|
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!)
After over 15 marathons and a couple Olympic and half IM triathlons, I decided to pursue the ultimate goal of completing my first Ironman. I never had a coach before, but I knew training for an IM would be different than everything else and would require as much guidance as I could get. That’s when I found Ken. He made 8 months of IM training seem like a breeze. He gives you your workouts each week, eliminating the second-guessing and doubt as to whether you’re focusing on the right things and doing the right distance, intensity, etc. In addition, he tailors the workouts to build on your strengths and work on your weaknesses. Ken realized I was a strong runner but a horrible swimmer and was able to structure my training around this. Without Ken I would have undoubtedly logged way too may running miles and swam minimally, but he forced me to get in the pool…A LOT…resulting in a significant improvement in my swimming. Ken is also cognizant of the fact that you have a life beyond training and is able to setup a training schedule that you can still balance with the rest of your life. Ken was not only a great coach but he was able to do it 100’s of miles away as I live in Philadelphia, PA. He was always available either through phone or email and always very responsive. I highly recommend Ken as a coach regardless of whether you are a beginner or seasoned athlete as he will undoubtedly help you improve beyond your current abilities.
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.
Kirk Behrendt -2007 Ironman Wisconsin
Ken delivers! After 8 years in the sport, I was looking for some new training methods and help improving at the 70.3 distance. I had taken myself as far as I could on my own. Despite being 43 years old, having a very demanding career and a busy family life I was able to knock nearly 30 minutes off my personal best and nearly qualified for 70.3 World Championships. I believe that the benefits came from a pre-season analysis of where I was and where I wanted to go. Together with my key goals in mind we mapped out a training and racing plan for the year. Ken and I worked very well together. I would recommend his coaching to anyone new to triathlon on up through the experienced athlete who is looking for guidance from someone who knows the sport and relates to people very well. I plan on setting new goals and working together again with Ken for the 2010 season Sandy Cohen - 2009 Half Ironman Athlete
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! (Coach's Note: Jim dropped 90 minutes off is previous PR at Ironman Lake Placid this season!) James L. DiNardo - 2008 Half Ironman Athlete & 2009 Ironman Lake Placid
Ken's workouts are varied and challenging, but he also adds time for recovery. He is cognizant of my work and family commitments and has personalized my workouts to accommodate those commitments. I look forward to continued success working with Ken in the future! (Coach's note: In the course of three weeks Kelly was the Women's Overall Winner of the Kansas City Triathlon, won the KC Corporate Challenge Triathlon and then won her Age Group at IM Kansas 70.3, earning a spot at the World Championships in Clearwater.) Kelly Dippold - 2009 Half Ironman Athlete & 70.3 World Championships in Clearwater
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 when we started. By working hard and following the plan he was completing 2-mile swims and 60+ mile rides within a few months and posted a 32 minute swim at IM Kansas 70.3) Mike Malfer - 2008/09 Half Ironman Athlete
I am truly the guy no one ever thinks about when discussing triathlon. I, myself, thought triathletes had a few screws loose. I had a running background, having done 4 marathons and several more 1/2 marathons. However, my swimming resembled a giraffe being tossed into the middle of a lake, and biking was something kids do to get around the neighborhood. I committed to triathlon on a whim with no idea how to prepare - putting it all together seemed crazy. I meet Ken shortly after arriving in Leavenworth and I knew right away I was in good hands. I appreciated his military background and felt he understood my situation. Over the course of 11 months, with his patience and guidance, I trained for my race. When the day finally arrived I went into the Kansas 70.3 with a high level of confidence and after successfully completing the race I was able to bask in the glow of completing a goal I had thought was next to impossible! Looking back it is hard to grasp how far I have come. I am 100% certain the primary reason I succeeded was because of Ken's help. You can be a runner on your own, but I strongly believe to be a triathlete you need the help of a coach like Ken. Thanks Ken, I really mean it. Kevin Nalette, Major USACGSC Ft. Leavenworth - 2009 Half Ironman Athlete
Working with Ken these past two years have been great. My PR's at the Half Ironman & Full Ironman distances have dropped significantly and the focus Ken provides has played a major role in my performance. I also appreciate the personal attention Ken provides to his athletes, helping you balance your training with work & family commitments. Whether you are new to the sport or an experienced athlete, I highly recommend working with Ken to help you achieve the next goal on your list. (Coach's Note: Tim's dedication and hard work enabled him to improve his Ironman PR by over 60 minutes at Ironman Coeur d'Alene in 2009!) Tim O'Donnell -2008 Ironman Louisville & 2009 Ironman CDA
Prior to working with Ken I had been training day to day with no plan and no clue what to do. I loved doing triathlons but was looking for something to take my training to the next level. Ken helped me to do just that with a plan tailored to my needs and goals, giving me easy to follow work-outs each day that pushed me to see what I could really do. Aside from the work-outs, he was also always available to answer any questions and he helped me with other areas of racing, like my nutrition plan. Ken helped me prepare for the ITU Long Course Age Group World Championships in Holland. I was a little intimidated because the race was longer than I had ever gone, further than a Half Ironman. Ken's coaching and excellent advice made it a completely doable feat that I enjoyed every minute of. I highly recommend Ken to anyone who is looking for a coach who can push them to find their true potential while having a lot of fun doing it! Thanks for everything Ken! (Coach's note: Aimee is a very dedicated young lady who won her Age Group in Holland in 2008 and earned a spot at the World Championships in Clearwater in 2009.) Aimee Warnke - 2008 ITU Long Course Age Group World Champion, 2009 Half Ironman Athlete & Clearwater Qualifier
Aaron Williams - 2007/08 Half Ironman Athlete
"Hey Coach, I am so thankful for what you have done for me. As you know over the years I have made some poor choices regarding racing and training. Prior to hiring you I was on track for a colossal disaster at IM Wisconsin. From the moment we started the progress I made was astounding. I really appreciated your timely advice and the “kicks in the butt” you provided as my training progressed. Telling me I was being a baby and that “excuses do nothing for you at Ironman” really hit home. There were times I thought you were wrong or that you didn't’ understand me, but in the end I did what you told me and it turned out you knew me better than I knew myself. Finishing Ironman in less than 12 hours was well beyond what anyone thought I would be able to do (except you and me.) Your wisdom, support, and ability to call me out when required gave me what I needed to do what I did. I am telling every triathlete I know that they can benefit from your coaching. Thank you so much." Preston Williams - 2008 Ironman Wisconsin
At age 43 I decided to make several significant changes in my life, one of which was to improve my fitness level. At that point I weighed 304 lbs and could not run a ¼ mile without stopping and gasping for air. Over a three year period I dropped nearly 100 lbs and set the goal to do triathlons. After doing some research I found Ken and together we began a process that had me continue to shed unwanted pounds and resulted in me successfully completing the KC Triathlon, the Kansas UltraMax 50, the Chicago Triathlon and the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon during my first season of racing. In each case I finished strong and exceeded my goals. Ken customized a plan that matched my mediocre abilities when we started, but then grew in volume and intensity as my fitness levels improved. I am a goal oriented guy, so Ken’s support, weekly goals and feedback process is perfect for me. I travel a ton for work, he builds my workouts to go with me - no excuses given or accepted!! Although I have moved from KC to San Francisco I am continuing my relationship with Ken as we work towards my first 70.3 and ultimately a full Ironman. None of this would have ever been remotely possible without Ken's help, planning, guidance and confidence! Alan Winters - 2009 Beginner to Olympic Distance + |
I have been doing triathlons on and off for over 25 years with some success. I started to get discouraged and lost a lot of confidence the last couple of years as my times were getting slower and I wasn't recovering like I used to. I thought it was just because I was getting older. After meeting Ken and hearing so many good things about his coaching talents, I decided to work with him to see if we could turn things around. What a great decision! After only 3 months, I have turned in personal best times in Sprint, Olympic, and 1/2 Ironman distance races at the age of 47.
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.
