Join The Next Step Triathlon Camp Series’ Exceed Camp with Coaches Dan Brown, Andy Leuterio, Ige Lopez, and nutritionist, Giorgia Giudicelli this coming weekend, September 19 to 21, 2014, at Seda Hotel in Nuvali. Registration will be open until tomorrow! (more…)
Join Coach Dan and Ani Brown’s Pinnacle Camp on June 7 to 8, 2014 at Pico de Loro. Last day of registration is on June 3, 2014. Interested participants may email nextsteptri@gmail.com or abrahamerbel@yahoo.com.
Join The Next Step Triathlon Camp if you’d like to learn more about triathlon or how you can take your performance to the next level. The Next Step Tri Camp is led by my teammates, friends, and fellow endorsers of Enervon Activ (oh yes, we have a lot in common except for speed LOL), Coach Dan & Ani Brown.
I joined The Next Step Tri Camp way back in 2011 when I barely knew how to bike. In other words, “saling pusa” You can read about it HERE.
Sign up now before slots get filled.
There was a time when I would interview runners regularly for this blog (click HERE to read past interviews). Recently, I decided to start doing them again. We all can learn a thing or two from the experience of other runners and draw inspiration from their achievements.
This week, I interviewed 15-time Ironman and 8th place Ultraman World Champ Dan Brown. Read on…
Name: Dan Brown
Age: 35
Years running: My whole life. Competitive running for 12 years
Years into triathlon: 10 years
Accomplishments: 15x Ironman Triathlon, 8th place Ultraman World Championships (Swim 10k, Bike 476k Run 84.4k), Australian Half Ironman (70.3) Champion
How and when did you get into running? Triathlon?
I have always had a passion for running. I love how free it makes you feel and how your body feels when you run. When I was young my grandpa called me the ‘running machine’. For triathlon I was particularly impressed by how ‘fit’ a few of my friends seemed who did tri’s and when I found out about the distances of 3.8k swim, 180k bike and 42.2k run I was like ‘thats crazy! But at the same time I was thinking ‘I want to do it!’ From there my training got a bit more serious and then it got a LOT more serious! haha.
When did you start coaching athletes? Can you tell us about your background as a coach?
I worked as a P.E teacher in a school for 3 years and did a lot of athletics with children. I began coaching them at track and for cross country. I studied level 2 middle distance running and also did my Cert 3 strength and conditioning study and began working with athletes in the gym also (Yes I used to have a bigger upper body than I do now!). Later on when I got into tri’s I started my own studio called ‘The next step running and endurance coaching’ and worked with adult athletes doing running technique analysis on treadmills and also altitude training simulation. Around this time I started doing online coaching and programming for running and triathlon which I still continue today.
If I were to hire you as my running coach, how would you train me for a marathon?
I look to look into the way an athlete lives, their business commitments, sleep hours, family time, goals, etc and try to work out the best way to remove certain barriers they may have to success. If someone is under a lot of stress etc they will likely not absorb the training as effectively as someone else due to poorer recovery so they may need need less volume and more quality in their weekly programming.
I like to look at nutrition also. Often a big factor inhibiting growth as an athlete is poor nutrition. This often sabotages good running intentions and consistency.
In terms of training distances I generally don’t like really long runs and prefer more quality workouts in the week as opposed to covering extreme distances. No one says you have to run 35k before a marathon in order to run successfully. In Ironman triathlon you don’t go out and do a 9-16 hour training day just to prove to yourself that you can, save that for race day!
Often these long runs can lead to injury. The longer you run the more your form and position will fall apart and the more prone you are to injury. Also, if you train slow, then train slow, then train slow then you will race slow! In general I prefer more consistent, frequent quality runs to make up the volume required to excel.
I coach athletes primarily through online coaching and usually try to meet with each athlete or do a session with them every week or couple of weeks wherever possible. The programmes are specific to each individual as outlined above and change regularly depending on goal races etc. My athletes regularly email me questions, talk on the phone, or skype also to get the most out of it. From Jan, I will do a regular track session or road run each week.
You were based in Australia, what were the events that led you to making Manila now your home? How are you liking the running and triathlon community here?
I had been travelling a lot and competing in Asia and Europe in triathlon races and returned home to Australia to a very serious back injury which I carried for a long time. I tore the L5 S1 disk in my back and for the first 4 weeks I couldn’t walk, lie down and was being assisted even to the CR! At this time I realized I needed a change. I have travelled a lot to Asia and thought I may try getting a job as a national coach of a triathlon team. Things moved fast and I ended up as coach of the Philippine team for 2010 and 2011. The endurance sport community is growing fast here and it is exciting to be involved in coaching, competing, events and elite sport development at the moment.
– Dan on the bike during Kenting 70.3 –
While a lot of people know you are into triathlon, not too many know that you are into marathons and into ultramarathons. What is it that you love about marathons? Ultramarathons?
My first love is running, as I outlined above before so I really love all forms and distances. I ran an 84k ultramarathon on day 3 of the Ultraman race in Hawaii and loved it. I ran the first the marathon in 3.08 and ran the same pace for the next 10k before my ITB tore and I had to do a lot of walking/suffering for the last section! At the end my left quad was twice as big as my right! Anyway despite that I loved the experience, felt great throughout (the running part) and will likely move into doing some events like that in the next couple of years. The Ultramarathon is one of the toughest events mentally you can do and that is probably why I will be drawn to it further as time goes on.
– Dan during the run at Ultraman race in Hawaii –
Can you give us a glimpse of your weekly training schedule?
I will race as a professional in triathlon events in 2012 so I am already preparing my body for my first race of the season which is Ironman 70.3 Sri Lanka on Feb 18. My weekly training hours are usually between 22-32 hours. It could be more or less depending on the distance I am preparing for.
Without giving too much away a basic week may look like.
How’s married life with Ironwoman Ani de Leon and life as a new father to Dash?
I feel so lucky to come to this country and meet Ani. She is an amazing lady in so many ways! She and I just knew immediately that we were meant for each other so subsequently things have moved fast and now we have a beautiful little boy Dash Daniel Brown born on Nov 29, 2011.
– with wife, Ironwoman Ani de Leon –
COACH DAN BROWN
Mobile 09159537980
Email danielgbrown(at)hotmail.com
Websites:
www.thenextsteptri.com
www.thenextsteptricamp.com
www.anikarina.com
Facebook- Dan Brown
Twitter- nextsteptri
Last April 9 to 11, 2011, I was invited to join The Next Step Triathlon Camp of Coach Dan Brown and Ani de Leon in Subic. Although I’ve done two mini sprints in the past few years, I still never considered myself a triathlete. I’ve been a “wannabe triathlete” for God knows how long.
The Next Step Tri Camp was my chance to literally get my feet wet (or perhaps get tossed into the pool?) and immerse myself in this brand new world of triathlon. I was anxious about the swim and bike, but very much excited about running in Subic. Good thing my teammates from Hammer, Bic and Mike, and Bic’s friend, Adel, were there to quell my fears and keep the entire weekend light and fun.
[DAY ONE]
The Next Step Triathlon Camp was focused on triathletes signed up for the upcoming KSwiss Subic International Triathlon on April 30 to May 1 hence it was entitled: SUBIT FOCUS. At the start of the year, I hoped I could join this, but with life getting in the way, I thought it best to pass until I could commit to serious training.
After a welcome briefing by the organizers headed by Doray Ellis of Team Fitness First and coaches Dan and Ani at Travelers Hotel where we were all booked, we headed out for a full day’s workout.
SWIM: We headed out for the pool where were grouped into two levels: Advanced to be led by Coach Dan and Intermediate led by Coach Ani. This would be the same grouping for the entire weekend.
I had attended a basic swim session with Coach Ani a couple of years back, so most of my fears were laid to rest when she mentioned it was almost the same intro session. She taught us proper technique, a few drills, and asked us to do a number of laps. I hadn’t swam in over a year so this light workout was a lung-busting session for me.
– Coach Ani during our first swim workout –
– Team Togetherness looking fresh before the deadly tri camp workouts ahead: Adel, Bic, myself, and Mike –
RUN: Still dripping wet, we headed for the track. Coach Dan discussed basic form and asked us to perform drills then we split into groups. Our group did intervals: 6 x 800 meters. Need I say that this way my favorite portion. The four of us covered our laps together. No anxieties, no worries in this area, just all smiles from my end.
– Coaches discuss warm ups and basic form at the track –
– Drills! Photo courtesy of James Dinsay –
– Fast track workouts with friends. Heaven for me! –
BRICK: After lunch with a lecture by Coach Dan and Ani and time for rest, we headed out for a bike workout on the roads of Subic. I’m still such a newbie with the bike, so I believe I was the slowest of ’em all here. Boy was it a struggle.
– Doc, Coach, and Musician Adel took on the role as handy man too –
Coach Ani analyzed our technique one-by-one and gave us a few pointers on the bike. Bend my elbows. Keep my knees closer together. Move my seat up higher later on.
During the workout, I struggled with the gearing, maneuvering through the traffic, and I was exhausted midway, but man was I overwhelmed with the sights of Subic. It was during that time on the bike that I realized I could seriously fall in love with this! Before I knew it, I covered 30km—my longest distance on the bike ever! I was ecstatic.
– Psyching myself up for the long uphill ahead. Crap! –
– When will I ever look as comfortable as they do on the bike? –
As soon as we returned to the hotel, Bic, Mike, Adel, Doray (one of the organizers of Next Step) and I ran for 10 minutes. We then had dinner and listened to another lecture by our Coaches. By the evening of Day One, Bic, Mike, Adel and I had bonded over a mad hunt for petroleum jelly and wine (success with the former and complete losers with the latter) as well as the long day of training we endured together. We even had a new team name just for the four of us!
– Lectures by the coaches –
– Coach Ani talks demos proper swim form… –
– …and running form —
[DAY TWO]
SWIM: After coating our bodies with loads of petroleum jelly to protect us against jelly fish stings (despite Coach Dan’s assurance that they swept through the waters prior to our workout), we dove into the cold waters of Dungaree beach in Subic. It was my first open water swim ever and boy did I love it. Uhm, well, up until the 1st lap. By the 2nd lap, I swallowed salt water and I was gasping for air. This non-swimmer thought it best to rest before I…er…drowned.
– Briefing by Coach Dan –
– Advanced group heading into the water. Photo courtesy of Andy Leuterio –
– with Coaches Dan and Ani –
– Group shot! Photo courtesy of Andy Leuterio –
Coach Ani demonstrated how to quickly enter the water and exit out into transition and we were asked to do the same. We also performed drills such as skulling.
RUN: I was relieved to have touched land again. We headed for the track and ran 2 x 1600, 2 x 800, 2 x 400, and 2 x 200. I loved every minute.
– Team Togetherness at the track –
BRICK: My tri camp friends swore they would help me through the bike ride that I so dreaded. Adel, Bic, and Mike decided to pace me through the bike ride instead of joining the advanced group. Such love from my tri camp friends!
Adel, an experienced cyclist from Team Suunto and Team Secondwind, stayed by my side from the start until we climbed those steep hills of Subic. Our course was the route for SUBIT.
Adel guided me through every step: gear up, gear down, and my favorite “If you’re tired climbing, just stare at the pavement before you.” I definitely enjoyed the start of this bike ride more than the previous day, it felt easier and lighter. However, after breaking my record distance the day before and all the rigorous workouts we went through as well as the fact that it was all uphill (!!!), I started to feel exhausted.
When we reached the steep downhills, I thought the worst was over. Boy was I wrong. The downhills were so fast that I clung on to the brakes for dear life. I must’ve gripped so hard that my right hand froze! Holy crap, I wondered how I could stop the bike if my hand was numb?! Shortly after, I felt some tightness on my hips too. With all these signs, I pulled over and threw in the towel at 30k. For me, 30k was a feat. To cover the distance on two consecutive days was spectacular. I skipped the run and headed straight to the next tough workout: a nap!
Over dinner, we had another lecture where Coach Dan and Ani shared race day tips especially for those who were registered for the upcoming SUBIT. There was also a briefing for the next day’s race simulation.
[DAY THREE]
This was race simulation day. Most of the participants were serious triathletes or intermediate triathletes registered for SUBIT, I was neither. Hence, I decided to get a head start on my drive home and bid my dearest tri camp buddies the best of luck and tons of fun. I left that morning feeling empowered with what my body and mind could achieve and thrilled about the prospect of a new challenge in triathlon. Oooh boy, here we go!
– with only some of the Next Step Tri Camp participants –
[TBR REVIEW]
PROS
NEEDS IMPROVEMENT
SUMMARY
The Next Step Triathlon Camp is a great way for triathletes—from intermediate to seasoned—to boost their knowledge on triathlon and gain practical tips and techniques from the best coaches in the country. The triathlon camp is well-organized, well-staffed, and run by an experienced and professional team. Expect to be challenged physically and mentally while having a grand time working out.
For those interested in The Next Step Triathlon Camp, click HERE to visit the website.
NEXT: Tips for those who are considering Triathlon Camp
