While I have been a runner for most of my adult life, in 2005 I decided I wanted more diversity in my fitness regime. In the late ‘80s I did public relations for the sponsor of a triathlon series, so I knew something about the sport. As they say, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing… After three tri seasons of self-coaching and moving from middle of the pack finishes to placing in my age group, I decided a coach would be necessary to help me garner further improvement, particularly at the half Ironman distance. I also knew it would be imperative if I ever wanted to train for an Ironman. That’s where Alexander came in. I wanted a coach who could help me achieve my goals but would not treat my training in a “cookie-cutter” fashion. I also wanted someone that understood the science behind training, and with his PhD, Alex fit perfectly into my ideal. Alex writes my plan, reviews my feedback and adjusts as necessary. I train to the plan. Since we’ve been working together, I have improved my half Ironman distance PR by 40 minutes and qualified for the 2009 world long-course championships in Perth, Australia. I have also run my first marathon and qualified for Boston.  I recently finished my first Ironman in June 2009.