James Beech

Occupation: Policeman

Goal: Develop triathlon skills, complete first triathlon to best of ability, achieve debut Ironman sub 11hrs

Comments from James

I have always enjoyed physical training especially running. The Royal marines provided me with plenty of very tough physical challenges. Since leaving the Royal marines I have missed those challenges, well that was until John from HFPT suggested that taking up triathlon might give me a comparable challenge.

After considering the idea I decided giving triathlon a go would be a good challenge and perhaps alot of fun. To get started I really needed some swim lessons, I considered myself an okay swimmer but swimming more than 4-6 lengths front crawl in a consistent rythm and without getting out of breath was a serious effort. I also needed a bike suitable for triathlon. John was very supportive, he advised me on buying a bike as well as giving me swim lessons and cycle sessions that would improve my technique and competence in each. John’s teaching’s were invaluable, I found his explanations very easy to understand, he would breakdown complex movements to make learning them simple.

Since following the programs provided I have been extremely impressed with how my skills and fitness has come on. I recently completed my first triathlon which was the South coast olympic distance tri coming 25th overall.

This has increased my confidence significantly, with the support of HFPT I am now in full training mode gearing up for Ironman Arizona in November.

Comments from Trainer

As you would expect being an ex-marine and keen runner before that James came to me with a solid fitness base, perhaps though his best attribute is his strength of mind. With a solid fitness base and great attitude I have been very excited to work with James.

James is a very accomplished runner so we did not focus on running, instead we intially focused on bridging the skill gap James had with swimming and biking. Although a competent swimmer James could not swim more than 4-6 lengths front crawl without getting significantly out of breath – not due to his fitness at all, just technique.

James could ride a bike well, however he had not ridden a race bike, was not used to clipless pedals nor riding for long durations. After some regular swim lessons and a few bike coaching sessions James has come on leaps and bounds, infact I would say I have never seen someone pick swimming up so quick! James recently competed in a triathlon swimming a very fast time of 25mins for a 1500m in rough sea conditions, perhaps something he is used to but he won’t tell me about that side of his former work!! In preperation for his pending Ironman in Arizona in November I challenged James to a 4000m swimming time trial. James completed this in a time that I estimate will put him in the top 200 swimmers out of 2000!

With the skill gaps closing, James is becoming a rounded triathlete. He is now following a program that is progressing training volume to improve his endurance and that has a focus on intensity to improve overall speed, we have  included brick sessions to get James used to cycling after swimming and running after cycling.

I look forward to continually working with James and reporting on his Ironman success…….