refunded your registration fee minus a $100 non-refundable deposit. Unfortunately, we are unable to fully refund the cost of registration because costs have already been incurred.

Registration Purchase Protection: You may purchase optional, additional protection for your registration that provides a full refund if you be unable to attend due to testing positive for COVID-19 prior to the camp, if the camp is postponed because the government has forced us to postpone (up to 90 days), and other qualifying unforeseen circumstances. Please review the Terms & Conditions for the exact terms of the purchase protection policy. NOTE: This purchase protection plan does not cover cancellation of the camp nor if you choose not to attend. Credit card payment is required if you select purchase protection. Venmo payments cannot be accepted if purchase protection is selected.

Registration Transfers: Although registration for this camp is nonrefundable, you may request to transfer your reservation to a friend or a person on the waitlist should you no longer wish to attend. To request a transfer, contact the camp director at phelling@startlinecoaching.com. You will be given a link to transfer your registration. A refund will be processed upon successful transfer of your registration to another registrant minus a $50 transfer fee.

These policies do not cover any other costs incurred by the registrant, such as travel and lodging.

Posted on March 9, 2021 by Startlinecoach

Swim camps, Swimming instruction, Triathlon

3 Day Triathlon swim camp in St. Petersburg, Florida | April 30 – May 2 | Early registration price – $550 | Max occupancy: 24 athletes

We are very excited to see you in Florida this year. To say the least, 2020 has been a challenge. We know you can’t wait to get back to what you love. Our 2021 swim camp has been adapted for safe training during COVID. But, as always, we will focus on improving your swim stroke and water comfort, building your swim fitness, and preparing you to successfully compete in the open water.

Designed for ALL PACES and experience levels, this weekend will pinpoint your areas of improvement, introduce skills and drills to “fix” your stroke, and then put those skills to practice in the pool and in the open water.

Event Details:

10 hours of pool & open water swim instruction & training
Strict COVID-19 protocols following USAS, USAT, CDC, and local government protocols
Low athlete coach ratio ensuring plenty of individual attention
Classroom sessions that discuss correct form using samples of video captured of athletes attending the camp
Dryland strength sessions & instruction to supplement your pool time.
Optional 1 hour one-on-one endless pool swim form analysis with a coach (6 slots only)

Camp Location: North Shore Aquatic Complex, St. Petersburg
Camp Start: 4:00 pm 4/30/2021
Camp Close: 12:00 noon 5/2/2021

Note: The safety of all athletes, coaches, and staff is of paramount concern as we collectively face the health and safety risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. All Startline Coaching programs follow USA Swimming best practices, USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines and Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors and the directives issued by federal, state and local authorities. All athletes, coaches, & staff engaged in Startline Coaching programs are expected to follow the USA Triathlon Return to Racing recommendations for Athletes as well as Startline Coaching Return to Training Safety Code of Conduct.

Note: As of Oct 1, 2021, and without exception, all participants in Startline Coaching programs must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attendance at any and all in-person Startline Coaching training or clinic sessions.

LEARN MORE

Covid-19 safety protocols:

Arrival, departure, & class room & on deck protocols

Swimmers will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in. Vaccination is mandatory to attend
Swimmers must be COVID-19 symptom free to attend
Swimmers are asked not to share food/drink
Masks are not required

Adult Swim Classes, Swim camps, Swimming instruction, Triathlon

Posted on March 1, 2021 by Startlinecoach

Uncategorized

Put in the work now and set the foundation for 2021. Looking for structure so you can optimize your training hours and develop a robust base during the winter months? Seeking guidance from a coach on how to excel in a specific sport and develop new strengths? Interested in a video analysis of your run form along with professional guidance on drills & technique? Looking for the camaraderie of some fellow athletes to train with? We all need suffer partners.

The winter is where it is at for developing a robust training base for next years racing. For triathletes, it is also the last opportunity to take a more singular focus on developing your run or bike before race preparation training begins in the Spring. This winter, Startline Coaching is offering two group programs to bring you to new level of performance.

Each program is a comprehensive progression of in-person group, solo, and virtual group workouts that are designed to improve technique, build fitness, power, and pace, and prepare you to begin race preparation training in the spring. Each progression culminates in a final virtual or in person event to test your fitness and establish a baseline for your training in 2021.

Beginning the week of Jan 18, Startline Coaching will kick-off two different 12 week group training programs for cycling and/or running. Registration is open now!

Winter Run Focus incl. Video run analysis!

$300*

Group program
12 Weeks
1 group training session/week + solo workouts
Starts: 1/23/21
Ends: 4/10/21

Focus:

Detailed feedback & form correction for each athlete.
Base fitness development & race preparation for a strong half marathon performance

Run Video Analysis:

Run video recording session
One on one video review with each athlete
Written summary with video footage & recommendations

Group Training Sessions:

1 in person or online group training session/week
Saturday @8:00am Week 1-2 (in person video & drill sessions)
Wednesday @7:00 pm Week 3-12 (online)
No bag watch will be provided

Registration closed

Winter Cycling Focus
Build your power!

$375*

Group program
12 Weeks
3 group training sessions/week + solo workouts
Starts: 1/19/21
Ends: 4/11/21

Focus:

Coached indoor (Zwift) group training program targeted to cyclists & triathletes to develop power, and endurance
Development of V02Max, FTP, & stamina in preparation for subsequent race preparation training

Group Training Sessions:

3 online group training sessions/week
Tuesday @ 6:30 am (Online)
Thursday @ 7:00 pm (Online)
Sunday @ 3:00 pm (Online)

Registration Closed

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Startlinecoach

The first workout for the bike focus program is tomorrow! Set your alarm! Tomorrow’s ride will be on Zwift @6:30 am. Be sure you connect 5+ mins early so you do not miss the meet up and so you can load the workout. Let’s get ready to go.

Those of you who are considering a bike focus for the next few months and have not pulled the trigger, there is still time to sign up. Be coached through a comprehensive progression of indoor & outdoor workouts designed to develop your power and stamina on the bike.

Develop the confidence to ride hilly terrain. Understand your capabilities so that when faced with challenging terrain, you know when to press and for how long. Learn to pace others and pace yourself in a group. Take on KOM/QOM segments. Measure and follow your progress through the next 12 weeks and start next years training season stronger. 3 coached group workouts per week + solo workouts

If you miss tomorrow’s workout no big deal. But don’t let the train pull away from the station without you. Move fast! The train is starting to move.

More questions contact Startline Coaching.

Coach Peter

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Training Programs

Cycling, indoor cycling, Off Season, Triathlon, Zwift

Although 2020 was a major disappointment, many of our training activities are finally returning back to normal, as long as appropriate safety precautions are taken.

Athletes also tell me how much they have missed “the group” – the support, camaraderie, laughter, and shared suffering of training together. The lack of center of community in our athletic lives has left a void.

So let’s get out the house and off our screens, reconnect with fellow athletes, and focus on building a fitness foundation with 2021 in mind.

Startline Coaching is thrilled to offer two comprehensive group training programs this fall.

Beginning the week of October 10, Startline Coaching will kick-off two different 12 week group training programs for cycling and/or running. Registration is open now!

Each program is a comprehensive progression of in-person group, solo, and virtual group workouts that are designed to improve technique, build fitness and power, address strength imbalances, and prepare you to begin race preparation training in the new year. Each progression culminates in a final virtual or in person event to test your fitness and establish a baseline for your training in 2021.

Note: The safety of all athletes, coaches, and staff is of paramount concern as we collectively face the health and safety risks of the COVID-19 pandemic. All Startline Coaching programs follow USA Swimming best practices, USA Triathlon Safe Return to Multisport Guidelines and Return to Racing Recommendations for Race Directors and the directives issued by federal, state and local authorities. All athletes, coaches, & staff engaged in Startline Coaching programs are expected to follow the USA Triathlon Return to Racing recommendations for Athletes as well as Startline Coaching Return to Training Safety Code of Conduct.

Note: As of Oct 1, 2021, and without exception, all participants in Startline Coaching programs must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to attendance at any and all in-person Startline Coaching training or clinic sessions.

Posted on September 29, 2020 by Startlinecoach

COVID-19, Fall Training programs, Group training, Triathlon

2020 has been a challenging year for endurance athletes, leaving athletes with big questions like what next? and should I even bother? All of the race uncertainty has left many athletes feeling that they don’t want to invest in training if the race turns out not to happen. This can lead to frustration, burn out, and possibly throwing in the towel and de-training altogether.

At Startline Coaching, our recommendation is to think of the summer of 2020 as a unique opportunity to put some space in your life to:

A) Focus on family, new adventures, work, or other passions, but do so in a way where you maintain a productive level of fitness, strength, & mobility so that you can return to training in the fall healthy & motivated. For those you who fall into this bucket, Startline Coaching is offering a brand new ‘strengthen my base’ group training program that will keep you strong & robust while giving you time & flexibility to pursue other areas of interest.

B) Focus on a specific performance limiter. Rarely are we given the gift of time to make concrete progress on a key weakness in a truly dedicated way. The summer of 2020 is a rare opportunity to accelerate your athletic progress in a key discipline, such as biking or running, without the pressure of needing to prepare for a race. For those of you who are in this bucket, Startline Coaching offers individualized custom coaching programs to support you throughout the summer.

Whatever you choose to do, just keep moving! It’s great for the body – and for the spirit, too.

Coach Peter.

Core Strength, Dry Land Training, Mental Skills, Rest and Recovery, Training Programs

Posted on July 2, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Coaching, COVID-19, Cycling, Goal Setting, Running, Summer training, Triathlon

Whether your concern is body composition, recovery, power production, or workout/race fueling, it is always best to work with a specialist in the field. Three weeks ago, Startline Coaching athletes attended an athlete nutrition and fueling webinar with Nicci Schock of Elevate Performance Services. The session provided a grounding in the fueling requirements of athletes in the context of day to day nutritional practices, with a focus on training your body to call upon fat as the principal energy source rather than carbohydrates (CHO).

As a coach, I also work increasingly with athletes that are vegan or vegetarian. Dietary practices are more varied as athletes seek healthier practices. The vegan & vegetarian diet, while very healthy, can be limiting to the performance of athletes if not well managed and supplemented.

Daily nutrition:

Controls your metabolism during rest & during exercise
Influences energy pathway development (fat vs CHO burning)
Sets the stage for how well your race fuel will work for you
Is a performance differentiator for endurance events

Every athlete should include healthy fat, proteins & fiber into every meal, where fiber is the carbohydrate component consisting of fruits & vegetables. For vegan & vegetarian athletes, ensuring adequate protein in their diet can be a challenge. Constant care must be taken. Lack of protein increases dependence upon CHO burning energy pathways, rather than fat burning energy pathways, and reduces potential for lean muscle mass development, both of which significantly impact training & racing performance. In addition, plant proteins do not meet the full protein needs of athletes. Specific protein supplementation is required esp. during periods of high workload.

In training, fueling is not always required and can be counter productive. Aerobic exercise of moderate intensity up to 120 minutes requires no material fueling beyond a low CHO electrolyte drink. High intensity exercise up to 90 minutes requires no material fueling either beyond a low CHO electrolyte drink. Not every training bout is a race. Know the purpose of the workout. Use lower intensity training to develop fat burning energy pathways. Restrict the use of high glycemic carbohydrate energy products to race simulation or race efforts.

The topic is complex and each athlete’s needs are specific. A one on one consultation is recommended for anyone who struggles with race fueling, GI distress, workout recovery, or is competing as a vegan or vegetarian athlete. #startline athletes receive discounted rates for #elevate services.

Nutrition for athletic performance

Posted on May 18, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Half Ironman, Ironman, Metabolic efficiency, Race fueling

Runners often think that they should run a consistent mile-by-mile pace to maximize their race performance. However, it is not quite that simple. Anyone who has actually run a race knows that their pace for any given mile is impacted significantly by terrain; gravity significantly increases the energy demand at any given pace, creating fatigue and the need to recover.

A better approach is to aim for even energy pacing.

We all know uphill is harder than the flats. Too often athletes charge up a hill trying to maintain a close-to-target pace. Dr. Jack Daniels has produced some excellent charts that show the impact of grade on oxygen demand when using a treadmill. The chart below shows how much more oxygen consumption (V02) is needed to “maintain” pace as the grade increases. What is startling is how even a small increase in grade can dramatically change energy demand.

For example: If a runner holds 8:00/mile on a 2% grade, it will feel like 7:08/mile pace. This demonstrates clearly that trying to hold one even pace is detrimental to your race performance and that you will significantly overrun your pacing strategy (unless, of course, you are running on a flat course).

	10:00 Mile	9:14 Mile	8:35 Mile	8:00 Mile	7:30 Mile	7:04 Mile
0% grade	V02 27.4 Pace 10:00	V02 30.3 Pace 9:14	V02 33.3 Pace 8:35	V02 36.3 Pace 8:00	V02 39.3 Pace 7:30	V02 42.4 Pace 7:04
1% grade	V02 29.7 Pace 9:23	V02 32.8 Pace 8:40	V02 35.9 Pace 8:04	V02 39.1 Pace 7:33	V02 42.2 Pace 7:05	V02 45.4 Pace 6:41
2% grade	V02 32.0 Pace 8:50	V02 35.3 Pace 8:11	V02 38.5 Pace 7:37	V02 41.9 Pace 7:08	V02 45.2 Pace 6:42	V02 48.5 Pace 6:20
3% grade	V02 34.3 Pace 8:22	V02 37.8 Pace 7:45	V02 41.2 Pace 7:14	V02 44.7 Pace 6:46	V02 48.1 Pace 6:22	V02 51.5 Pace 6:02
4% grade	V02 36.6 Pace 7:56	V02 40.3 Pace 7:21	V02 43.8 Pace 6:52	V02 47.4 Pace 6:27	V02 51.0 Pace 6:04	V02 54.6 Pace 5:45
5% grade	V02 38.9 Pace 7:34	V02 42.8 Pace 7:00	V02 46.4 Pace 6:33	V02 50.2 Pace 6:09	V02 53.9 Pace 5:48	V02 57.6 Pace 5:30
6% grade	V02 41.3 Pace 7:13	V02 45.3 Pace 6:42	V02 49.1 Pace 6:16	V02 53.0 Pace 5:53	V02 56.9 Pace 5:33	V02 60.7 Pace 5:16

Excerpted from Jack Daniels Running Formula 3rd Edition

The key lesson from this analysis is this: when you hit a hill, slow down & control your effort, and similarly increase pace down hill. Always take into account the impact of gravity on your ability to perform. An effective strategy for the same sample 8:00 min pace runner, is to slow down to about a 9:14 min pace when running up a hill of 2% grade. As you can see above, the runner will still be consuming oxygen at a consistent V02 of about 35.3, with about the same energy cost of an 8:11 pace on flat ground.

When thinking about your next race, consider the terrain in your pacing plan. Taking an even energy pacing approach will ensure you do not overrun portions of the course forcing you recover. For the New Yorkers who read this blog, next time you are racing in central park and facing the northern hill, hold back as you climb and you will crest with strength giving you the opportunity to pass the many runners who climbed too fast and are recovering from going out too hard. Chances are that you will never see them again as you whistle by.

Moreover, this approach will delay the impacts of fatigue and will result in a stronger overall performance. Experienced racers know that hills wear down their competitors and the race is won at the end when the field has weakened. Nothing inspires more than having gas in the engine and passing competitors as the finish approaches!

Run well, run smart.

Coach Peter.

Posted on April 29, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Marathon, Running, Triathlon

Impact of grade on run performance, Jack Daniels, Marathon, Run pacing, Running, Triathlon, V02 consumption

Life has changed for everyone these past few weeks and is likely to remain changed for some time to come. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us all to develop new ways to interact, find new ways to stay connected, manage our own fears and anxieties and those of others, and adapt to restricted movement. To those of you who have struggled with the disease or have loved ones who are ill, know the thoughts of everyone you know are with you and we all wish we could be at your side at this time.

In a prior post, I focused on the need for self care:

More sleep
Consciously showing more love for ourselves and others
Moving a little

The focus was about a priority response to manage the shock of the change and disruption that we have all felt in our lives. Now to look forward.

As athletes, we are all attuned to the idea of goal races. Races are being cancelled, parks are closed, group training sessions are no longer an option. As athletes, we have lost our tether and it is so easy to fall into a deep funk. Why bother? Right?

It is a truth that we will all be here for a while, and I would challenge us all now to find new structures and ways of being to reestablish normalcy in our lives, rather than sit and wait for the old to return. In some ways, this experience is analogous to an injury that puts us on the sidelines. We now need to look at recovering from the injury as our training. It is a change in perspective, and serves as a lighthouse guiding us to safe harbor in the storm.

So what does this mean:

Set training goals (visualize & write down what that would look like)

Address that niggling injury or flexibility issue
Build that core strength you always wished you had
Hit a power development target for the bike

Think through what tools you need to hit that goal and the target timeline to do so.

Stretch cords
Set up a strength training space
Buy a smart trainer

Establish a weekly training pattern

Commit to certain days/time of the week for specific activities
Schedule these times into your calendar
Pay yourself first by doing the workout you set out to do & don’t let other priorities invade

Engage others in your plan

You are not the only one out there. Engage your friends & family in a your plan. Inspire them as well.
Use tools like Facetime, Zoom etc. to connect with others and hold each accountable

Seek advice

Look to others with more experience such as personal trainers, coaches, & other experienced athletes to help you build a plan if this seems overwhelming

It starts with that mental shift of acceptance, and then action. Commit yourself to movement, it keeps you healthy, and in a much better mental space where you can be more generous to others. Your actions to commit to movement & engage others in the process will spread like ripples in a pond inspiring others to do the same.

Let’s move forward together and be guided by millions of lighthouses and that will guide us all home to safe harbor.

Coach Peter.

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Mental Skills

Advice, anxiety, COVID-19, Goal Setting, Health, Triathlon, Well Being

It goes without saying that much has changed in the past 2 weeks. Life is topsy turvy, with movement restricted, social connection broken, and much of life’s normal ebb & flow disturbed. It is all very disorienting and stress inducing.

For some, we have loved ones at risk either as essential workers or simply prone to the worst of outcomes of COVID-19. Others are taking on the challenge of working remotely in a sub optimal environment, working with unfamiliar technology, or losing their employment altogether. Simply going to get groceries is stress inducing with either fear of coming in contact with the virus or of being the agent of passing it around.

As athletes we are all driven to prepare for races and much of this feels like it has all gone up in smoke. Races are cancelled, pools and gyms are shuttered, and even a solo run in the park can feel congested. Combine this with all the other real life stress around you and it is easy to get into a bit of a death spiral of low motivation, watching the news a little too much, and just overall working yourself up into a state. Finally, I hate to say it, fear of not living up to your coach’s expectations of performance and diligence also adds stress.

It is time for a little self care and to let go of some of your should’s an ought’s. First, I suggest you ask less of yourself. Scale back on output and focus on a bit more sleep, showing love for others, and simply moving a little vs. a lot. Some thoughts:

Sleep a lot – The body repairs and the mind works through the stresses of the day when you sleep. Get off those screens and get to bed early.
Love more – Showing care and love will make you feel so much better. Take a little time to care for others. When working, spend some time making sure you listen more and engage and show you care. Less content and more connection.
Move a little – Exercise should be a joy. I do it because it make me feel like a kid – when life was about bombing around and not about the workout. Reconnect to your joyful reason. Too often athletes feel they much complete the entire workout or not do it all. Just do as much as feels fun right now. The simple act of moving will make you feel better and motivate you for next time.

These 3 simple steps will boost the release of the key neurotransmitters Serotonin, Dopamine, and Norepinephrine, boosting your mood, motivation, energy, and concentration and building your resilience in this stressful time.

Let me know how it goes. Your coach wants you healthy, and happy first.

I’m off for a short walk in the sun with my love (while maintaining social distance of course).

Coach Peter

Posted on March 24, 2020 by Startlinecoach

Brooklyn, Coaching, Rest and Recovery, Triathlon

anxiety, COVID-19, Dopamine, mood, Norepinephrine, Nuerotransmitters, Serotonin, stress

A week ago, Startline Coaching athletes ran the Run the Blue Point Brewery 10 miler. This year, 16 athletes completed the race on long Island, NY and celebrated with a morning beer. The Blue Point Brewery always puts on a good show, with great food, a band, a warm tent and, yes, great beer. My thanks to #GLIRC for as always running a great race. This is the 10th year of the race and 6th time Startline Coaching athletes have been to the race.

This race is a team favorite capping off a 12 week run/strength training block before we move into triathlon training. We were 16/16 on completing the race with negative splits and many with significant improvements over the prior year. Developing speed and pacing control was a central theme over these past 12 weeks. You should all feel so pleased with your results.

Way to execute!

Coach Peter