Rockstar Triathlete

Rockstar Triathlete Martin Pombo

The challenge
What made you decide to commit to training with our team? First of all, I needed a new sports challenge and this one was totally different, out of my comfort zone (running).

Also, I’ve never really had the will to change my nutrition and learn what is good and bad for me.

If I wanted to start training for a triathlon, I needed to learn how to swim, and in the ocean! Which is definitely not my happy place.

So the commitment was directly proportional to the help I needed.

What has been your personal experience during training? The experience was beyond what I expected from a training program, not only because I started to see improvements fast but also because being part of a community pushes you to do better every day.

It is an extra motivation to know that there are people who got your back besides your family. Also, the coaches push you to give your best and know what they are doing! (friendly but demanding).

The solution
Tell me what lifestyle changes you’ve made by participating in our program: The main change was not only my nutrition but my family’s too. Healthier breakfast, less processed foods, and more whole foods. Training every day early in the morning makes the rest of my day better, clears my thoughts, made me more responsible, organized, more focused, no question.

This also gave me the opportunity to meet great people and be more open in building new relationships.

The results
Tell me how your physical performance has changed since you started training with the team. Uff!!! where to start? I’m faster, lighter, and stronger than 6 months ago. I do things that I only dreamed of a year ago, like swimming 1.5K yards in the ocean or a lake.

I’m developing a “Mamba Mentality” to allow me to overcome the usual “I can’t do that.” Still WIP though.

I know my body and my physical potential better than ever, but also how to take care of it with nutrition, hydration or simply resting when needed.

I look better and that changed my mood.

Would you like to share a before and after moment? My “before moment” is me struggling in the water during a sprint in 2019 at Escape to Miami; swallowing water and thinking that I was going to die because there were some waves?

My “after moment” is two years later, crossing the finish of my first 70.3 after swimming 1.6K meters with cramps in my calves but knowing that I was going to finish the race.

The experience
What was it like working with our team and coaches? It’s great, best in town! All the coaches have different profiles and I learn from all of them.

What great thing(s) happened that you were NOT expecting? Besides meeting great people, I made a podium in a sprint distance and I got an invitation to the National Championship in August 2021. But I expect more great things to come!

How did you overcome any FEAR or uncertainties? Definitely training almost every day, gave me the ability to overcome fears such as the fear of swimming in open waters (or anywhere) and also prepares me for anything that may happen (accidents, cold, heat, flat tire, etc).

Finally, what would you say to someone considering training with Full Circle. Probably the same thing my friend Romain told me. The training program is the best and most professional, as are the coaches. And the community is full of great people/athletes.

What are you waiting to call coach Erinne!

Click this link: http://www.scheduleyou.in/5ZIsVaU to schedule your FREE Triathlon Breakthrough Session and let’s do it!

Erinne Guthrie is a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. Creator of the 16 week Triathlon Transformation. She has been training, racing and coaching triathletes since 1997.  She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, Mermaid and much much more.

Rockstar Triathlete Jacquelyn Schwartz

Coach’s Notes: I feel so blessed that “Jac” is part of the Full Circle Coaching team. With her education, it is wonderful to see how she has applied her knowledge to real time, actual training and performance.

Her results speak for themselves. I am so happy with all her wonderful accomplishments thus far, and even more excited for what’s to come.

One often hears people say, “knowledge is power” BUT, it must be applied to actually create power. This is exactly what “Jac” has done.

Way to go girl! You’re an inspiration to me and the whole tribe. Keep doing what you are doing and the sky is the limit; meaning there are no limits for you! YES!!!!!

Age: 24
Profession: Triathlon/Strength and Conditioning Coach

Why you chose FCC to help you on your triathlon/health and wellness journey? I joined Full Circle as a coach, not realizing that I would also be able to participate, train, and totally level up as an athlete! The team/tribe is so exciting for me to work and train with because we train our athletes intelligently, based on science, with zero guess work. There’s also extreme attention to detail and we prioritize recovery with training and life balance. This is what sets Full Circle apart from other coaching companies. 

What is your “A” race for this season? I just competed in Ironman Florida 70.3 in Haines City. This was my main focus for the beginning of the year…now I am setting my sights on another half distance for the end of the year November or December.

Please share your BIG goals: One day I will complete an Ironman triathlon (shh don’t tell my Mom) probably in 2023. In general, I want to keep improving, getting faster in all disciplines while also enjoying training for the sport. I love the triathlon lifestyle because I get to train and be in nature and be grateful for my strong, healthy body that I challenge every day.

Tell me about your successes so far: I raced a personal record in a sprint triathlon in the beginning of March and another new record at the beginning of May, I just crossed the finish line of my first half Ironman, I helped organize and coach a successful Ultimate Triathlon Camp!

What were some of your biggest Improvements in performance for the each of the following? 

Swim: I’m a strong swimmer (have been training in the pool since age 6) but have gotten a lot better at pushing myself at my pool paces in open water. And getting better at sighting, I used to always swim off course. Also, paying attention to my form more because it is not perfect! 

Bike: I know how to use my power meter now! And I upgraded to a tri bike 1 month before the 70.3…so putting in a lot more time in the saddle on that bike before the end of the year will make me unstoppable…

Run: Have been dealing with ankle pain for the past 3ish years, have had unsuccessful PT. I switched to Altra zero drop sneakers, and I ran 13.1 miles in my race without noticing any ankle pain! My form is getting much better, less heel striking. 

Nutrition/Health: Learning more about training and racing nutrition. 

Recovery: I am adding this as a discipline…because it is that important! I used to never rest. It is still really hard for me to rest because I love training…but the week before all of my races this year I really restrained my volume and intensity to rest and recover for the race and that has made all the difference. 

Also, when I’m not racing, we use the schedule of 3 weeks training and 1 week of recovery so that I absorb the hard work I have done and rebuild muscle and energy rather than continually beating myself into the ground. Also, I have seen the benefit of yoga, kihara stretching, and Epsom salt baths to avoid injury, stress, and worry. 

Please include any Personal Records and Goals achieved:
Draft Legal Sprint PR, 1h 14 min
First 70.3, 6h 18 min

Name 2 or 3 things that have made the biggest difference in your journey:

1. The tribe!! Knowing and training with athletes of all different levels and backgrounds is so inspiring. I’ve been on group bike rides with a 7- time Ironman finisher AND someone who had raced in zero triathlons. Everyone has something to learn from everyone else and I know that each team member will be there to celebrate my wins as much as I am there to celebrate their achievements with them.
2. The coaching, training program, attention to detail, and race preparedness. I felt so confident before my half Ironman race because I had completed all the training on schedule and appropriately ramped up to the race day. And the training was based on my specific paces and ability based on my swim/bike/run testing analysis. 

What excites you the most about being involved in triathlon? Motivating myself and others to achieve that which I/they thought was not possible. 

What would you say to another person who was on the fence about joining our training program?

Triathlon can seem intimidating from the outside, but absolutely anyone can do it. There is no better group to join that will help you achieve your wildest dreams. And teach you how to do it the right way (with no injuries or burnout); encouraging you to reach your potential and become the best version of yourself. 

Click this link: http://www.scheduleyou.in/5ZIsVaU to schedule your FREE Triathlon Breakthrough Session and let’s do it!

Erinne Guthrie is a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. Creator of the 16 week Triathlon Transformation. She has been training, racing and coaching triathletes since 1997.  She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, Mermaid and much much more.

Rockstar Triathlete: Lily Harris

Coach’s Comments: Lily was a part of my kids’ triathlon group in 2015. Her mom started training with me a few years ago and during Lily’s break from college, she decided to give triathlon a go again.  I’m so happy she did!

Coming into the group as the youngest can be a bit intimidating, but she never misses a practice.  In fact, we have to force her to rest and recover.  I am so super proud of her journey in so many ways.  Her confidence in every aspect of the sport has improved 100%.  She came in to the group unsure of her abilities. Learning to battle your demons of how you think you should be and accepting where you are and then improving from there, is something every athlete struggles with whether we talk about it or not!

Sometimes when there are big struggles, people just quit!, but not Lily!  She showed up, listened, implemented and is literally killing it in all 3 sports after just a few months.

This weekend is her 1st 70.3, in Sebring. I’m so excited to see her joy across the finish line after all the hard work.  Not many 20 year olds that I know are showing up to train at 6AM, six days a week.

Way to go Lily, you can do anything you set your mind to; Believe it!!! (tap, tap, tap! 😉

Age: 20

Profession: Student

Why you chose FCC to help you on your triathlon/health and wellness journey?
I’ve known Erinne since I did a triathlon camp with her in 2013. I absolutely loved the camp, but only saw it as what it was–a summer camp, not anything I would continue as a 12-year-old. Over the past couple years, since my mom started training with Full Circle Coaching, it was all she would talk about. She was always encouraging me to go to practices and telling me how much I would love it and improve from it. It wasn’t until February of this year, that I worked up the courage to show up and I ended up falling in love with the training and the whole team instantly.

What is your “A” race for this season?
I would say my A race is the Sebring 70.3 on May 2nd. It will be my first half iron distance and only second race ever (after challenge Miami sprint). However, after Sebring, I want to focus on speed to improve my sprint/Olympic times.

Please share your BIG goals:
My goals for this year are to not only improve my athletic ability over all the disciplines but improve my mental strength and confidence. I hope to become more familiar with racing, longer distances, pushing myself (in a healthy and safe way of course) and all-around health and nutrition. 

Tell me about your successes so far:
The most success I’ve had since joining Full Circle, I wouldn’t say is based on any numbers or times. The past couple months, I’ve stepped far outside my comfort zone and with the help of Erinne, Jac, all the other coaches AND my teammates, I’ve been able to get past a lot that was holding me back from success.

What were some of your biggest Improvements in performance for the each of the following? 
Swim: learning how to swim properly and take fewer, longer strokes rather than short choppy ones.
Bike: since I joined FCC never having really biked or done any long rides, I feel more comfortable now doing longer distances; also learned how to shift my gears and bike in a group (safely!!!)
Run: my form has improved a lot. I also have better understanding of how to take it slow in long runs and keep my HR down (still not perfect but working on it)
Nutrition/Health: Learned about how to fuel myself properly and get the complete proteins my body needs!! Like meat and chicken.

Name 2 or 3 things that have made the biggest difference in your journey:
1. All the support and help from the coaches. Erinne, Jac, Dennis, Domingos, they’ve all made a huge impact in my journey. 
2. All the friends I’ve made on the team who inspire me to push myself in triathlon and in life.
3. Learning about how to train safely and effectively.

What excites you the most about being involved in triathlon?
Waking up each morning and training with the most amazing group of people. I love getting to practice and seeing everyone’s beautiful faces so (not) bright and early!

What would you say to another person who was on the fence about joining our training program?
Full Circle Coaching is honestly life changing. They are the most amazing, brilliant, caring coaches who take time for each and every athlete. You’ll meet the best people who get you excited to go to practice each morning. Whether your goals are to run a mile, finish a race, win a TRIPLE iron man, or go pro in the sport, every single person is there to support you and help achieve your goals.