Where have I and my thinking come from…

After spending my youth punching bags, people and getting punched (loosing most of my early junior fights through lack of confidence) - mycoach (pre-army) guided me and aloud me to find my confidence and winning became the norm (good coaching working).  Boxing for the army, drained my confidence and my love for the sport...

So I needed a sport that would push me and give me the discipline and stimulus that came with boxing (without damaging my few remaining brain cells!). 

In the mid 90's I watched a fascinating race where Mr’s Smith and Lessing where battling it out, I was immediately hooked.  However one small problem, I couldn’t swim and the last time I was on a bike was my striker in my early teens!

But hey, I had some very good knowledge from being a physical training instructor (HMF), I had just finished a course in personal training and sports therapy so what was to stop me learning this stuff?!

I rocked up at Thames Turbo in 96 with some of our future stars zipping up and down in the fast lane (unbeknown to me!) and cracked on.  I did a sprint, did Windsor (2.15) and then at the end of the season went to Australia for some more fun and games.

The key thing for me after beinging involved in boxing, with triathlon after coming back from Aus and being at a tri club in the UK, coaches did not coach, they set session.  It just wasn’t the same in triathlon here or in Aus as it was in boxing.  I didn’t intend to get into coaching the sport, I was disillusioned and wanted to do it the way I felt was right.

I set up Optima Racing Team with a couple of athletes in 2000 and my philosophy; is to keep the team small enough to ensure each athlete is coached to improves their performance… and they do. 

It is not rocket science, although I must admit, I hold tight to the knowledge that psychology can play such a major role in sport (80%).

"The will must be stronger than the skill"

JB

There are a number of areas James can help you with:

• Swim analysis (video, drills and progressions)
• Run analysis (video, drills and progressions)
• Bike set up (using power output) & technique analysis
• Strength/ conditioning for triathlon
• Goal setting
• Personal coaching (weekly 1 2 1 sessions)

(Any of the above on a regular basis – book 10 sessions and get one free)

Tri clubs and groups also catered for, please email for information

james@optimahealth.co.uk