Speed Sherpa is a triathlon community: We have four outstanding multisport coaches and a triathlon team of approximately 80 athletes. We aim to provide a supportive, fun, and inspiring forum for athletes of all abilities through our social media accounts and our private team facebook forum. Our team is made up of both rookies and World Championship caliber athletes. We feel strongly that you can have elites in an endurance squad without being elitist.  We also feel strongly about fostering a healthy balance of training/racing and family/friendships – success in one doesn’t mean giving up the other!

Tricky question! It depends on the person’s background: marathon runner? weekend warrior cyclist? cancer survivor that wants to prove anything is possible? But here’s an answer: When people jump straight into doing an Ironman as their first triathlon, they often end up with a “one and done” mentality. The training time and then physical challenge on race day is just enormous. But if people start off learning and growing through short-distance races, they tend to adopt a “lifetime sport” outlook, so that’s what we recommend. The short stuff is just as physically challenging if you race it right, but it takes a lot less training time, and is an easier balance on family and friends. You can do more of them per season as well, so it’s easier to evolve as an athlete. We don’t usually recommend an Iron-distance race to athletes without at least 2 years of triathlon training and racing under their belts, but each situation is different. 

Dave started coaching athletes as a way to pay for this sport that can be a financial drain and to share the knowledge he gained once he worked with a coach. After his first few seasons racing he got injured due to poor running form and lack of periodization in his training. With the help of a coach he was able to continue in the sport and get better results. That was more than a decade ago. Now Dave continues to work with athletes who tend to have significant racing goals (ie. world championship qualification, pro card, multiple ultra-endurance events per year, etc.).  He is devoted to helping them reach their goals in a safe, sustainable way. Sara became involved when we decided to launch a triathlon team after our old team dissolved. From there it’s grown more than we could have ever imagined! 

The triathlon community is filled with inspiring stories if you take the time to listen – from people who have lost hundreds of pounds, to people who have overcome debilitating illness physical or mental, people who are caregivers for parents or children who need special attention, people who have gone from couch to podium, etc. Everyone has a reason to suffer, because training and racing requires that of you. It’s not an exaggeration to say that the athletes on our team inspire us constantly, in who they are on and off the field of competition as people, parents, and professionals. 

Dave’s favorite overall win was the Atlantic City triathlon last year: it’s a large race along the beach in New Jersey, about 45 minutes from where Dave grew up. It meant a lot to win on that course. Dave’s other favorite race was Xterra National Championships where he qualified for the Xterra World Championship. It was a breakthrough race for him in the offroad triathlon world going against the best in the country. Sara’s most proud moment is  pair of races after having a baby. Following a very difficult recovery time, she wanted to prove she could come back stronger physically and mentally. On her birthday and at the same Atlantic City triathlon Dave won she won 2nd age group just 5 months postpartum. In her next race she won her age group at 7 months postpartum.  Sara is also very proud of her 31 min. swim and 2:42 bike at Eagleman this season  (the run was a different story!)

Probably not anyone considered famous, but plenty of people with incredible achievements – I have trained a blind paraolympics runner, athletes who have qualified for both the Ironman World Championships and Team USA Sprint Distance World Championships just weeks apart, and an athlete who is currently gunning for her pro card and has been profiled in many triathlon media forums.

We want to continue to support our community of athletes and the specific athletes we coach. We let the community grow organically and set the direction of the team. Our athletes constantly surprise with the challenges they want to tackle, whether it’s a triple ironman or the new swim/run races, we can’t wait to see what they come up with next and to join them in the journey!