Helping you become an energized and strong triathlete
Have fun achieving your triathlon goals without burnout
Hey there!
I'm Jessica, a Registered Dietitian, Sports Nutritionist, Professional Kinesiologist, CSEP-Clinical Exercise Physiologist, CSEP-High Performance Specialist, NCCP- Swim Coach, NCCP-Triathlon Coach (in training), and triathlete for 11 years and counting.
I help triathletes, just like you, have more energy, feel stronger and faster, and reach their big triathlon goals without burning out or feeling overwhelmed.
I'm not your average sports nutritionist and strength coach and triathlon coach
I started competitive swimming at 11 years old and loved it! I felt accomplished every time I hit a personal best. In my late teens, I pushed myself to become faster and more efficient. I thrived on hitting personal bests and wanted to do everything that I could to help me do so. I ate healthy foods frequently throughout the day and I strength trained after swim practice. And I kept getting faster right up until I retired to go to university.
In university, I sought out a master's swim club as I desired that discipline and euphoria. However, this swim club was non-competitive and I needed a goal to work towards. So I joined the university's triathlon club as they swam at the same time as the master's team.
I was hooked. I had two new disciplines to learn - road biking and running. However, as I'm sure you have experienced yourself, training for three sports takes a lot more time than one - and I had a lot to learn.
I'm a triathlete who needs a coach:
I have been training for triathlons for 10+ years now. And I was all of those examples above.
When I first started with triathlons, I didn't know where to start, so I joined a local club. That worked until I moved away and my new town didn't have a club.
So I started training on my own. And I struggled. I either wasn't consistent with my training or I was burning myself out. I wasn't having fun and I wasn't seeing results. I almost quit.
But then, I hired a virtual triathlon coach. She connected me with others who were training virtually. She adjusted my training to support my busy life, but still keep a good training/life balance. She has helped me keep my training fun while making me faster.
And I decided to become a triathlon coach, because of her. So I can help others, just like me.
I'm a triathlete who had to figure out how to strength train for triathlon all on her own
Surprisingly, my first triathlon coach did not give out strength programs - we were just told to do it, so I did.
I remember strength training before a brick and my legs were dead. I didn't know how to adjust my strength training to match my new sport - I just copied what I did from my competitive swimming days.
I injured my knee a few years ago during an interval run. And my knee bothered me so much that I even used crutches while walking. I had to pull out of my all my races that season.
In hindsight, my strength training did not match my training as a triathlete at all. I was doing heavy weight lifts before high-intensity workouts and wasn't giving my body the time it needed to rest.
Once I figured out how to periodize my strength training around my triathlon training, I haven't had another injury (and hopefully will never have one again).
I'm a triathlete who struggled to eat properly
For years, I struggled with nausea and running out of energy during workouts, as a swimmer and a triathlete.
At the time, I thought, "it's okay, it's normal to puke in your mouth during workouts - that means you're working hard"
I even fainted one time on the pool deck during swim practice. Everyone asked me if I was eating enough, and I said yes, because I thought I was. I just copied what my teammates did during workouts and didn't think about what I was eating outside of training.
And knowing what I know now, I was not getting in all the calories I needed for the level of training I was doing.
I wasn't eating enough carbs before my workouts, I was eating too much too close to workouts, and I wasn't eating enough overall on a day-to-day basis.
I just didn't know what I was doing when it came to nutrition.
Once I learned what to eat, how much, and when, AND I started paying attention to eating enough, eating the right foods, and eating at the right time, my triathlon performance improved.
I hit a personal best in the sprint distance twice in the same summer. I don't bonk on long rides anymore. I have more energy during the day. And I rarely have nausea during my workouts.
I know that I am not the only one who struggled with training burnout, poor nutrition, and lack of strength training
I did not have all the information and knowledge that I have now, so how could I have known any better?
This is why I focus on helping you, my fellow triathletes, learn how to train, eat, and lift weights for triathlon, so you have fun, and feel and perform your best!
Explore my nutrition courses, strength training memberships, and triathlon coaching to see how we can work together to improve your triathlon performance!