Athletes’ experience with The Endurance Drive

Coach Jim Anderson

I can’t recommend Jim and the entire Endurance Drive coaching staff enough. They are skilled coaches who are able to modify training based off of athlete goals, fatigue, and when life just gets in the way. More importantly, they are great people who are genuinely invested in and excited for their athletes. Working with Jim has completely changed how I approach training and I look forward to being part of this crew for years to come! - Neil M., Triathlete and 2x IRONMAN Finisher

After 9 years of inactivity, I decided that I wanted to run a 100 mile race. It wasn't to get in shape or run fast. Rather, I wanted to go through the process of training to run 100 miles for the life lessons in consistency and discipline. I had never run on trails and the longest race in which I previously participated was 10km. I was introduced to Jim through a college friend and we got to work right away. After several setbacks due to lingering knee and ankle injuries, I finally was able to start training for my first ultra - an 80km race through the mountains in Costa Rica. Race day came and...I WON women's overall! Jim is such a pleasure to work with - he's flexible, understanding, and his coaching goes far beyond just uploading workouts in TrainingPeaks. I felt completely prepared going into my first ultramarathon, both mentally and physically. I look forward to continuing this journey to 100 miles and seeing where trail running takes me (UTMB!!) - Maria J., Ultrarunner

Jim had me totally locked in physically and mentally for my first Ironman (Lake Placid 2023). He has so much knowledge and is a dream to work with. - Chris B., Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

Working alongside Jim has been an incredible journey. Beyond just being a coach, he has become a true friend who embodies authentic values, such as savoring life and striving to become the best version of oneself. Jim takes the time to understand your motivations, uncovering the inner drive that propels you towards ambitious goals like completing an Ironman. He leverages this insight to consistently inspire and support you throughout the myriad challenges that arise during a rigorous training period (and believe me, there are many!). Jim consistently radiates positivity and possesses the unique ability to prepare you for the race while considering the demands of your busy everyday life. I wholeheartedly endorse him to anyone from a beginner to a seasoned veteran who wants to get even better! - Zach M., Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

I came to Jim as an average marathoner with 0 triathlon experience and the lofty goal of completing an ironman in 7 months time. Instead of laughing me out of the room, he built me a training plan that gave me everything I needed to cross that finish line. Most of all, his support throughout the process was the difference maker. - Corey T., Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

Training with The Endurance Drive feels more like being a part of a team rather than just having a coach. I’m continually amazed by how generous, personal and encouraging the coaches and workouts are. I’ve never considered myself to be a great athlete but working with The Endurance Drive has me tapped into a level of fitness I never thought I could achieve. I’ve been in really good shape before but I’ve never been as happy, healthy or had more endurance than I do today. I owe a lot of that to the guidance of The Endurance Drive coaches and “teammates.” - Robert G., Triathlete, Ultrarunner, and IRONMAN Finisher

Coach Katie Clayton

When looking for a coaching program it was really important to me to have a female coach. Working with Katie was the greatest thing I did during my first Ironman prep! She was incredibly responsive, and excited, and pushed me every week to get better and stronger. When I had a big injury mid-training cycle Katie was there to support me and adapted all of my training to get me back on my feet and CRUSH my first full-distance Ironman in 100 days! She is truly the best and I can’t wait to continue to be a part of the Endurance Drive team this next race season. - Melissa G., Triathlete and IRONMAN finisher

I was immediately drawn to Coach Katie when I found the Endurance Drive website. Her knowledge and experience in working with female endurance athletes distinguished her from other options I considered. In 2022, Katie helped me train for and conquer my goal of completing my first Olympic distance triathlon feeling strong and with a smile on my face. Her coaching plans challenged my growth edge, made me a Zone 2 believer (!), and helped me improve my speed and power. Along the way, we realized I am a longer-distance trail runner at heart. With Katie's encouragement, coaching, and guidance, I finished the 23k Broken Arrow Skyrace in Lake Tahoe feeling strong, powerful, and grinning ear to ear. We're continuing to focus on longer trail races and sprint tri's, all of which bring me great joy and a sense of personal accomplishment. As a "regular" middle-aged athlete, my primary goals for my athletic pursuits are to train for "life" and to have a blast while doing so. Having Katie as my coach has exceeded my expectations on every level! - Gina D., Ultrarunner and Triathlete

I first met Katie as a member of the Dartmouth Triathlon Team. I have now been working with her one-on-one for over a year while training for both triathlon and running races across a range of distances. It has been so exciting to see progress and feel that I am reaching my full potential as an athlete. Katie has helped me meet and exceed even my most ambitious goals. Her training plans are incredibly specific and adaptable. Katie is so knowledgeable about the sport, drawing on her years of experience as an athlete, coach, and, most recently, researcher. Her knowledge of female athlete physiology & extensive background in data analysis uniquely inform her insights into the training process. Most of all, I appreciate her process-oriented, person-first approach and prioritization of my overall health and wellbeing. Training with Katie feels truly collaborative: she checks in with me frequently and provides real-time feedback on workouts. Katie is both one of my biggest supporters and a source of inspiration. I look forward to continuing to work with her and could not recommend her more highly! - Abbi F., Triathlete, Age Group Worlds Qualifier, and Runner

Katie’s plans were thorough, thoughtful and consistent. She really took the time to listen to where I was at with my body, my monthly cycle and other life stressors so that training each week was progressive and realistic. Katie was always ready to talk about nutrition, fueling, strategy or anything else I needed support with to understand the training plan and its correlation to my goal. - Brittni G., Ultrarunner and Gravel Cyclist

I started working with Katie just after coming back from a big injury and a runner background. From day 1, Katie was very helpful in making me a stronger athlete. She taught me to fuel properly and enough and I saw the difference in my training. I also learned to train in quality and not quantity. These two simple lessons made my energy levels high and consistent during long training. I quickly developed a close relationship with Katie due to the very personalized approach she gives her athletes. I was new in the world of long distance triathlon and Katie always answered my questions quickly and took the time to respond with as many details as needed. The biggest victory I got from working with Katie is that I was on the starting line of the longest effort so far of my life, very calm and confident that I did the work to perform at my best. I enjoyed the process so much that the final result didn’t matter. Prior to the race, Katie took the time to discuss a race strategy and I ended up surprising myself on the swim & bike and being able to run at my full capacity. It’s my turn to say it, Coach K, you’re amazing, thank you! - Élissa L., Triathlete and 4th overall / Age Group Winner at 70.3 Musselman

I couldn’t be happier with the attention to detail, knowledge, positivity, and understanding that Katie brings to coaching. After having two disappointing Ironman races over the span of three years, I endeavored to conquer the distance. I had been using an online training platform and, while it built a nice base of fitness, it wasn’t enough to help me get the results I wanted. I sought out and interviewed coaches who understand what it means to train in the short dark days of a New England winter, who integrate training into life, and who recognize the importance of unstructured fun. After interviewing a few coaches I decided to partner with Katie Clayton at The Endurance Drive. I’ve since completed Ironman Lake Placid where I shaved two hours off of my Ironman personal best. I look forward to many more personal bests and a long partnership with Katie and The Endurance Drive. - Robyn S., Triathlete, Runner and IRONMAN finisher

Katie’s the perfect dynamic coach for anyone. In coaching me as a first timer in the Ironman distance, Katie was incredibly knowledgeable across all facets of Ironman as a serious competitor herself, practical, empathetic, tactical and a partner to her athletes. She adjusted to my performance and needs from day 0 to finish line and was strategic around how to improve specific areas like stroke for me. She’s a stellar human, coach, and athlete and brings all three to her coaching relationships. - Liselle P., Triathlete and IRONMAN finisher

I had participated in 2 triathlons when I finally decided to get a coach. For my first 2 years, I spent time reading articles, watching various YouTube videos, and combining pre-developed workout programs. By the time I discovered the Endurance Drive and Katie, I had an idea of the philosophy that I valued. Prior to working with Katie, I would have strong bouts of performance followed by minor injuries due to poor program development. I found myself pushing harder or easier based upon the stressors in my life. Katie helped me to find a synergic balance. I built my base, progressed my speed, and improved my racing confidence while staying within my time constraints. The quality of my workouts improved while my stress about my workouts decreased. I had a long term goal of finishing a sprint triathlon in the top 3 for my age group. I never imagined that it would occur in my first race after training with Katie! Katie’s swim workouts helped me feel comfortable and confident in open water for the first time. I felt like I was flying on my bike and enjoyed passing people. And I had one of my best 5Ks to date. Katie’s philosophy, program development, and flexibility helped me achieve my goals while maintaining a balance in other areas of my life. I highly recommend Katie and the Endurance Drive! - Candice B., Triathlete and Runner

Coach Katie is the type of coach who makes you feel like big athletic goals can coexist with big life goals. And she doesn’t just “allow” the coexistence; she works with her athletes every single day to ensure that our training plans enable us to achieve goals of both types. As a medical student training to be competitive at the 70.3 distance, I knew that having a coach would help me get the very most out of the time that I put towards training—and Katie’s plans certainly do the trick. But even more important than the months of personalized workouts are Coach Katie’s daily check-in comments on just about every activity that I complete. She makes it abundantly clear that she wants to hear what her athletes have to share about our workouts, and she never fails to respond with much-appreciated coaching wisdom. [break] I’ve been coached by Katie throughout some of the busiest times of my life, completing workouts while in all sorts of physical and mental states. No matter the circumstances, I have always felt like Coach Katie wants to see her athletes succeed in life just as much as she wants to see us succeed in sport. In practice, this attitude manifests itself as regular check-ins on her athletes’ physical and mental health, a willingness to restructure key workouts to fit with a demanding schedule, phone calls or texts to provide clarification or support, and a clear commitment to ensuring that her athletes are getting the best possible return from the time that we spend training. [break] As an example of that last point: Katie most recently coached me to a third-place AG finish at Ironman 70.3 Maine (my second 70.3), where I qualified for Ironman 70.3 Worlds. There were multiple days throughout this build so packed with studying and school-related obligations that my workout(s) were forced into the very early hours of the morning or late into the night. The first time it happened, Coach Katie reached out as soon as the workout uploaded to check in on my sleep hours, recommend a slightly shorter alternative, and adjust workouts later in the week to accommodate the change. At the time, I was worried about being “off plan” and thought the need for accommodations would affect my performance. Instead, infrequent but much-appreciated adjustments like this one from Coach Katie helped me stay true to my performance goals without sacrificing my health. I strongly believe that this type of compassionate and individualized coaching is one of the biggest reasons why I’ve been able to build through multiple race seasons without injury or really any illness, feeling motivated and excited about triathlon, finding plenty of joy in the sport and the community—even during intensely busy periods of life. This was never the case before I started with the Endurance Drive in 2023, but it’s been a given ever since. [break] I’ll end by adding that if you’re an endurance athlete who’s reading this testimonial and wondering whether you should reach out to Coach Katie, this is your sign to send that message. Katie is an incredible coach. She’s also an incredible athlete, researcher, human, and friend. If you’re chasing an athletic goal—even (or perhaps especially) if you’ve got big life goals to go with it—she’s someone who you want on your team. - Audrey H., Triathlete and 70.3 Worlds Qualifier

Katie is knowledgeable, positive, responsive, engaged—everything I could ask for in a coach. She comments on every workout with suggestions, a “CRUSHED IT!!!”, or a question about how it felt. She takes the long term view of athlete health and performance, and suggests modifications or extra rest days to avoid injury/burnout. And she helped me finish my first 70.3 injury free, something I couldn’t have imagined even a year ago! - Jessie A., Triathlete

Coach Katie prepared me for my first 70.3. At first, I was nervous to have a busy training schedule, and I knew the long rides would push me out of my comfort zone. But Katie made me feel strong. Her encouraging comments on every workout motivated me, and week-over-week, she helped me prioritize and recalibrate, which showed her level of attention to and consideration for my well-being. I could not have asked for a better coach, and I look forward to receiving her expertise for my next race! - Zach S., Triathlete

Katie is a phenomenal coach. She is hands on, knowledgeable and adaptable. She gives you all the tools you need to properly execute the workouts with clear instructions and easy availability via text or call. Her weekly check-in forms mean that she knows what is going on in your life and she adapts your training to take into account life stresses as they arise. She has read about and is actively researching sports science so you know that her advice is backed by both literature and experience. I could not recommend her more strongly and look forward to many more years working with her! - Eloise A., Triathlete and Runner

I trained with Katie for my second Ironman 70.3 in Florida and she is the #1 reason I was able to pull off an effective training strategy on top of a demanding full time job. Katie met with me before I started training and made a huge effort to get to know me and my triathlon background, understand my weekly schedule, and answer any initial questions I had. She tailored my training schedule around this conversation and made sure that it would be manageable for me to fit in all my training before work with larger sessions on the weekends. I felt so supported throughout this whole process as Katie constantly checked in with me, commented on the data from my workouts, changed my schedule due to any travel/sickness, and made sure that I was happy and healthy. She made this process seamless and totally manageable despite my concerns about a demanding work schedule. Her workouts were incredibly effective and it was cool seeing my bike FTP climb and run pace drop as I peaked in my training cycle. I dropped 45 minutes off my race time by training with Katie and will be working with her to prepare for the Ironman 70.3 World Championships next year! She is truly amazing and made all the difference in my performance. - Izzy W., Triathlete and 70.3 World Championships Qualifier

Katie’s coaching style is tailored to each athlete. Not only has she helped me come back from an injury and excel, but she supports me in every other aspect of my life and training and understands that there is so much more to athletic growth than a completing a scheduled workout: balancing nutrition, life stress, sleep, and emotional wellbeing. She always makes herself available for support. I couldn’t ask for a better coach. - Robin S., Triathlete and 70.3 World Championships Qualifier

Working with Coach Katie has completely changed the way I train! She has helped make me a much better athlete while also helping me find balance with my training. I can’t credit her enough! - Elena L., Triathlete and Age Group World Championships Qualifier

Coach Kevin Prunty

Working with Kevin was the best decision I made leading up to Ironman Lake Placid. When I first signed up I thought I would be able to follow a standard online program and coach myself. Once training began I found myself lost with no home base to check back into. Kevin provided that home base and took the stress out of planning. Not only did he make training an educational experience, but he made it enjoyable as well. Working with Kevin also introduced me to a lot of like-minded people that I see being a part of my life long term. Having the opportunity to train and share experiences with people who have similar goals has been extremely inspirational. Kevin started as a stranger, became my coach, and now is a great friend. If you’re on the fence, take my advice and give him a call. I couldn’t imagine working with anyone else! - Nick B., Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

I had run two marathons without Kevin, and got hurt training for each. Since working with Kevin, I've trained for 2 marathons and Ironman Lake Placid - running faster and without any pain. Kev is a great coach, athlete, and motivator, but is an even better guy. He leads by example and can be creative when life gets in the way of a training plan. I have recommended him to every friend that's signed up for an event and can't thank him enough for all the help. - Tim B., Runner, Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

Kevin helped me train for my FIRST EVER Ironman, and the highest compliment I can pay to Kevin is that I want to do it AGAIN. The variety of workouts in our training plan kept me motivated, injury free and feeling fresh. I felt prepared and confident headed into race day, and that meant that I got to enjoy the experience that much more. I have recommended Kevin as a coach to anyone who utters the word triathlon. - Meghan B., Triathlete and IRONMAN Finisher

Kevin’s knowledge of the sport and connection to his athletes make it effortless to buy all the way into the journey and trust every step of the process. How you prep for an endurance event is crucial, and there’s no one else I’d want in my corner leading the charge in prepping the mind and body. From training load to nutrition, recovery and everything in between, Coach Kev is truly an expert of his craft. - Michael K., Ultrarunner