Testimonials

I have worked with Ken for the past 4 years and would very highly recommend him as a coach. He has taken me from Olympic distance races to an Ironman. He coached me thru my first Half Ironman, my first marathon and my first Ironman. With Ken's coaching, there has not been a race that, at the finish line, I was not amazed at the results. I went from just wanting to finish to winning my Age Group and placing overall. I work full time and am a mother of 2; Ken really personalized my workouts to fit my lifestyle. Most importantly, it was all done relatively injury free.

(Coach's Note: Michelle has won numerous Age Group awards at local events. She finished 3rd overall at 2007 Jackson County Triathlon; next fastest F45-49 was almost 40 minutes behind!)

Michelle Bales-Woods
2007 Ironman Wisconsin - 12:15 (Top 40+ Athena)
2007 Spirit of Racine (Half Iron) - 5:15

Ken Welsh is an incredible coach! His knowledge and expertise are perfectly suited for an Ironman age-grouper like myself. With a wife, 4 children and a business to run, it is critical for me to have a coach that can work around all of these important elements in my life. He has the same elements and his life…so he gets it. On top of it, he has been able to cross the finish line at Kona twice. He has continually customized my training to fit all of these demands.
I had completed 3 Ironmans prior to starting with Ken but he helped me get into the best shape of my life. I still have some big goals to tackle including Ironman Canada in 2009.  I look forward to having him push me to achieve each one. Thanks Ken!

Kirk Behrendt
Ironman Athlete - 2007

Hiring Ken as my coach got me into better shape than at any other time during the previous 6 years of training and racing triathlons.  I was more prepared going into a Half Ironman event with him than I had been for a full Ironman on my own.  I have a stressful job and live on Manhattan's Lower East Side so I have unique challenges but Ken understands the need to balance life, work, and tri training.

One of the greatest benefits I received from Ken's coaching was accountability.  Knowing he was reviewing my training log motivated me to train harder and smarter than when I was training on my own.  Ken is also very responsive to questions about training and racing which has helped me grow as an athlete and improve my performance.  Whether you live in Kansas City or New York City, I would highly recommend hiring Ken as a coach.  Much thanks Ken for getting me from the bottom quartile of my age group to the top!

James L. DiNardo

Half Ironman Athlete - 2008

Prior to hiring Ken I had run six marathons but was looking for something new. Since then I have done the Boston Marathon as well as my first Olympic distance and Half Ironman triathlons. While working with Ken I have found my workouts easy to follow and specific to my upcoming events.  It is great to be training with a plan, having each day's session specifically laid out. This has made the training more enjoyable and my performance at events more successful.  Also, Ken has taught me a lot about fueling my body properly during a race as well as training the right way using heart rate zones.

I have three kids and travel a lot but Ken has been able to incorporate my workouts around my work and home life. My ultimate goal is a full Ironman which, with Ken's guidance, I hope to achieve within the next few years. There is no way I could accomplished my goals without Ken.

(Coach's note: Mike couldn't swim 4 laps without stopping and didn't own a bike until we started together in March.  By working hard and following the plan he was completing 2-mile swims and 60+ mile rides within a few months!)

Mike Malfer
Half Ironman Athlete - 2008

A DNF and visit to the ICU was my first experience with Ironman racing. After that ordeal I promised my family I would hire a coach to guide me during my next attempt. After meeting with Ken I was confident my second Ironman attempt would be much more successfully than my first. Because I have a demanding career, active children, and multiple side businesses I have limited training time. The only way that I was going to be successful was by maximizing the value of the time I had, while minimizing the impact on other areas of my life.

Ken was able to do just that!  The plan he designed not only allowed me to successfully finish Ironman Wisconsin, but I did so an hour faster than the goal I had set for myself and PR'd every other race during the season.

Ken's guidance and insight throughout the year were pivotal in achieving my desired level of fitness, to becoming more efficient with my limited training hours, and to exceed my Ironman goals. I felt strong and confident throughout and crossed the line with a big SMILE on my face. Thanks Ken!

Dave Schultz
Half & Full Ironman Athlete - 2007

I have been working with Ken since December 2004, I started with him because I wanted to get into the sport of triathlon. Up to that point I was an occasional runner, but I didn't know much about swimming or biking and had never done a triathlon. I thought it would be better to find someone who could help me rather than spend time and energy trying to learn it all on my own. Over the last few years Ken's approach has made me a better, more balanced athlete; helping me improve my swimming and cycling while building on my strength in running.
I appreciate Ken's concise, direct, and 'to the point' workouts. They are easy to follow, and I enjoy having a set plan each day. I find the sessions are designed specifically for me, structured towards my fitness goals, yet flexible enough to accommodate my frequent business travel. I feel working with "Coach Ken" has helped me in all areas of competition; I have seen steady improvement each year in my speed and endurance. Also, Ken's understanding of my other responsiblities has left me enough time to still be a father and husband.
For athletes of all levels, if you're looking for a coach who gives you high goals to strive for, a proven method to achieve them and balances the rest of your life's demands, then Ken is the coach for you.

(Coach's note: Aaron could barely swim when we started, he successfully finished his first Half Iron distance race at Pigman in August 2007 with a 34 minute swim.)


Aaron Williams
Half Ironman Athlete - 2007 & 2008

  
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