Competitive and Elite Athlete Stories

Lesley Tuggle

Gardnerville, NV

Triathlon: 2011 Ironman Hawaii Qualifier, Winner 70.3 St. Croix, Winner 70.3 Buffalo Springs

"My job as a flight attendant on international routes makes it really difficult to effectively schedule the training I need. Marc moved to Gardnerville and I decided it was about time to try some professional coaching at the ripe age of 65. Never stop learning, even if you are getting slower. He is truly committed to improving his athletes no matter their ability, experience or age.

I think we were both surprised at my stability and mobility tests. They were better than many athletes 3 decades younger. I have always been a good stretcher and exerciser while watching the evening news.

Our main goal has been to make my training more interesting and efficient.  Hopefully to also make me a little faster or a least improve my techniques so as to avoid some of the natural slowing of maturity.  I have definitely found that after a long race I am not sore like I used to be. This is probably due the various drills I did throughout the winter months and Marc’s “smarter - not harder” approach to training for competition.

Decades of teaching allows Marc to just glance at your form, whether it is swimming, cycling or running and know immediately what to practice to improve and how to do it."

Linda Biaggi

Gardnerville, NV

Running: Davis Stampede 1/2 marathon: 1st AG, 10th female; Boston Marathon; Prison Hill Escape 1/2 marathon: 1st AG, 5th female; Silver State 1/2 marathon: 1st AG, 4th female;  CV Days 5.8 mi: 1st AG, 2nd female, Pyramid Lake Triathlon 2nd AG

"I was referred to Marc by my orthopedic doctor as a way to work through an injury and learn to run and train smarter.  After assessing flexibility, mobility and stability in addition to running form, Marc planned a series of exercises targeted at increasing my near-zero flexibility and strengthening the core. 

He developed a day-by-day plan based on the level of hamstring pain occurring and included swimming and cycling in the workouts.  Gradually, run time was increased from only minutes as the injury healed to finally the times and intensity necessary for marathon training. 

Throughout all of this, Marc worked tirelessly to find the right physical therapist versed in the ASTYM methods he thought essential to assist healing, in addition to a nutritionist to help solve G.I. issues. After 6 months, I ran my first race - a 1/2 marathon - and was more than surprised and pleased with the effort and final result. 

Marc's depth of knowledge and expertise as a coach certainly brought me to this point, and I look forward to the next level. Being coached to run smarter and in Marc's words, "until you're 85" has meant much more than physical training. 

We have worked extensively and sometimes daily on cognitive issues that have served as limiters to running strong and for the most part, are applicable to a well lived life.  These 'worksheets' have become second nature in my thought process and are serving as a foundation for each run.

Marc's style and vast knowledge have certainly opened my eyes to running goals I never considered possible." 

Pegi Wheeler

San Jose, CA

Triathlon: Wildflower 07, First W45-49, Nationals 07 13th W45-49, ITU Worlds

"I started working with Marc Evans in 2004, as a student in his off-season spin & conditioning class. Marc always had a thoughtful and careful approach when working with his students, even in a class environment of 15-20 people or more. When he added a track workout a few years later, I signed up for that as well, and enjoyed it as much as spinning.

Over 2-3 years, I became pretty competitive on the local triathlon circuit, so in 2007, I decided to take the plunge and sign up for personal coaching with Marc and see what I could accomplish. Marc was the perfect coach for me. He developed workouts that fit within my time constraints, and he helped me with a strategy to qualify for the World Age-Group Triathlon Championship. Over a period of six months, I had my best race season ever, qualifying first for Nationals and then Worlds, and beating women who had left me in the dust the previous season.

During that time, I felt healthy and positive as I increased my intensity and strength. The whole experience was both fun and rewarding.  For me, working with Marc made the difference between being a good, solid, but kind of ad-hoc weekend warrior, to a focused athlete who got the most out of every workout.

The personal attention, the customization of the workouts, and his genuine caring for how I did made all the difference."

Patrick Byrne & Patty Nooney

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Triathlon & Adventure racing: Completing 3 Ironman races and podium appearances in 90% of our races

"My wife Patty and I have been trained by Marc for over ten years and have enjoyed great success without injury.  Marc has trained us for Ironman races, Alcatraz swims and a 150 mile international foot race across the Sahara Desert. 

We also completed the World Long course triathlon in Canberra, Australia as members of Team USA. Marc is currently training us for a 150 mile race in Nepal.  Since we live in Florida getting us ready for a race at altitude will be a challenge. 

We are older athletes, I am 67 but Marc's ability to develop programs that allow for recovery but are rigorous enough to compete is invaluable.

He is the best!"

Dirk Bartels

Campbell, CA

Triathlon, Golf, Hockey: 3 times Ironman Hawaii finisher, PR 10:25 h, broke 10 h twice (Ironman Austria and Ironman Canada), finished in the top 70 overall at Ironman Canada 2003. Qualified 2 times for the USAT Long Distance World Championship team and raced in Nice, France, and Ibiza, Spain. I ran a 2:52 marathon at Napa Valley.

"I was looking for a triathlon coach to help me explore my true potential in a sport I picked up when I was 35. My athletic background is ice hockey, I played professional for a couple of years (goalie) and after I left the sport, started a family and become an entrepreneur. I re-engaged into athletics in the late 80ties, running my first marathon.

Marc was exactly what I was looking for. He immediately understood my objectives, and at the same time, saw my potential and my short comings, not being really educated in any of the sports. Hockey players tend to be quite good cyclists, but swimming and running was at best mediocre relative to what I believed was my potential.

Under Marc's coaching, I was able to become an excellent age group athlete, and I believe that I fully explored my potential. I achieved my goals, including qualifying and finishing the Hawaii Ironman, the ITU Long Distance World Championship among many more accomplishments.

But most important, Marc helped me to study the sport. He helped me understand that "no pain / no gain" is stupid, and studying and learning the human movement and make it perfect within the given restrictions each individual has."

Dominique Freeman

La Honda, CA

Equine Endurance Racing: Pan American Open Gold medal with Roger HCF (Cost Azul, Uruguay); qualified for Kentucky WEG 2010.Qualified and selected to represent Great Britain in the WEC Terengganu Malaysia with Roger HCF; 1st place FEI Endurance combination World Rankings 2007 with Roger HCF; 2nd place, off continent gold medal North American Championship FEI **** 160 km Fairhill, MD October 16 2005 (Jayel Super); 1st Place Kings Forest Ride, England July 20th 2003 (Proud Legacy+)

"I have worked with Marc since 2002 when I approached him with a view to designing a specific program for strengthening and fitness as I was finishing events (1 day 100 mile races) but very tired at the end and thus not getting the best from my horse.

Marc designed a comprehensive program the result of which brought my performance results on the World Championship level went from top 50 to top 10. Additionally we garnered a World First Place ranking in 2007.

Being fit and strong for these day-long events enabled me to get the maximum efficiency from my horse and allowed me to finish 'fit to continue'.

More recently we explored the biomechanics of horse and rider and how to tailor a training program so that my coach could get the maximum performance from me during lessons."

Brett McDonnell

Walnut Creek, CA

Triathlon, Ironman

"Started working with Marc as early as 1984-85 where I took an intro to triathlon class after my first triathlon USTS San Francisco in 84 in Livermore, Ca at Del valle regional park. Continued to work with him through the years as a full time coach after college at San Diego State in the years of 1993 and 1994.

Working with Marc had my fastest Hawaii Ironman in 1993 at 9:37. Hawaii 1994 9:57. Marc has taught me training methods that I still use today. Have competed in 8 Hawaii Ironmans. Through Marc I met lifelong training partners that helped us reach our goals, pushing and challenging each other to reach our potential but also having fun."