From Bad Place to Rockstar Beginner Triathlete: Carlyle Cousins
Coaches Notes:
Carlyle was as green as they come. He attended his first practice in old running shoes, no bike, and zero swim skills.
The 8-week Beginner Triathlon Program is designed to give you what you need to show up confidently at the start line of a sprint or International distance triathlon, knowing you can finish strong.
We got to work at the weekly group training sessions- learning to breathe and feel comfortable keeping his head down in the water to save energy, getting a bike fit on a borrowed bike to get out of pain, and improving run technique. Of course, along with stretching and basic strength.
Carlyle had a great first sprint triathlon race with a time of 1:15. He finished so strong on the run for 3 miles he decided to do a 2nd loop on the run by accident!
(PS, it’s always good to know your race course! ;-))
Super proud of you, Carlyle! You Truly are a Rockstar Triathlete- and we love you too!
What is your age?
I am 36 years old
What is your profession?:
Project Manager/ Installer for Home Automation Company
Why did you choose FCC to help you on your triathlon/health and wellness journey?
A really good friend of mine was transformed by training with the Full Circle Coaching tribe, and he inspired me to be a better version of myself, so he set me up with Full Circle to start my triathlon journey.
What is your “A” race for this season?
Integrity Multisport August Key Biscayne Sprint
What are your BIG goals?
My goal is to do XTRI Races Norseman. I have a long way to go but it’s my motivation.
Tell me about your successes so far!
My successes are pretty much doing a complete turnaround in my health. I was in a really bad place, and the TRI lifestyle forced me to be better and analyze my life more holistically.
Finishing my first triathlon race was a significant accomplishment, even with some mishaps.
What were some of your biggest improvements in performance for each of the following? Swim, Bike, Run, and Nutrition/Health. Please include any Personal Records and Goals achieved.
My biggest achievements in swimming was being able to cover the sprint distance, before training I would struggle just to do 2 laps.
As for biking, just being able to feel comfortable doing an hour on the bike was very new to me and a bit awkward and painful at times, until I got a bike fit!
For running, it would be completing a 14-mile extreme trail run in Great Falls, Maryland, during my training.
Name 2 or 3 things that have made the biggest difference in your journey:
- Of course the first thing that made a difference was Full Circle, love you guys!
- Second, my friends that donated gear to me, it allowed me to get into this sport which we all know is super expensive.
- Third would be Nutrition, it helped me on all aspects to consistently train.
What excites you the most about being involved in triathlon?
The way it tests your mental fortitude to keep going and the way it can push you to your limits.
What would you say to another person who was on the fence about joining our training program?
I would tell them stop thinking about just do it! It’s going to 100% change your life!
Do you want results like these? My 16-week Triathlon Transformation Training Program is designed to help you get faster for your next triathlon in less time than other training programs.
The Triathlon Transformation Program focuses on you as an individual; your form, technique, strength, fueling, and mindset. Through video analysis, metabolic testing, holistic lifestyle coaching, and a supportive community, you will achieve all your triathlon dreams and goals to get faster in less time.
If you want to show up confidently at the start of your next race — swimming, biking, and running past the competition, sprinting across the finish line with arms overhead, knowing you nailed it — then this program is for you.
Click here to apply for my 16-Week Triathlon Transformation Program.
Erinne Guthrie has been a USA Triathlon Level II Certified Coach since 1999 and Chief Motivating Officer at Full Circle Coaching, LLC since 2010. Creator of Triathlon Transformation. She has been training, racing, and coaching triathletes since 1997. She is also a CHEK Holistic Lifestyle Coach Level 3, USMS Master’s Swim Coach, Motivational Speaker, Metabolic Efficiency Specialist, Mom, Mermaid, and much more.
