Athlete Testimonials

“Julian has been coaching me for long distance triathlons for the past two seasons. I have come from a long background of competitive running and multisport racing including competing in both the world mountain running and world multisport championships.

Despite my long background in sport and competing in several Olympic distance and 1/2 ironman races, I struggled with the structure and organisation required for ironman training.

After a few detailed discussions, he devised a program which had the flexibility required to fit around my hectic work schedule and family life, but still encompassed all the vital elements of building up to a long distance race.

One of Julian's great strengths is the ability to adapt a program to fit your current circumstances. A busy week of work where you may have missed what you thought was a vital long ride, can be compensated for by adapting the following weeks schedule, ensuring that you are still where you should be on race day.
He gives excellent feedback constantly and takes an active interest in how your training is progressing.
Another strength is his thirst for knowledge, he is constantly reading and researching all the latest ideas in the sport, which means you can just get on with training and not worrying about what you could or should be buying or doing to make you go faster.

After two seasons of racing under Julian's guidance and with my work and family life getting even more chaotic, I will definitely be committing myself to another long distance season next year. Without Julian's help and guidance I doubt I'd make the start line, let alone the finish”.

Mark Green – Director of The London Physio ( Age group athlete ), 7th Age Group position & 33rd overall at Ironman France 2007

World Ironman Championship qualifier at first attempt

'I have trained with Julian Nagi for two years and he has taken me from athletic mediocrity to respectability in that time. Julian is not just a fine coach, he is someone you can believe in, and who believes in you. His enthusiasm for triathlon is boundless and with this goes a hunger for learning new things about the sport. Julian generously shares this research and knowledge, encouraging and inspiring you with his passion for all that might improve your performance - no one is spared!

 

Above all, Julian's distinctiveness as a coach is his wonderfully affirming personality - he ALWAYS looks for the positive, and helps you see it, and is someone who can lift your spirits when you have hit that inevitable training crisis. Julian is always making time for you, regardless of your ability, making you feel that you are receiving very special and very personal attention. This has made a huge difference to my athletic performance, boosting my confidence whenever it is at a low ebb. With Julian's personal focus, allied to his natural empathy for individuals and their particular needs, comes a true understanding of the conflicts and problems that most of us age groupers with families and ordinary jobs face.

 

Julian, like the sport of triathlon itself, draws you in to a world where you are challenged but learn to discover the wider - and more spiritual - benefits of participating in this madness of swim - bike - run, regardless of whether you are an elite athlete or an average age grouper.

I intend to work with Julian for as long as my aged body will allow (and he will put up with me!), and believe that his expertise, thoroughness and great attention to detail will help me realise my triathlon goals. Anyone considering taking on a coach should meet with Julian, and I am convinced from that point on they will not look back.

David Magyar – Magyar Marsoni  Architects , 32nd Age group position at Half Ironman UK 2007

“ I'd been searching for a reputable coach to get me through my first Marathon in sub 4 hours and Julian was recommended to me by several athletes, not least because as an experienced Iron Man and a qualified personal trainer with many years of experience he understood what it takes to succeed at any endurance sport.  Julian devised a bespoke training plan for me that centred around achieving my goal whilst keeping me injury free.  He was there with sensible advice and support when I needed it to get me through the many months of training and took a genuine interest every step of the way even turning up to races to offer support". 
 
”I guess the key messages to get across is that A) you've done it all yourself; B) that the plan is BESPOKE rather than just sending out the same spreadsheet to everyone and C) that you do follow up consultations and monitor progress - i.e. you're accessible.”

Cornelius Barry – Director of Probe Marketing Europe, marathon runner

“Over the years, I have been a member of several gyms and tried Personal Training at all of them, to no effect at all.  This is before I met Julian, who I can definitely say has changed my whole attitude to exercise and as a result has had a major positive influence on my life – he is simply the best trainer I have known.  I first met Julian in July 2006 and if you told me that a year later I would successfully complete the Olympic Distance at the London Triathlon I would have just laughed.  But it is absolutely amazing that Julian worked with me to turn me from an overweight, well-intentioned gym member to a very fit, 20lbs lighter tri-athlete.  It was pretty bad when I started with Julian – I couldn’t even swim!  However, Julian took control of my whole programme once we had agreed what I wanted to achieve.  It all started so simply and the brilliant thing about Julian is that he takes it at your pace but continually stretches you and makes you feel fantastic about it.  He designed programmes that worked across base fitness, core strength and the 3 triathlon disciplines – these staged programmes were easy to follow, built up week on week and had fantastic results.  What I think makes Julian unique is that he is not only a brilliant motivator but also has the real experience to develop the right personal programme to help you achieve your goals.  Unbelievably, on top of all of this, he is also a great guy! “

Chris Jansen – Managing Director of Energy Extra, British Gas, Age group triathlete

“ Julian has a real talent for training. Firstly, he brings a great enthusiasm to all he does and is passionate about triathlon in particular. Secondly, he is thoughtful about my training programme, preparing for each session in advance and being clear on goals and underlying rationale for each element of training. He is never short of a tip or recommendation in terms of reading or sampling other training sources. Without question he has inspired me to “do better” each time I have competed and the results have come! “

Tim Meforth – Director of Accenture Management Consulting, Age group triathlete

“Julian has been training me for almost three years now and in that time I have moved from a post 2nd baby, aspirational gym bunny to, well quite frankly a bit of a triathlon junky.

I couldn’t swim (unless you count recreational splashing around), my running was well…short and slow but my bike did give me hope when one day Julian said’ what about a triathlon’. He knew better than me that this was just the sort of challenge I needed. And it worked. I completed my first sprint triathlon on a very cold day on March 2005, under Julian’s watchful eye and support, and knew I was hooked.

Since then I have run many more sprint triathlons and this year completed my first Olympic distance at Windsor in just over 3hours and was delighted. It was the most amazing experience and, needless to say I am going back for a sub 3-hour race next year!

Two things stand out for me in Julian’s training. His ability to keep me motivated and to create programmes for me that were practical enough to fit into my lifestyle (part time work and full time mum). And on the rare occasion when I felt it was all too much, on those cold, dark wet winter mornings at 6a.m, he has been amazingly understanding and supportive. Constant reviewing of targets, injuries, mental health and attitude are all part and parcel of Julian’s training experience.

He is just tough enough to push me further than I could push myself without his goals being unattainable. I have never felt, under Julian’s training, that I couldn’t do it. Rather I have been made to believe that I can, and that I can do it better than I thought. So far he has been right. I will certainly try for middle distance when the children are at school and I have more time to train! 

I will be using Julian’s online training programme myself when I leave London, can’t think how I would do it without him”.

Justine Randall – Age group triathlete and mother of two

“Julian started training me 4 year s ago after the birth of my 3rd child. I had been going to the gym for a few years but with little focus and no specific goals in mind. I had never seen myself as particularly "sporty" or someone who was really much good at sport generally. Julian suggested that I train for a sprint distance triathlon, which I thought sounded like something that I would never be able to do and was certain to come last. Julian wrote me weekly training schedules and was always on hand to answer questions and motivate me. That year I did 2 triathlons and, with Julian's help, improved my time dramatically from one event to the next. I have now competed in numerous events, with the last being the London Triathlon.

I have amazed myself how much I enjoy the training and the competing and also that I am a long way from being last! I am continually improving my performance and beating PBs. Julian has always seen potential that I never
knew I had and has encouraged me to achieve well beyond what I thought I was capable of. Julian's commitment to his own training and personal motivation has been inspirational. I am looking forward to another challenging year in
2008!”

Carolyn Greensmith – Age group triathlete/Park Club Sprint Champion and mother of three

“Julian has motivated me to achieve goals I never thought possible and given my training a sense of purpose for the first time ever! Through his knowledge and application of the science of training, I have improved my anaerobic threshold by more than 20 bpm and taken part in a sprint triathlon. He is encouraging and always fun to train with, constantly varying the programme and setting clear goals. Although I am far from being a natural athlete and a little beyond "the first flush of youth", Julian has shown as much commitment to me as to his more athletic clients.”

Lorraine Heggessey - CEO of talkbackTHAMES