Today we’d like to introduce you to Lesley.
Hi Lesley, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started swimming competitively at the age of 7. I lettered in Cross Country and Track in Jr. High and High School and received a swim scholarship from Ball State University (BSU) where I was a High Point Swimmer and MVP all 4 years and the team captain my Jr. and Sr. years. I qualified for Sr. Nationals and was named NCAA Woman Athlete of the Year for BSU. I have managed and worked at multiple health clubs in Illinois, Kansas, Texas and Tennessee.
After settled in Collierville, TN I started teaching a triathlon training class at the YMCA with Jeanine Watts (an amazing triathlete to this day) and that started me down the triathlon path. I was coaching from the start, having great success as an athlete again and loving it! Once I realized this was a lifestyle I helped start the largest triathlon team / club in the Memphis area. Memphis Thunder Racing was born and has consistently had over 100 members for the past 20 years. I was club President for many of those years, worked for the USA Triathlon Regional Council, and started my own triathlon coaching business; Trinity Tri Coaching (www.trinitytricoach.com). I love helping people start, excel, improve and enjoy their triathlon journey. It has been an amazing way to meet friends, stay fit and enjoy life! One of the best aspects of sport is the camaraderie, friendships and lifelong stories that we share!
Personal Achievements
Started competing in triathlon at the age of 30
Qualified for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii in 2012, 2015, 2023
Competed in the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2010 (2nd place) and 2017, 2024
All American Triathlete for 15+ years
Team USA Qualifier
Boston qualified in every marathon
Boston qualified in most Ironman events
Education
Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Science from Ball State University
Masters degree in Athletic Administration at the University of Illinois
Graduate assistant in the Kinesiology department and swim/triathlon teacher
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I had instant success as a triathlete because I worked hard, have an athletic background, a lot of intrinsic motivation and the drive to succeed. It is not easy to stay at the top without getting burned out, injured, or finding the time for the longer distance races. I have had to deal with a few injuries along the way. I have broken both ankles running, broken ribs in a bike crash, and a few other nagging injuries like plantar fasciitis, a torn hip labrum, IT Band syndrome…but through it all I have always been motivated to return and enjoy all 3 sports.
I have 3 kids who were very young when I started and grew up immersed in triathlon. As they got older all of their activities took a lot of time and weekends were busy. At times it was hard to find time to train and race and time management can be very challenging. This is another reason I like to coach…so I can help athletes manage their time efficiently while still having a work/ home/life balance.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As I started getting more involved in the triathlon world many people were coming to me with questions and I was already involved in teaching triathlon training classes and leading the Memphis Thunder Racing Triathlon Team (www.memphisthunderracing.com) so I decided it was time to start my own coaching business.
I want to help people navigate all 3 sports (swim/ bike / run) into their daily lives and enjoy the lifestyle. I also coach each sport individually if someone wants to focus on marathon running for example or a long open water swim or cycling race. I love seeing the success of my clients as they accomplish their goals! It is very rewarding to help motivate, educate, challenge and cater to each individual athlete based on their specific guidelines and goals. My coaching is very individualized and I take time to pay attention to the athletes requests to help them succeed. Each client has different limiting factors that must be dealt with including the amount of time they have available to train, what their body can handle, previous injuries, days they need to take off due to family, work or vacation…and I cater to everyone to try to help them navigate the inclusion of all 3 sports.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
In addition to triathlon / run coaching I also teach private swim sessions at the Schilling Farms YMCA in Collierville and teach a handful of water aerobics classes each week. I enjoy working with all ages and abilities for the swim sessions and water aerobics is very rewarding watching older adults stay fit and active, recover from surgeries much quicker and stop taking medication due to the extra activity in the water. Water is a cure for many aches and pains! Come see me if you are interested in becoming a better swimmer or want to take a class!
Pricing:
- $200 / month for fully customized triathlon coaching
- Call the Schilling Farms YMCA to schedule an appointment for a swim session or to take a water aerobics class
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.trinitytricoach.com
- Instagram: @trinitytricoach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Trinitytricoach
