Nick Dunn, triathlon coach and founder partner of Challenge Tri Camp, came highly recommended in 2014 and for the past years 8 years has been my coach. I chose Nick mainly because of his twice World Champion AG successes, as those were my goal. Nick guided me on my triathlon journey from a novice sprint to now an Ironman Kona qualifier/completer. I also attended several Challenge Tri Camps in Mallorca which are a must for improving your triathlon fitness and skills. Nick understands family life and is flexible and adaptive when faced with unexpected dramas, injuries, setbacks. He is professional, positive and patient and always has a sense of humour. He will help you achieve your potential and guide you with his knowledge and experience. Nick is passionate about helping people to develop their knowledge and skills. Thanks to Nick for coaching me to qualify for the AG World Championships in every triathlon distance from Sprint to Ironman, with a few titles along the way. I can fully recommend Nick and Challenge Tri Camp.

Coming into Triathlon in 2013 at the age of 54 I found that there was so much information available it was overwhelming. Consequently I came to the conclusion that by the time I digested and understood all the material, and all the different training methods, I'd be too old to put it into practice. The best option for me was to find an experienced coach that knew all the stuff I didn't and could guide me through the maze in the right direction with a coaching methodology that worked for me. I have been coached by other coaches before coming to Challenge Tricamp. I have been coached by Brent Perkins of Challenge Tricamp since 2019 but our relationship started earlier in 2018 when the company was taking tours to Challenge Roth and then later in early 2019 with a Triathlon Training camp run by the company. Each engagement was such a professional and positive experience that it wasn't difficult to make the decision to change coaches to being coached by Brent. There is an old adage that says "if it seems to good to be true then it probably is", however in this case the actual experience has been far far better. Brent's expertise as a coach has allowed me to achieve objectives that I simply thought were dreams. These include several long distance triathlons, more middle distance triathlons, long distance swims, half and full marathons and various other activities such as cycling Lands End to John O'Groats, Trans Pyrenees and the occasional ultra run. At no point has he suggested 'don't be ridiculous' to my next new challenge, rather his approach is 'this is the training you need to do to make it happen' and we work together to achieve the goal. With Brent's input I just keep on improving. I am also a regular attendee at Challenge Tricamp training camps and totally recommend them for the quality of the coaching experience. You will need to do some work but you will never be asked to do anything you are not capable of doing. And you will laugh and have fun doing it! Brent and the team have worked hard to ensure that you aren't simply a client of the coach and the company but you become part of a wider Challenge Tricamp family which has room for all and includes world champions. All abilities are welcomed, encouraged and supported and life long friendships are made. Naturally, when you push boundaries with your body you open yourself to risk of injuries, and I have had my fair share through accidents, e.g. by tripping over my own feet and causing serious damage to my shoulder. When this has occurred Brent has used his experience and knowledge in collaboration with health professionals to provide me with well managed plans to rehabilitate the injury, keeping me positive and usually getting to a point of performing at the same or better level than before the injury. When you engage with Challenge Tri Camp Coaches, and in my case Brent Perkins, you engage with sound personal experience, deep knowledge and good athlete management. You will always understand the objective of a session, and providing you do your part, the dreams are achievable. I have no hesitation in recommending Brent Perkins or Challenge Tri Camp to anyone.

How it started: I had done many running events and wanted to mix things up a bit so signed up for a triathlon even though I couldn’t swim; that first event was 200m pool swim, 12k bike, 3k run… I got through it and then discovered Challenge Tri Camp. I arrived at my first camp unable to swim a whole length without stopping, along with a fear of open water and had never ridden a road bike. I left at the end of that week having cycled up mountains, swum in the sea, with an amazing bunch of new friends and with Nick as a coach. How it’s going: Since then, I’ve completed many sprints, a few standards and in summer 2022 completed my first middle distance triathlon and loved it. My swimming endurance and cycling performance have improved so much. This would not have happened without Nick as a coach and the support of the Challenge Tri Camp team; I’m still surprised when I complete the next challenge whether it’s a longer triathlon or a single discipline event, that I actually did it. I attend camp in Mallorca every year, and it amazes me each time how they manage to cater for groups of athletes with different abilities and goals while ensuring that everyone gets the attention they need, is supported to perform at their best and most importantly have fun while doing it. I have made so many friends through Challenge Tri Camp from beginners to GB athletes, all ages and different nationalities, and I think it’s a testament to CTC that they enable that to happen.

In 2017, I was lucky enough to attend a Challenge Tri Camp training week in Mallorca, were I met Brent ( joint head coach alongside Nick). At that point I felt I had reached a plateau with my triathlon training and results. On the second day I asked Brent if he would be my coach, and would he help me win a World Championship and get that elusive gold medal. Fortunately for me at that point he hadn’t actually seen me swim! Luckily he agreed to coach me. We have been on that athlete/coach journey ever since and when I look back on it and still to this day, I am extremely grateful to what Brent has given me. Expert knowledge in all technical and physical components of all of the three disciplines, in all distances. Excellent, thoughtful, creative, interesting, challenging plans on training peaks bespoke to you and your ability. Passion, feedback, patience and care for you personally whilst training. Consistent management of you in strength and conditioning, recovery and stretching. Advice on injury, nutrition, hydration, builds to relevant competitions, tapering, pre performance routines. Top class hands on coaching. Total, determined, unwavering belief and confidence that you can be the best you can be. We won that gold medal and championship. With Brent it is about that challenge, but also very much about the best you can be and how you both as a team can accomplish it.

I was in my late forties when I first tried a sprint triathlon which I completed but wanted to improve and feel more confident. As part of wanting to improve I signed up for a weeks camp with Tricamp in Majorca, it was here that I met Brent Perkins. After competing for a few years at various triathlon distances I had the goal of completing for the British Age Group Team. I discussed my training and goals with Brent and he agreed to coach me at that point in time as I had qualified for the British Age Group Team to compete in the European Aquabike Championships and I wanted to perform at a high level. Brent provided me with a comprehensive weekly coaching plan which was supplied through TrainingPeaks application. After an initial consultation Brent provided me the plan which was structured yet challenging that was also worked around my work and lifestyle. After each session I would feed back on my training and would always receive a very quick response on the sessions and my feedback. After a break in training due to COVID and work I contacted Brent again to request if he would coach me again earlier this year in 2022. The sessions he set were challenging, for example having a weekly swim set using bands. I found these sessions hard but the results were evident as Brent set a swim test and my swim times were a lot quicker. In just a few weeks my CSS had improved and I was swimming 400m nearly one minute quicker. The swims were a mix of technique, strength and stamina and would be combined with other sessions on the same day either cycle, walk, run or strength & conditioning. On the bike I was set a mixture of indoor and outdoor rides. I would do rides on a turbo during the working week and longer rides outside on the weekend. Brent encouraged me to purchase powermeter pedals which I did. Brent would set me power targets on my rides and again the results were evident with my FTP increasing. Other aspects of Brent’s coaching was nutrition and I used an APP to monitor my diet and was able to determine what food worked for me for my workouts. He also provided strength and conditioning along with yoga which increased my flexibility. Brent’s coaching was evident in my fitness levels increasing and this showed in the performance metrics on TrainingPeaks. His feedback was invaluable to me to understand what went well and where I could improve.

Training and coaching with Brent at Challenge Tricamp coaching has helped me become a better athlete both physically and mentally, Brent's wealth of knowledge in providing individual workouts, health and recovery together with injury rehabilitation has helped me become a complete cyclist both on the road and mountain biking. I have had many injuries which with Brent's support has helped me overcome and prevent from recurring. Communication and support kept me focused during tough times. The attention to detail in the training sessions in spot on and helped me get to the next level, plus I have had many many successful races and podium positions in the last 2 years.

I have been coached by Brent for the past 2 plus years and the coaching has been so much more than weekly training plans and structured sessions. His positive approach and support has kept me motivated through good times and set backs to turn my triathlon dreams and goals into reality and racing for Team GB in 2022 was a great highlight. I really appreciate having a balanced personalised training plan, taking into account work, life and family commitments, something I struggled with before signing up with Challenge Tri Camp, and real bonus has been that in all but one race in 2022 I have achieved a podium position so very pleased.

I have been accompanying my wife as a ‘plus one’ on Challenge Tri Camp’s camps for many years. Despite not being a triathlete I enjoyed staying in a great hotel, in a great location, and spending time in the sunshine and warmth. It wasn’t all rest though, as I often hired a bike, as Mallorca really is one of the best places to cycle in the world. On one particular ride I really struggled to keep up with the others and realised I was not fit at all! Brent and Nick, Challenge Tri Camp’s head coaches, were amazing and got me through the ride, including up the Coll de sa Batalla, despite experiencing really bad calf cramps. Following this I decided that I needed to do better for my long term health and get much fitter. I have always struggled with my weight and never considered myself an athlete or sporty person. Following a chat with Brent, I agreed to entering the famous Mallorca 312 cycle event the following year. Brent was amazingly supportive and agreed to be my coach, getting me on Training Peaks and also making sure I had my essential Garmin watch. His enthusiasm, attention to detail and variation of training workouts was excellent. I really appreciated the support and time he invested despite the fact I’m not your typical ‘athlete’. The following year I completed the 167km leg of the 312 event (in fact I did more as I got lost towards the end and added another 18kms onto my total!), and I should mention I had no calf cramps at all. What was noticeable was the level of energy I still had following the event - I’ve never felt so fit in my life. As a result I have kept up my training with Brent as my coach, with eyes on future events! Whatever your motivations, I can really recommend using a professional coach like Brent as he has added so much value to my health and fitness. My job is busy and very stressful, as I’m a frontline NHS worker, but Brent has helped me realise I need to make time for me and prioritise my physical health and wellbeing. It would be remiss of me not to mention that Brent, Helen and Nick at Challenge Tri Camp are also such lovely people too, and I consider them my friends!

It took me some time to look for a new coach that I felt suited me, and one that I felt would have the balance to help me progress through the sport. After a lot of deliberation from me, and patience from Brent I decided to move to Challenge Tri Camp. My progress has been fantastic since working with Brent. The programme has been specific to me as an individual athlete, and to the races we decide to train for. The training set is worked around my busy life, and makes the most of the training peaks platform. The specificity of the training I believe has been the key to success since starting with Brent. We have already competed in many races, and over the past two years I achieved so much - several podiums including two ironman 70.3 (and two world champs places), and a European AG middle distance bronze medal. The balance of being extremely supportive and knowing when to push me that bit further has been really valuable to me, and something which is key to my training. I have also attended tri camp in Mallorca with the whole coaching team, and immediately booked for the following year. A packed timetable with lots of local knowledge made this trip super effective and fun. As well as the Mallorca tri camps, Brent and the team run day swim clinics in the UK of which I have attended a number over the past two years. This has undoubtedly pushed my swimming forward. My time is very stretched and working with Brent definitely helps me make the most out of each day!

I’m in no doubt that, without Brent’s coaching, I wouldn’t have been able to become World Age Group Aquabike Champion. His calm, consistent and honest approach has brought not only focus and confidence to my training but improvements to my speed, strength and endurance. I w always been a triathlete or even very sporty, so don’t think coaching from CTC only applies to those who have made age group or elite status! It needs commitment from both sides, investment into coaching isn’t the silver bullet (or gold medal) and, like anything worth striving for, it can be hard work with compromises in other parts of life, but…. when you find a coach like Brent and the support of the wider Challenge Tri Camp team, it feels like a guide through those hard times, like someone always has your back and gives you the best possible opportunity to develop towards being the best you can.

I started working with Brent having secured a place for Challenge Roth 2019. As a father of 3 with a full time job, I knew that, to get the best out of myself, I needed someone in my corner that could provide experience, structure, consistency, flexibility and accountability to my training. In a true athlete/ coach partnership, Brent tailored and adapted my program to maximise my progression whilst accommodating life’s pressures. Success at Challenge Roth paved the way to competing for GBR Age Group Team in September this year. Again, Brent’s bespoke program, 1:1 approach and regular feedback provided both accountability and motivation, taking me to a 6th and 1st Brit in age group, surpassing my perceived limits. As we start planning the ’23 season, I look forward to continuing my journey with Brent and Challenge Tricamp.

I have been working with Nick since 2020 and due to the Pandemic my dream of the Ironman World Championships and Kona turned to 2022. I had entered both the 70.3 and had the postponed 140.6 in the build up in 2021. I had a good winter training, plenty of training time following the plans from Nick for swim, bike and run. Plus it was a winter where I swam in OW throughout. I felt strong flying out to Lanza for the 70.3 in early March 2022. Then something went wrong, Covid struck me whilst I was out there, I had breathing difficulties and unfortunately didn’t finish the race. I worked with Nick through this period to try and get back to training and slowly we managed it. Covid hit me hard and we had to keep adapting and changing how we trained but I got through it. With a few build up races I made it to the big island of Hawaii and had the race of a lifetime with my family (including granddaughter) all there to support me. Nick helped guide me not only to Kona, and to race as best I could with all the health issues I had in the build up, but also coming into the race with adapted sessions to make sure I was ready for the big day – I never thought a sauna would be so useful for a triathlon training!!