FROM CLARE J.
“Having never done a triathlon before, I decided to sign up for Ironman Barcelona. I knew leading up to my race day that I would need to be a diligent student of Ironman 140.6 and would need to learn from an experienced and successful Ironman triathlete. I then found Colin. From our first phone call to our last, Colin has been three things:
1. a fountain of triathlon knowledge
2. a reliable communicator
3. an incredibly empathetic person.
Colin helped me craft a robust training plan that allowed me to grow from my first sprint triathlon to ultimately my full distance Ironman. Colin also provided me with race strategy (nutrition protocol and pacing) and was always excited and open to answering any and all of my questions. Before setting foot in Barcelona, Colin was able to alleviate all stress from the traveling process all together so I could remain calm and focused on Swim, Bike, Run.
A year later, I am proud to say that I placed 2nd in my age group at Ironman Barcelona but the most important success measure is this: post-race, it was my mouth that hurt the most from smiling ear to ear for the entirety of my race.
What was once an idea, became a tangible reality and experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life because I had the honor of learning from and being coached by our very own Colin Cook. The lessons I learned can be applied to all areas of my life and for that Colin, I am truly grateful.” – Clare J.
FROM SEAN O.
“
I began working with Colin in preparation of my first Ironman. Colin brought a wealth of experience and insight I knew I could rely on. I learned more in just a few months of working with Colin than I had in my many years or multi-sport prior. Colin puts a great deal of emphasis on making sure his training plans fit the athletes needs. Colin inspired me to try and achieve my best each and every day. In addition to being an amazing coach and athlete, he is an even better person. He is constantly concerned and checking in with his athletes, and genuinely cares about their success. I never doubted him and have no doubt he can help you achieve your best and reach your potential!”
– Sean O, Sub 10 hours and 3rd in his age group in his first Ironman!
FROM MICHAEL D.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Colin for just over a year now and I can hands down say that in that time frame I have made the greatest fitness improvements I have ever made. I initially hired him to help dial in my running in preparation to qualify for Boston. Colin’s approach is tested and true as he approaches your goals with a realistic and specific plan to help you succeed. He understands what it takes to train and compete at every level and the details that make the difference. I was able to knock over 30 minutes off my marathon pace and get qualify with a time under 3 hours. Under his coaching I’ve been able to achieve PRs in every distance and discipline while remaining injury free which is even more important given the demand we put on our bodies in training. His training, racing and nutrition plans are far superior to anything I’ve ever experienced and he was the single biggest success factor throughout the entire race season. There’s no substitution for hard work and he holds you accountable for your results but he also understands the balance of Age Group athletes and puts a huge emphasis on quality over quantity. Being new to swimming and triathlon I had the most fun year of training and racing ever, which in the end is what it’s all about. Getting on the podium isn’t easy but working with Colin undoubtedly gave me the edge to Peak!”
-Michael D.
FROM STACEY D.
“I worked with Colin from sprints up to 70.3 distance races over a year and a half. Over this time period I learned and improved so much in both racing and training. After completing a 70.3 (yet felt incredibly sore after) in the fall, I started working with Colin the next Spring. Colin provided a thoughtfully crafted training schedule and helped with a strategic fueling plan which made my next few races much more enjoyable. I was able to race smarter which resulted in PRs! Swimming is definitely my least favorite discipline to train for but Colin kept the sets fresh and challenging and worked with me in the beginning to ease into higher volume. Colin was flexible to work with if I had vacation planned or a cold sidetracked my training. Leaving the triathlon training planning to Colin is well worth it, would recommend!”
-Stacey D.
FROM JOANNE F.
“I am so happy and grateful to have had Coach Colin’s coaching expertise for the last year. I started working with Coach Colin on December 15, 2016. By April I met my first goal- qualifying for Kona at Ironman Texas. In July I met another goal of qualifying for 70.3 World Championship Chattanooga at Muncie 70.3. Coach Colin was always available to me. He provided me with training based on my current data from all disciplines, constantly updating workouts. My workouts covered everything needed for successful triathloning including swim, bike, run techniques/strategies nutrition, strength, yoga, pilates, equipment, technology and more. Whatever I needed- he was there for me. At the World Ironman Championships in Kona, I earned a third place age group podium finish. A 19 year dream for me had come true- on the podium in Hawaii after 5 attempts. I was more than 1 HOUR faster from the previous year –Thanks to Coach Colin. It was so much easier because of working with Coach Colin!!!! Coach then had a great recovery plan for me and I raced in Cozumel in November. I qualified for Kona for next year.
After working with Coach Colin my results were more than I dreamed possible- 5-age group firsts, a third and an eleventh place age group finishes for the season. I hope everyone understands I’m not bragging about myself– I want to brag about the great coaching of Colin Cook.” -Joanne F.
FROM TRAVIS G.
“I hired Colin because I was stuck with my training. I’ve been training my self for almost 10 years, but hardly ever improved. I was hesitant at hiring a coach first, because I always thought “who knows my body better than I do?” I was complete wrong in that idea. Working with Colin, I improved so much more in the first six months than I did in the 10 years of training myself. I became so much more efficient in triathlon, setting PRs left and right for all three sports including a 20 minute PR during a road race! When ever I needed help, Colin was there to answer the question day or night. He’s not only a coach, but lets you know he’s your friend as well.”
– Travis G.
FROM JIM P.
“Having decided at age 48 to enter the world of triathlon encouraged by my (then) 17 year old son, I competed for the following 3 years at Sprint, International and Olympic distance along with several duathlons along the way. I did Pumpkinman Half Iron in 2011 & 2012 with some success and had signed up for my second marathon, 32 years after my last one! I decided early on that an Ironman was in my future, perhaps 5 years out – rekindling a dream started in college. That time was arriving. After a miserable swim at Sprint Nationals – despite being self driven, I knew I needed swim help AND if I were to do an Ironman – I needed a coach. I was fortunate to find Colin Cook and Peak Triathlon Coaching. Colin has always impressed me with his history, honesty, family values and the way he unwaveringly walks the talk. He fine tunes his (my) plan for a 50 something year old man vs. a 24 year old woman (for example). He takes into consideration lifestyle, competitive history, nutrition (past, current and improvement areas), weaknesses and strengths. There isn’t a one size fits all in great coaching. There have been times when I just did not feel up to a certain workout, but with Colin in my ear (along with the example he lives each day) – off I’d go, most likely surprising myself with a great effort. Sitting here today, I have completed nine Half Ironman and five Full Ironman events including my fastest ever at both distances in the past year – at age 55. Culminating in qualifying for and racing in the Ironman World Championship in KONA! This simply would not have happened without Colin’s coaching, education, guidance, strategy and support – for which I will be eternally grateful.”
– Jim P.
FROM KELLY L.
“I hired Colin to help me with my first 70.3 in Miami. I chose him because of his experience but also because he is a husband and father. I am a wife and mother of two young children, and I knew that he would understand the challenges that go along with training, parenting and career life. He knows what it takes to balance it all. I could not have done this without his knowledge and expertise. I was well prepared and felt strong throughout the race. His advice on proper nutrition during the race was critical. Crossing the finish line was one of the greatest moments in my life! Thank you Colin for being a part of this incredible journey. I look forward to working with you in the future!
-Kelly L.
FROM LYDIA J.
“As a long time single sport athlete (running marathons in all 50 states with NO cross training), I was quite nervous about taking on the challenge of a triathlon but after signing up for an Ironman, buying a tri-bike and interviewing several coaches (in that order), I chose Colin as the right coach for me. I could not have been more pleased with my decision.
During the first few weeks of working with Colin, I came to realize that it was not all about endurance – that while I had to ‘master’ swimming and biking, it was not all about getting onto the bike (in my basement in November in Maine) and riding for hours, or into the pool and going back & forth for forever – but about using a variety of speeds, drills and cadences to really drive my fitness and ability to succeed. I had some spills along the way that tested my confidence (I rode clipped in outside for the first time in March for a September IM), but Colin was able to get me back up on the bike and mixed encouragement and a pushed in just the right way. I even learned to embrace my aerobars – something I thought I would never, ever do. After a freak accident in Chattanooga (2 kids, a cat, an ambulance, the ER and ultimately a clean bill of health), he was there to get me on track for the full distance Beach to Battleship a month later (despite being in Kona competing himself). Sometimes people say, “I could not have done it without you” I really, really mean it when I say that there is no way I would have completed a full IM distance triathlon a year to the day after I was fitted for my bike without Colin’s guidance, encouragement and a few well-timed pushes.” – Lydia J.
FROM GREG I.
“I’ve competed and trained with Colin for a number of years, so when I qualified for Leadville I knew Colin had just the expertise I needed to help me reach the level of conditioning required for such a grueling race- and man was I right! With Colin’s help I was able finish the Race Across the Sky well under my time goal, bringing home the much coveted big buckle; I couldn’t have done it without him!
I’ve never been much of a metrics guy and I always thought I could get by training in my own haphazard way, but I can honestly say Colin and the Peak Triathlon Coaching team have shown me the light! Thanks to their careful planning, friendly encouragement and deep pool of experience I have been able to meet and exceed goals which seemed a long way off only a short year ago. I am very impressed with where the Peak team has taken me and so many of my fellow athletes; from Leadville, to Triathlon Worlds, to Kona- and everything in between- Peak and Colin know how to get it done. Many thanks for helping in the journey thus far! I can’t wait to see what’s next!” – Greg I.
FROM ANRI B.
“I started working with Colin in order to prepare for my first ever 70.3. I had participated in a few shorter distance triathlons, but had done them all just to have fun and finish. Colin helped me take both my overall fitness and my triathlon performance to a new level. He really listens to what your goals are and helps work around your schedule to tailor a training plan that fits your life and pushes you to do more than you thought possible.
Not only did I finish the 70.3 much faster than I was expecting, I was able to race smart thanks to Colin’s coaching, which really helped me think about each element of the race and how it would affect the next. Following the 70.3, I continued to train with Colin for the NYC marathon (my 8th marathon, but first time running NYC) in which I wanted to PR. Thanks to Colin’s coaching, I was able to shave 5 minutes off my marathon PR (on a course inhospitable to PRs). While I was extremely happy with my performance in the two races I trained for with Colin, what I value most about having him as my coach, is that he showed me that if I set a goal for myself, and push hard during training, I can achieve those goals and more. He inspired me, both with his coaching and with his own amazing racing prowess, to achieve a level of fitness that I never thought possible. That said, Colin also knows when to let you rest, both for your body and your mind. He is always checking in and fine-tuning your training as things change, and for that I was very grateful. I travel a lot, and he was a genius at adapting my training to the various countries I ran in and hotel gyms that I was forced to use along the way. I am currently taking some time off of training, but I am very much looking forward to the time when I will once again wake up each morning to an email from Colin outlining that day’s work out.” – Anri B
FROM DAN G.
“Working with Colin was a pure pleasure. We got together before I started my plan to make sure I was building the proper base to be ready, put together a solid training plan that had me well prepared to meet my goals, and he helped me with a race strategy (including pacing and nutrition) that I was able to execute on race day. His knowledge and experience in the sport of triathlon was invaluable in helping me prepare for my first iron distance race.
Colin was always available to answer any and all questions I had. His experience in preparing for and racing triathlon was invaluable. Colin’s knowledge of training, nutrition, and race execution is unparalleled. It is no surprise that he makes a yearly trip to Kona!” – Dan G.
FROM JESSICA C.
“Before I met Colin, I was a “find a training plan online and do it” kind of girl. But, when I decided to tackle my first 26.2 I knew that I would need extra help. Working with Colin is awesome because you get so much more than just numbers on the page. He helps out with the tough questions like running form, nutrition, hydration, motivation, and everything else in between. He is fun and friendly, yet always professional. He definitely works you hard, but it pays off … believe me! After working with him for about six months, I decimated my half marathon PR by ten minutes and even came in third in my age group (a first for me in a race that big!). And yes, I rocked my marathon too!” – Jessica C.
FROM DONNA G.
“I have always liked swimming and biking, so at the age of 54 I decided to sign up for a sprint triathlon. A lot of people told me the swimming was difficult because there are so many people, so I took the Nashua YMCA triathlon swim class. That is where I met Colin. I felt his coaching there was invaluable and I enjoyed the class.
My first triathlon was at the age of 55. Even though I had never run I trained by myself until I could run 3 miles. It was very difficult. I enjoyed my first sprint triathlon so I signed up for 2 more that summer, On the last one I placed 3rd in my age group. The next summer I signed up for 4 more. After the 2nd I hired Colin to coach me to improve my personal records. I came in 2nd. Unfortunately, I had a bike accident and couldn’t compete in the 4th. The next year I signed up for 2 sprints and felt I wanted to challenge myself more so signed up for an Olympic triathlon. I tried training by myself, but six weeks before this triathlon I still hadn’t run farther than 5 miles so I hired Colin again and he put me to work. He taught me how to do interval training which I had never done. It wasn’t easy with my very hectic schedule of working 6 days a week. Two weeks before the race I was able to run just over 7 miles. This was a much easier than going it alone. Whew! I competed in the Olympic Triathlon and achieved my personal bests in all categories – even running. If it wasn’t for Colin I would have had much difficulty with the Olympic triathlon and achieving my personal bests. I am planning to do more Olympic triathlons this year and I will definitely be using Colin for coaching again. I feel having support and coaching is essential in achieving goals regardless of age or competitor level and I would highly recommend Colin to anyone.” – Donna G.
FROM CHRIS V.
“I have been working with Colin for almost two years. I started racing triathlon after seeing my father in-law compete in a sprint distance race and thought that it looked fun and wanted to give it a try. At that point I started reading up on triathlon and training myself, and by doing this I was able to race and I survived my Ironman 70.3. After doing this I joined NorthEast MultiSport and met Colin in late 2011. He took me on as a client and from there everything started drastically improving. In just two short years I went from barely finishing to PR’ing by almost a full hour at the 70.3 distance and more recently completing my first full Ironman up at Lake Placid in 2013. Not only did I finish IMLP but I achieved my goal of a sub twelve hour Ironman on my first try. For this I would like to thank Colin, because it is only with his training plan, guidance and encouragement that I was able to achieve my goal
Colin’s training plans during the last couple years were spot on for me. There were times when it needed to be modified depending on how I was feeling, and he was right there to listen, and help me modify that workout. He is always very encouraging, never judgemental, however, he isn’t afraid to tell you when you need to just get it done! Colin also leads by example and is a great athlete. As an aspiring racer it gives me something to push and work for. I am really looking forward to the many great years of racing ahead of me and I always hope to have Colin Cook in my corner.” – Chris V.
FROM STEVE V.
“I started working with Colin a year and a half ago. In that time, he has helped me drop my Ironman PR by two hours, qualify for Ironman World Championships, Ironman 70.3 World Championships, and the Boston Marathon. Colin clearly understands how to train athletes to their potential. However, what makes Colin different is the passion that puts into training his athletes. Colin goes out of his way to send that motivational email or text when things are going well. He will meet you for extra technique sessions or let you borrow equipment when you have to travel for a race. Overall, Colin goes the extra mile for his athletes and I personally attribute much of my success to working with him.” – Steve V.
FROM LORI V.
“Before I hired Trent, I had a solid background in running with a few short course triathlons under my belt. I had strongly hesitated about hiring a coach because I was “only an age grouper” and triathlon was “only a hobby”. I finally decided to hire a coach when I committed to my first half Ironman (70.3), knowing that my ultimate goal was to complete a full Ironman (140.6). It was the best decision I could have made.
The PTC philosophy fit me well. Trent provided the structure and guidance that I needed to surpass my goals and become more aware as an athlete. He taught me how to adopt triathlon as a lifestyle, trust my body, and keep life balance in mind. His lighthearted approach helped me get out of my head and enjoy my journey. I could worry less about planning and enjoy doing the work to prepare for my races. We had regular check-ins to discuss progress and concerns, which really helped me develop better habits. He even worked through my recovery from an episode of vertigo (BPPV). With Trent’s coaching I had 2 of my best race seasons yet. Most importantly I completed higher volume (and better quality) training than ever before while staying healthy and not burning out.
There is no question in my mind that Trent’s coaching made me a stronger athlete and changed the way I will approach my training for the rest of my life. The lessons are invaluable, but the proof is in the pudding: PRs in every single distance that I raced and my first ever Ironman finish” – Lori V.
FROM JAMES B.
“I started with Peak Triathlon Coaching / Coach Trent in the winter of 2014. I was given monthly workout blocks with detailed workouts for all three disciplines. Coach Trent is very knowledgeable, very easy to talk to and was able to answer my many questions. I raced several times that season doing well in all of them. A full 140.6 was my goal race and I wanted to do as well as someone without any experience could do. Coach Trent got me much stronger, more knowledgeable in the sport and with him and Coach Colin backing me up, I was able to complete my first Ironman. I finished the race in a good overall time and had a congratulation text awaiting for me from Coach Trent back at home. Coach Trent has helped me build confidence in the three disciplines and made me stronger for it. It was a pleasure working with him.” – James B.
FROM MICHELLE M.
“My first experience with Peak Tri Coaching was when I started swim class with Colin at the Nashua Y in September of 2013. My first Sprint Tri was 1 week prior to my first session with Colin. At that first Tri, I was sure I was going to drown. I didn’t want to feel that way again so I signed up for Colin’s swim classes. I could swim, but I was not a confident swimmer and I wanted to build confidence. Well, apparently I built enough confidence in my swimming because in December I signed up for Timberman 70.3 2014. I knew I wanted to work with Peak Tri Training since this was all new to me and I needed a solid plan to follow. Colin set me up with Trent and he started me on an official plan in March 2014.
I signed up for just the ‘plan’ option from March through May, then I transitioned to the ‘Full Coaching’ option from June until race day in August. Each day, each week, each month, the plan helped me build the endurance required for Timberman. Transitioning to the Full Training was very helpful as well. Each Wednesday, Trent and I would discuss the previous weeks results and the upcoming weeks plan (and purpose). We would talk about everything from pedal/cleat/shoe fit to nutrition. I found the entire process to be such a great learning experience. In preparation for Timberman, Trent suggested the Nashua sprint as well as the Mass State Olympic length. Trent adjusted my plan to accommodate both of those races. I felt better after the Olympic length than I did after the Sprint – a testament to the results gained from the training plan. I was building the endurance I would need for Timberman. The big day arrived…I was nervous but trusted my training. My goal was to get to the starting line, finish the whole race and feel decent at the end…mission accomplished! Along with the weekly plan, Trent provided Race Day plans as well – which really kept me focused on race day. I could not have accomplished this without Peak Tri Training. Thank you Trent and Colin!!!” – Michelle M.
FROM KARIN C.
“Colin and Trent are amazing coaches. Knowledgeable, caring, and dependable are the first words that come to mind for the Peak Triathlon Coaches. They helped me stay focused, consistent, and injury-free. Most importantly, I was able to complete my goal of becoming an Ironman under their guidance. Despite being World Champions themselves, I did not ever feel like my goal was less worthy. Not only do they guide you with your athletic goals, but they assure you are staying healthy, rested, and having fun so you can stay in this sport as long as possible. I can not recommend them enough. They are the real deal.” – Karin C.
FROM KATHRYN F.
“We really enjoyed working with Trent. He is personable and knowledgeable, and we exercised a whole lot more than we would have without his guidance. He came over and helped us set up the electronic gadgets, and then again to troubleshoot when something wasn’t working quite right. We had great results from the training and I even won my age group in the sprint triathlon! We are hoping to train again this year with Trent. He has even gotten us thinking about Olympic distance, which I hadn’t considered before.” – Kathryn F.
FROM MARK B.
“I have had such a positive experience with Trent and Peak I hope you will accept the attached testimonial. It was truly an honor to wear the Peak colors this year and I only hope I can continue to improve and wear your colors again next year…..hopefully I will get faster next year so people will see the colors but they will be blurry. Thank you to you, Trent, Leslie and your entire staff as well as your other athletes who have gone out of their way to help me.”
– Mark B.FROM ALISSA V.
“Chris is exactly what I needed. He’s thoughtful, reliable and patient. What I find to be most helpful in him, is that he’s very knowledgeable about what it means to train at various levels and he’s considerate of goals and setbacks. It’s not as though working with Chris automatically exempts me from having days where I don’t feel like getting out of bed and working out, but knowing that he’s going to log on to check my activity in Training Peaks or text me to see what limitations I have with my schedule any given week so that he can make my workouts manageable – is now what gets me to get-up-and-go. He’s working to help me achieve my goal, so I should be working even harder. When I have a day or week where I can’t get-up-and-go, Chris is there, not to judge, but to push. He’ll tell me it’s time to sign up for a half marathon because that’s what will motivate me; that I need a goal to work towards because when I achieve that goal, I’ll reach a new level of physical capability; he’ll offer to meet me for a run somewhere even on a cold December morning; he’ll tell me to do something-like walking the dog-even if it’s not running. I have no question about Chris’ technical knowledge when it comes to safely training anyone. He had me fill out a comprehensive questionnaire before we started working together. The questionnaire asked about diet, history, career-things I never really considered would have an impact on how I worked out or felt about working out. He knew exactly what equipment I should get so he could monitor my activity level and build my workouts off of that information. I would recommend anyone to work with Chris for the reasons above-but also because he, himself is motivation for anyone to get up and do something at 5AM. Watching him train and compete-there’s no one I know with more discipline, drive and passion for helping people meet their physical goals.” -Alissa V.
FROM TIM C.
“I have had the distinct pleasure of having Chris as a coach for the past six months. I am new to the sport of triathlon racing, and Chris guided me through every step of the way. His hands on approach to making sure that my form was good in each event was incredibly helpful, not to mention illuminating. Each week I received a training plan in my email, which was clear, pushed me and scaffolded week to week in a logical and productive fashion. Chris answered numerous questions and was an invaluable resource as I approached my first triathlon. On the morning of my first race (sprint) I experienced incredible calm knowing that I had followed his plan, I had done the work and the only thing left was to enjoy the race. I feel so grateful to Chris for giving me such a remarkable introduction to this amazing sport, and the guidance to make sure I was prepared and ultimately successful! He is a pleasure to work with.”
-Tim C.
FROM JIM C.
“I have worked with Chris Veilleux as a tri coach for the 2015-2016 season and have been thrilled with the results that I have achieved. With Chris’s guidance, on a year over year basis, I improved my HIM time by 27 minutes for the same race and saw improvement within every discipline. Additionally, I was able to qualify for the Olympic distance national championships in Omaha, Nebraska. Chris understands the work and life challenges and has the ability to manage complex schedules and conflicts to achieve strong results. Chris is also a great teacher and as a result brings the teachings of the sport into the training program. With Coach Chris, I have learned a great deal and the accomplishments this season would not have been possible without his leadership, training program and mentorship.”
-Jim C.
FROM CHAD Q.
“I worked with Chris during the 2016 season after injuries stalled my 2015 race season. Starting in the winter, Chris helped me regain my run form after a knee injury sidelined me for the previous 6 months. I finished a half marathon in March in about the same time as I did the prior year before my injury, despite having only a couple months to train. I was on track for a June 70.3 before tearing 2 ligaments in my hip. I had to skip that race and my first full IM in two years scheduled for September looked like it might be in question. Chris being the optimist, kept me swimming and biking (lightly) while I took some doctor mandated time off from running and adjusted my plan to keep me on track. Despite missing two months of prime run building time, Chris kept my confidence up that I would be able to compete in Chattanooga. During the VERY slow process of building my run volume (and bike speed) back up I started to question whether or not I had the time to prep, but Chris kept me moving forward and my eye on the prize. I was only able to hit 11 miles as my longest run before race day and the 112 mile mark on the bike twice, and while I thought I was going to be in for a very long day, Chris kept faith that I’d be able to hit a pretty aggressive target. Without his positive reinforcement and adapting to my injury/schedule, I would’ve pulled out of the race. Since I had also had to skip a race in 2015 due to injury, another DNS had me starting to think I should give up hopes of my 3rd IM altogether. When race day came I went out with a solid race plan and the attitude of giving it everything I had and whatever happened, happened, but always had Chris in the back of my mind telling me I’d be able to do more than I thought I could. Despite some record heat in TN (95+ degrees), I was able to beat my expected time by over an hour and my first IM time by more than 20 minutes. I ran the full marathon without any pain and never had to walk (aside from aid stations and a little on one giant hill!), which is more than I ever hoped for. While not exactly a PR, I was incredibly happy and surprised (though Chris wasn’t surprised) with my time. Without Chris’s coaching and positive attitude I never would’ve had such a great race and may never even made it to the starting line at all. Thanks coach!”
-Chad Q.