Going Against the Grain – A Diet guide for the Modern Triathlete by Coach B.A.M.F. – TriCoachGeorgia

Going Against the Grain – A Diet guide for the Modern Triathlete

Coach BAMF aka Coach Chuck is all about his athletes racing faster and understands the factors that go into speed and efficiency. He understands there are many ways to achieve one’s goals. However, one of the bigger ones is making racing weight and being healthy and happy. Here he writes about a topic near and dear to him, and one that will assist many IRONMAN triathletes and endurance sports athletes.

NSNG: WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Many of you may have heard me, or others use the acronyms “NSNG” (No Sugar, No Grains) and “LCHF” (Low Carb, High Fat) and wondered what it all means. Alternative ways of eating by removing refined sugars and complex carbohydrates that are not new to our low calories, low fat, heart healthy grain culture. In fact, they’ve been around for many years in one form or another. Advocates of this method of eating were considered heretics by so called ‘nutritional subject matter experts and doctors’ because they go against the conventional wisdom of what we’ve all been told was the “right” way to eat. But with the continued year over year increase of obesity rates in both adults and children, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease people are starting to have a paradigm shift in the way they think about, and eat food.

IT’S NOT A NEW FAD

Scientific studies on obesity and removal of sugars and carbs from patients diets to promote weight loss date back as far as the early 1900’s and have been proven to show results. In the late 1970’s and well into the 1980’s people like Dr. Phil Maffetone were promoting this way of eating and helped many legendary triathletes such as Mark Allen, Mike Pigg, and Paula Newby-Frazier achieve great success in training and racing. Even advocates of the high carbohydrate diet for athletes like Dr. Timothy Noakes have done a complete 180 degree shift in their beliefs and views, and have even gone as far as to state publicly that they were wrong. Check out this very interesting Podcast with Maffetone, Noakes, and Allen.

CONVENTIONAL WISDOM AT PLAY

So why do more people not follow this way of eating? Our culture has been engrained to believe that fat is bad, and that we need to “carbo-load” days before events and consume sugary products during them to perform our best in athletic competitions. In addition to this, product marketing is big business in our sport and many athletes are sponsored and required to promote them on a regular basis. Eating a high fat diet and removing all refined sugars is not a popular message.

CARB vs FAT FOR FUEL. WHICH ONE?

Our bodies have both a fat and carbohydrate fuel storage tank. The carbohydrate storage holds a max of 2,000 kcals, whereas our fat storage can hold anywhere from 40,000 to upwards of 100,000 kcals at any given time. Even in the leanest of athletes. So the question is why would we not want to tap into that fuel for training and racing?

Glycogen storage can be used up within a shorter span of time based on the level of effort put forth. So in order to maintain performance an athlete must continue to ingest sugar and carbs to top off the tank. This creates blood sugar and insulin spikes in the body and cause a peak and crash effect. It can also be the cause of GI issues many athletes consistently deal with. Learning to tap into your fat storage provides a constant flow of energy without spiking. With time and training an athlete is ultimately able to reduce the number of calories needed per hour which can also assist with controlling stomach problems.

BUT IT’S QUINOA….SO IT’S A GOOD GRAIN!

So what do you need to do if you want to try it? This is simple. Stop consuming anything with refined sugars and/or complex carbohydrates. That means all of it including all sugar substitutes and grains that we are all told are “healthy.” It also includes your precious training drink mixes and energy bars. When it comes to the body, it doesn’t know a healthy grain over one considered not good for you. It only knows it as a grain.

And don’t fall victim to sugar. Sugar goes by many names. The problem is almost everything that is sold in your local grocery stores has some form of this in it, especially in the middle of the section of the supermarket. You have to start reading labels. And, you have to start eating real foods. Meats, fish, nuts, nut butters, seeds, eggs (yes the WHOLE EGG!), real butter, (no sugar) dairy products, vegetables, and fats such as olives, olive oils, coconut oil, avocados. Some fruits can be included*

GOTTA SLOW YO ROLL

Ok, so you decided to change your diet. Now how do you become a fat burner? This is the tough one for athletes to grasp and apply because many of them have a specific mindset on how they should be training. In order to become a fat burner you must SLOW DOWN. That’s right. You have to slow down. Fat burning takes place at an aerobic threshold pace. Another way of explaining it, you train at your sub-maximal effort.

The switch doesn’t happen overnight. If you’re a regular high carbohydrate eater your body is used to burning glycogen first. It can take several weeks to reverse this process and get your body to tap into its fat stores. You do this by changing your diet and adjusting your level of effort in training.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Let me close by stating there is no one-size fits all approach to this. For example, read here High Carb or High Fat? The Running Diet Debate. About a quarter of the population can consume and process carbohydrates quite effectively. Everyone is different and you have to figure out for yourself where you fall in the scheme of things. If you’ve been following the same pattern for quite a while now and are not seeing success in weight management or results in training and racing, perhaps changing things up in your approach to both could provide a different result.

BOOKS TO CONSIDER:

The Art and Science of Low Carbohydrate Performance by Jeff Volek and Stephen Phinney
Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It by Gary Taubes
The Big Fat Surprise: Why Butter, Meat, and Cheese Belong in a Healthy Diet by Nina Teicholz
Fitness Confidential by Vinnie Tortorich

*Much of the fruit that is grown and sold now has been highly modified (genetically) to increase the fructose sweetness, therefore you must be careful and selective when choosing to consume it. The best options are to stick with fruits considered to be low glycemic such as berries, and avoid the ones considered to be high glycemic like bananas.

Mountains to Main Street – A Local Perspective by Coach L Dubb – TriCoachGeorgia

Introduction

Newest TriCoachGeorgia.com Coach LDubb, aka Lauren White is a native Greenvillian, who has lived in the Upstate for 33 years. She has and is coaching athletes locally and regionally from couch to sprint triathlon, and short court to long course triathlon, and road races like half marathons and marathons.

Coach LDubb can tell you that no one is more excited to see The Mountains to Main Street Triathlon & Festival come to the Upstate than her. She will be doing training days and weekends on the course.

Greenville holds a special place in her heart as she has embraced and witnessed the positive changes, growth and diversity that have emerged over the past 15 years. The Upstate has become one of the hottest emerging tourist destinations as well as being one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. Greenville’s revamped Downtown was just recently named by Forbes as “America’s Ten Best.” As a triathlete, she has trained countless hours in the Upstate and has a deep appreciation and understanding of the area and the course layout. From the crystal blue waters of Lake Keowee – to the scenic rolling hills of the Foothills Mountains – to the freshly paved Swamp Rabbit Trail that will end in heart of Greenville’s Downtown, it will be quite the triathlon experience to remember!

Swim Preview

The swim will take place at South Cove Park at Lake Keowee. It will be a point-to-point swim with water temps most likely in the mid-seventies. That means, most likely this will be a wetsuit legal swim or at least wetsuit optional; although in all races you will learn in the morning of the race. Coach LDubb grew up swimming and boating in this lake and can tell you no other lake in the Southeast beats it. The water is crystal clear, clean and calm and the scenery of the surrounding mountains will take your breath away.

Bike Preview

This bike course is not for the faint of heart! The 56 mile bike course will take you through Oconee, Pickens and Greenville counties and finishing up in the town of Travelers Rest. At that point, will be the second transition with huge crowd support as that area is full of restaurants, bars and businesses. In training for Ironman Louisville and Texas, Coach LDubb became quite familiar with the “rolling hills” and “climbs” of this course and surrounding areas. Over the 56 miles, there is an approximate elevation gain of 3700 feet. The best way to describe the course would be numerous rolling hills with decent climbs.

Attached is a course description that gives the elevation layout according to mileage. The bike course runs along the Foothills – a very scenic and beautiful area so be sure to take it all in.

Run Preview

Now to the fun part! Ready for a fast and epic run? You will enter the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Travelers Rest and will circle around Furman University’s beautiful swan lake and tower before re-entering the trail.

This run course offers a NET LOSS in elevation which makes for a very fast run. Coach LDubb had her fastest half marathon in the GHS Swamp Rabbit Half last year and can attest that athletes will love it after a 56 mile bike ride. There will be numerous aid stations along the route. The run will finish in the heart of Downtown Greenville on the TD stage that overlooks the Reedy River and Falls Park Bridge with an abundance of welcoming spectators and Greenvillians, music and action. It’s a finish that athletes and spectators will forever remember!

The motto for this race is “So you wanna….SWIM with the bear…BIKE with the eagle…RUN with the rabbit…?” We hope you will consider training with and coaching by TriCoachGeorgia’s Coach LDubb as a home field advantage!

ORR Carbon Wheels Welcomed as Proud New Sponsor of TriCoachGeorgia

Introduction

At TriCoachGeorgia (TCGA), the team is proud to affiliate with high quality local, regional, and national brands. TCGA was familiar with ORR Carbon Wheels and their managing owner, Jason Williamson, as they both sponsored the Georgia Triathlon Series of Go Race Productions. At the end of the 2015 racing season, Williamson reached out to the TriCoachGeorgia Coaching staff to form a partnership that will benefit all team members and coached athletes with a huge discount on ORR Wheels and will benefit ORR Wheels with great exposure. Not to mention, many of the team of misfits already sported these wheels.

Going to the Big Island

Coaches Slayer and TAZ are already on record that they will be using ORR wheels as their weapons of choice in Ironman World Championships in KONA 2016.  Williamson says he rarely has seen anyone more passionate about the sport than the Reapers of TriCoachGeorgia and was kind enough to discuss some of his firm’s history, products, and answer some questions about his high quality carbon wheels without the high price tags of competitors like Zipp, ENVE, Hed, Reynolds, Profile Design etc. The firm’s motto is “Exceptional Speed For Everyday Riders”.

Cost Savings without Substantial Speed Differential

Williamson grants that the big names make great products but stresses the cost of $2.5k-$4k plus compared to ORR’s at $1500 and below. There is not a marked difference for most riders in the wheels reported. ORR Wheels are committed to offer wheels that durable enough for everyday use, affordable, and fast enough to take bike splits to the next level. They don’t pretend to be something they are not. They stand behind their products and have recently had them aero wind tunnel tested in Arizona. This data was favorable and will be released soon!

Some Additional Information

Not a firm to stand still in one place, they are currently working on a few new wheels for 2016 and beyond. First, they have a newly designed disc wheel, which will be stronger, wider and lighter than their previous disc. Next, they are looking at disc break options for road wheels/cyclocross and, even, mountain bike wheels.
Lastly, they are working on a shallower depth. A 36mm rim option that we hope to offer with the disc brake option as well as the standard road hub. This combined with their 6.4 (60mm), 7.4 (60/80mm) and 8.4’s (80mm) should round out their lineup of carbon clincher wheels. With wider rims, better air foil designs and their biggest improvement, the new extreme high Tg (melting point) resin, they beliuved they have covered all possibilities including wheels for a triathlon, road, or mountain bike.

Final Notes

The current team members and coached athletes of TriCoachGeorgia and TriKidsGeorgia can receive up to $500 off the retail prices on a set of ORR’s. Just ask Coach Slayer or TAZ for the discount code to use at checkout on ORRCYCLING.COM, call them direct at 864-276-6797 or come by their booth at one of the many Ironman Village Expos.

Tentative 2016 race schedule:

TriCoachGeorgia Welcomes Coach LDubb Lauren White

TriCoachGeorgia is pleased to announce the association of Coach LDubb of Greenville, South Carolina to their coaching roster. Coach Ldubb comes to us as an experienced athlete and has coached multiple athletes individually over the past 2 years. She has a strong enthusiasm for sports in general and specifically triathlon.

You can read much more about her on her biography on Coach LDubb TriCoachGeorgia Page. However, here is a look at Ldubb’s personal background and some fun facts. Ldubb was born and raised in Greenville, SC and graduated from Presbyterian College. She’s 33 years old and has been married to her husband, Kevin, for 5 ½ years. They currently have no children, 2 cats and a dog. They currently live in Greenville, SC and are hoping to start a little family of their own in the near future. Ldubb currently works at National Health Care as a physical therapy assistant and has been there for 8 years. She has a strong love for geriatric patients, as this is her primary therapy clientele. Her husband works at Synnex Corporation and is quite the athlete himself. Kevin holds most of the baseball records at Presbyterian College while being named a 2 time All-American. While Kevin and Lauren were dating, Kevin played in the minor leagues for a 4 year stent.

Ldubb was introduced to triathlon from a college friend in 2012. After spectating her first Ironman, while cheering on her friend, she became intrigued and hasnt looked back since. Lauren has competed at all distances including 2 Ironman finishes at Louisville and Texas and has placed within the top 3 of her age group on multiple occasions. Ldubb will be certified as USAT Level 1 Triathlon Coach in March and looking forward to continuing coaching and inspiring athletes. She has coached athletes at different skill levels and at all distances including Sprint, Olympic, Half and Full Ironman.

A few fun facts of Coach Ldubb:

* Has 12 letters in high school – Played basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer for Wade Hampton High. Started and was captain for the Women’s Basketball Team at Presbyterian College 2001-2005.

* Furthest place ever raced – Lauren and her best friend traveled to Dublin, Ireland in 2013 and raced the Dublin Marathon.

* During the swim of Ironman Texas in 2014, Lauren got kicked in head and suffered concussion. Although not getting the race time she had expected, she still completed the race and became a 2x Ironman Finisher…… then visited the medical tent.

* Family is very important to Lauren and luckily, most of hers and Kevin’s family live within 100 miles of them.

* Loves to travel! Will take off in a minute’s notice for any road trip long or short. Her and Kevin’s third vehicle is a Jeep Wrangler and when she’s not swimming, biking or running you will find her and Kevin out jeeping around town.

* Go Dawgs!

Specialized Bicycle Components Welcomed as Proud New Sponsor of TriCoachGeorgia

TriCoachGeorgia – the Brand

TriCoachGeorgia is a diverse group of triathletes located throughout the Southeast and as far away as England, New York, and Oklahoma. They sponsor and offer free coaching to the TriKidsGeorgia. The team’s focus is on having fun, competing and leading in the USAT National Challenge Competition and strive for great results, growth and camaraderie of all the members of the team.

Along with the their super coaching staff, the great events they put on, and the ongoing evolution of efforts to support the sport of triathlon, honors keep piling in for the Reapers of TriCoachGeorgia and the TriKidsGeorgia. Moreover, the team of misfits has formed or upgraded some stellar triathlon industry relationships with some of the best businesses in the world. The misfits are eager to announce their newest partnership.

The team uses a lot of different gear for swimming, cycling and running. Due to their phenomenal growth, the team has been in more demand in terms of manufacturers, suppliers and retailers to help support the team’s athletes. As such they are eager to announce our most recent partnership with Specialized where #AeroIsEverything.

Specialized is THE TOP Cycling Manufacturer in Triathlon

Specialized branded bikes are world renowned for their quality, technology and innovation. Many of the best professional riders in the world entrust their bikes to Specialized bikes. Specialized realized that eliminating as much drag as possible will help athletes maximize their speed. In order to help cyclists determine the best positions for them, Specialized designed and built the Specialized Win Tunnel to be the perfect, cycling-specific wind tunnel. The wind tunnel allows a rider to test everything needed for a race. For more information on Specialized, please visit http://www.specialized.com/us/en/home.

Georgia CycleSport – A Great Local Bike Shop

Located in Athens, GA, Georgia Cycle Sport/Cycle Sport Concepts is a bicycle shop “ready to serve all of your bicycle related needs. They have a wide selection of bicycles, friendly and knowledgeable sales staff, as well as certified mechanics and certified master bike fitters. Georgia Cycle Sport is the Athens Area representative authorized Specialized dealer.”

For the past 3 years, Georgia Cycle Sport has been a sponsor of TriCoachGeorgia providing discounts and support to the team. When the TriKidsGeorgia started in October 2014, Georgia Cycle Sport enthusiastically joined as a sponsor to their youth team. TCGa and TKGa are very appreciative of the support received from the staff of Georgia Cycle Sport.

Specialized sponsors TCGA

As noted, Specialized is one of the most premiere companies in the cycling industry and one of the most sought after sponsorships in the multi-sport and cycling world. When Georgia Cycle Sport approached TCGa/TKGa with an opportunity to potentially become a sponsored team, TCGa/TKGa did not hesitate to apply for the sponsorship that was recently approved.

The sponsorship will provide the athletes of the two teams the opportunity to receive the best bikes, equipment and accessories on the market. TCGa/TKGa athletes will proudly wear Specialized logos on their team kits. The teams feel very fortunate to have been chosen as a sponsored team.

Wrap Up

By joining TCGa, an athlete will have the opportunity to be sponsored by Specialized and work with the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Georgia Cycle Sports. If you are looking for a team with opportunities like the Specialized sponsorship, please visit https://tricoachgeorgia.com for more information. You can be a part of this expanding and potent group of misfits!

Walking with KPeasy Visits Athens, Georgia – TriCoachGeorgia

Many of the TriKidsGeorgia and their parents attended the talk given by Kyle and Brent Pease of the Walking with KPeasy Foundation. A modest pair of brothers, well spoken, and interesting in so many ways,  Brent and Kyle drove from Atlanta to Athens to meet with the TriKidsGeorgia team this weekend for an informal presentation and Q&A session.  The general conclusion was that these brothers are amazing athletes and people!

Brent and Kyle Pease are well known among the triathlon community as the challenged duo who race triathlons. However, it was not until the crowd heard from this dynamic duo, that the magnitude of their accomplishments became evident.

Youth are Inspired

The TriKidsGeorgia and parents were fully attentive as Brent described how he pulls Kyle along in a kayak for the swim portion of the race, pedals 350 lbs. on a three wheel bike for the bike portion, and pushes Kyle in a specially designed “wheelchair” for the run portion. Kyle explained how his arms have to be strapped down due to spasms and how his body feels like it’s been “run over by a bus” at the end of a race.

What they love about Triathlon is how they can perform as athletes just like anybody else; no special allowances for Kyle’s disabilities. They race the same distance with the same cut off times as all the other athletes competing.

Kyle’s description of the finishing chute at Ironman Wisconsin several years ago and Ironman Florida last year was compelling to say the least. Kyle described many thousands of people cheering them, just like football players are cheered onto the field. He said it was “the best feeling in the world” for him. They also covered their New York City Marathon escapades that went viral when one of Kyle’s wheels broke and there was no spare and they still managed to finish. Read about it here.

Appreciation Note

The TriKidsGeorgia and this nation thank Brent and Kyle for their inspiration, and, in particular, this motivating and emotional talk. Through The Kyle Pease Foundation, Inc (KPF) other people with disabilities have been given the chance to experience the success of participating in triathlon. TriKidsGeorgia will endeavor to raise awareness to this amazing organization and family.

From their Facebook Page:

Walking with KPeasey is a campaign affiliated with The Kyle Pease Foundation, Inc (KPF). Walking with KPeasey works to create awareness and raise funds in support of KPF.  The purpose of the Kyle Pease Foundation (KPF) is to create awareness and raise funds to promote success for persons with disabilities by providing assistance to meet their individual needs through sports.

Programs may include scholarship opportunities, purchasing of medical equipment or adaptive sports equipment for others or contributing to other organizations that provide similar assistance to disabled persons as well as participating in educational campaigns to create awareness about Cerebral Palsy and other disabilities.

KPF will provide these services directly to individuals as well as to partner with other existing non-profit organizations to achieve these goals. Direct benefits will be limited to persons with disabilities who need adaptive sports equipment, mobility devices or medical care.

To donate, please visit  http://www.firstgiving.com/89231

Start It Up – TriCoachGeorgia

INTRODUCTION

It’s been a big few weeks for TriCoachGeorgia as they’ve seen increases in coaching staff and new athletes, as well as high participation in several early in 2016 events. Everyone’s training is getting into full swing and the entire TCGa crew is kicking major butt in the USAT National Challenge Competition. The team sits at 4th overall in the NATION!

This past weekend was very busy. The team took on Run The Hogpen, Red Nose Half Marathon, Disney’s Dopey Challenge, and there was a local TriKidsGeorgia 5k race in Oconee at Veterans Park.

RUN THE HOGPEN

Riding up Hogpen Gap on a bike is brutal enough with grades of up to 14%, so imagine running it! TCGa’s own Missy Dobbins Hatchett aka S’later was up for the challenge and tackled this beast of a run in less than favorable conditions.

RED NOSE HALF MARATHON

Hosted by the Columbus RoadRunners, this annual event in early January is held in Columbus, Ga where the Southside TCGa team is growing. It’s a perfect race to kick start your season, and to add an even bigger bonus…IT’S FREE! This year due to the huge rise and overflow of the Chattahoochie aka the “Hooch” the course was wet and slippery but nonetheless still flat and fast.

There was a huge team turnout this year which included coaches, current team members, and some of our new additions. Athletes came in from Atlanta, Greenville, SC, Athens, and Milledgeville to hit the course and the town. Outstanding performances were offered by everyone, including some podiums and PR’s. There was no quit in this group, and lots of camaraderie, seeing old friends, and making new ones.

DISNEY DOPEY CHALLENGE

The most magical place on earth just got more challenging. Don’t let the name and location fool you. This race is no joke. It’s a 4 day run event that includes a 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, and Full Marathon on consecutive days. Every year the team seems to have some participants and this year was no different. Great performances were had by TCGa athletes Kevin Mills, Wayne Taylor, and Dathan Duplichen in this early season multi-day event.

LOCAL ROAD RACES

TriCoachGeorgia and TriKidsGeorgia also had some under the radar races this weekend. Most notably TriKids David Andrew and Caroline Duncan hit the Oconee Veterans Park for the 6th annual Pilot Chase 5k and both took home high placings despite far from ideal conditions.

Also, the Trikids were also treated to a talk from Kyle and Brent Pease of the Walking with K Peasy Foundation, which will be blogged about very soon. Suffice to say, that the talk was very inspirational.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Reapers are off to a great start. They are forming up, working hard, and showing no quit. The misfits all seem to fit together rather well already. New and existing Training Camps and details are out on Facebook and being shared and passed around by many.

The athletes of TCGA and TriKidsGeorgia inspire many, especially their coaches, families and friends. Are you ready to meet and hang out with some great people and have your best season ever? Then we hope you’ll come join up with us at TriCoachGeorgia. https://tricoachgeorgia.com/

TriCoachGeorgia Garners Another Team Award – TriCoachGeorgia

Announcement

The TriClub program from the World Triathlon Corporation has added some zest to the team aspect of triathlon racing, which is growing in popularity. Normally an individual sport, now a team can earn recognition for performance and attendance at a particular race.

According to their website, TriClubs can…”race against one another all year long for prizes and bragging rights. The program includes over 800 clubs with rosters that represent over 150,000 athletes.”

Each TriClub is placed in an appropriate division based on the size of the team and the amount of team members. Then “every time a member of a club races an IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3, they generate Age Group Ranking Points for themselves and also for their club. They earn points by crossing the finish line.”

If not the largest IRONMAN 70.3, then one of the largest, in the world takes place every September in Augusta, Georgia. At Augusta 70.3 this year, TriCoachGeorgia won the 3rd Place Honors in such a prestigious event due to the team’s efforts. Many of the team were seen not only racing, but volunteering and spectating on course at the swim start and exit as well as at their usual spots along Broad Street.

Founding Coaches Brian Patterson, former president of TriAugusta, and Harvey Gayer, along with team coaches Wes and Kim Hargrove – who both competed, Karl Langenbach, Ryan Wolfe, Seth Waltman, and Charles Sims were very proud of such an honor for the team. Also, it should be noted that several of the team secured personal records, first time finishes at the half ironman distance, and 70.3 World Championship slots at the race.

On the heals of so many team and individual honors, the team of Reapers, often referred to as the Misfits, are looking forward to another brilliant season in 2016. Contact them at TriCoachGeorgia.com or at their social media channels for more information on how to join as a coached athlete or team member. Also consider attending their wildly popular Augusta or Chattanooga Ironman training camps.

TriCoachGeorgia Welcomes Coach B.A.M.F. Chuck Sims

TriCoachGeorgia Welcomes Coach B.A.M.F. Chuck Sims

TriCoachGeorgia is pleased to announce the association of Coach Chuck Sims of Atlanta to their coaching roster. Coach Chuck comes to us after several years of coaching triathlon individually and at camps, as well as coaching swim lessons and masters classes. He is a stalwart in the community and well thought of in general and specifically in triathlon circles.

You can read much more about him on his biography on www.TriCoachGeorgia.Com. However, here is a little bit more of personal background on Coach Chuck. Originally from the great state of Texas, he’s 48 years old, married to Beatriz, no children, and (2) dogs. They currently live in Mableton, Ga. He and his wife of 13 years are both Delta Air Lines employees. Chuck has been with the company for 20 years and works in Information Technology department.

Chuck has been involved with the sport of triathlon since the late ‘90’s. He’s a multi USAT Nationals qualifier and Half Ironman finisher, and an Ironman Arizona finisher. In 2016 he’ll be heading back to Ironman Arizona for his A-race of next season. He is a USAT Level 1 Certified Coach and an ASCA Level 1 Swimming Coach. He has coached athletes to all levels of triathlon race distances including Sprint, Olympic, Half, and Full Ironman.

A few interesting fun factoids about Coach Chuck:

  • Chuck and his wife Beatriz are well traveled and share the same birthday, both date and year.
  • Unbeknownst to most people, Chuck does not shave the hair from his entire body. Chuck has an auto-immune condition called Alopecia and lost it all in his late 20’s.
  • Chuck is the proud owner of a lime green 1974 Volkswagon Westfalia Camper Bus.
  • Chuck is a body hacker like Coach Spartacus. He is currently No Sugar / No Grain (NS NG) and has a lot more up his sleeves for his athletes.

TriCoachGeorgia founded in 2012 by Coaches Spartacus and Slayer (Brian Patterson and Harvey Gayer), is a small, albeit quickly growing, Georgia based triathlon coaching firm. They have a wide fan base, outstanding Ironman camps, a thriving private forum, and in excess of 50-60 coached athletes and team members. Many of their sponsors and affiliates are well placed and highly regarded. The team is known for being a fun bunch, but also one that has depth and loyalty. They are also a wide range of athletes from beginners to elite world championship qualifiers. Last but not least, they are free coaching sponsors for the youth TriKidsGeorgia triathlon club.