Real Performance
Matt Ison - Endurance Coach
Results and
Testimonials
Hear what Coach Matt's athletes have to say about working with him
Scroll down to read about athletes like you ranging from Ironman Champions and World Championship Qualifiers to busy working moms and dads getting the most out of their limited training time.
"There are coaches and then there is Coach Matt. Matt is the third triathlon coach that I've had. And that's not counting all of the solicited and unsolicited unofficial "coaching" that I've been given since I stumbled into endurance athleticism ten years ago with no previous athletic training. (When the other kids were running track I was doing ballet, tap and jazz...) I was a mid-packer at best when I was lucky enough to be assigned to Matt after my second CTS coach in two years left CTS three weeks before my "A" race. Matt is far and away the best coach that I have ever met. He is smart, caring, enthusiastic, motivating and of course an incredibly talented athlete. The fact that I have since qualified for the 70.3 World Championships, WON a triathlon and podiumed at almost all my other races is pretty darn cool but I think what I am most impressed with, is how Matt is able to individualize his training programs and make them work for people that have a life. Matt coaches both my husband and me, often for the same races- yet our training plans are very different. Additionally, we both have very irregular work schedules, three young kids and other interests outside of triathlon (including skiing every weekend in the winter) and Matt is beyond excellent at modifying our training schedules to make triathlon success possible while having balance. One in a million."
///Brooke Smith - Triathlete Sprint, Olympic, and Half Distance
New Mildford, CT
Multiple time 70.3 World championship Qualifier
"Matt coached me to success at Ironman Lake Placid. He knew my triathlon goals and understood my life commitments outside of the sport. He took the time to listen to my feedback and pay attention to the training data, adjusting my plan accordingly. Matt also knew when to push me to my limits and when to let me rest. He is an excellent coach and I would highly recommend him."
"As a full time working mother of 4, back and knee surgery left me wondering if I'd ever race again, but finding Matt made all the difference. He took me from not knowing anything to being top 3 in two years. I never could have done it without him. He listens to me and works with the limitations in my life. And best of all, he's rational about the work load! I can't recommend him highly enough."
"As a full time working mother of 4, back and knee surgery left me wondering if I'd ever race again, but finding Matt made all the difference. He took me from not knowing anything to being top 3 in two years. I never could have done it without him. He listens to me and works with the limitations in my life. And best of all, he's rational about the work load! I can't recommend him highly enough."
/// Maria Seiler - Rye, New York
/// Maria Seiler - Rye, New York
Sprint and Olympic Distance
"I have been coached by Matt Ison for about 2 1/2 years and have learned much from his bank of knowledge in nutrition, triathlon racing strategy, and use of power meter data to optimize performance. Before as an un coached triathlete I rarely placed high enough in my age group to podium. Now with his coaching it is more consistent and expected in sprint, Olympic and 70.3 Ironman triathlon distances. Matt is very easy to work with because he communicates well and often with his athletes.
/// Richard Riemers - Mission Viejo, CA
Multiple time 70.3 World championship Qualifier
I have been apart of the tri world for about 10 years now. Unfortunately due to several injuries, I have only trained consistently for maybe 5 out of those 10 years. Injuries are very frustrating, especially when they seem to never go away. Once I graduated from college I continued to stay in touch with Matt who was a great friend and teammate at Baylor. We talked over the phone every couple months as we both continued to race in triathlon.
Last September I remember venting to Matt about my inability to race the Boston Marathon (or even run at all for the last 8 months) due to IT band syndrome. I was just tired of getting in shape and then getting hurt again and having to start from square one every 6 to 8 months.
Matt had a solution for me. He told me that I should give him a shot at coaching me for a year and see how things progressed. I talked with my wife and got the green light and signed up with Matt the next day.
Since then, I have continued to progress in my training, and my fitness has improved significantly. Matt slowly got me back to running by keeping my volume extremely low and by adding specific strength work to my program. The swim has always been a strength of mine and Matt has made it even stronger with his challenging but entertaining swim workouts.
Matt has taught me how to use power in my training to give me the best results on race day. It is also the best way to see improvements on the bike. Matt is good at showing me where I have improved every month through all the data we collect.
I have been with Matt for 9 months now and have set a new PR at the 70.3 distance and won OA at my last sprint tri a couple weeks ago. More importantly, Matt’s coaching has provided me with the most consistent stretch of injury-free training in my entire life. Having a coach like Matt means that I no longer live in fear of an injury destroying my season; but rather, I am able to train confidently knowing that an expert is prescribing just the right amount of physical stress on my body to produce huge adaptations and performance gains without detrimental injury. Matt has given me the tools to race at a high level once again, and I know that I am only going to get faster as we continue to stay consistent in our training.
I have big goals for triathlon and know that as long as Matt Ison is my coach I will be able to reach them. He is not only a great friend, but the best coach an athlete could ask for.
/// Phil Royston - All distance Triathlete
Dallas, Texas
Click here to see a week of Phil's Training
“Matt is a great tri coach. I am in my 40s and am very busy. I am married with two kiddos at home. I also run a business. I got started in triathlon in late 2014 with the goal of doing an Ironman 70.3 and lots of other local tri’s along the way. I started coaching with Matt at the very beginning of my tri journey. What I like about Matt is that he just tells me what to do and I do it. He programs my workouts in Training Peaks a few weeks in advance. I always know what is coming up and upload my workouts as I complete them. I get the maximum benefit out of a limited number of hours swimming, biking and running. I feel great at every race that I have done and continue to get faster in the water, on my bike and when I run. Matt’s a great guy and always available to chat or text if I need him. I’ll be coaching with Matt for years to come.”
/// Justin Harris - Anchorage, Alaska
I began my triathlon endeavors with a small local sprint in 2008. Over the years I got a lot advice from coaches at the local triathlon club, friends etc… In 2011 I signed up for the NYC Ironman and hired a coach so I wouldn’t end up puking and bonking on the run. Although I made significant improvements that year I ended up bonking on the run and puking at the end. My wife (an avid triathlete mind you) was determined to go to a Vietnamese Restaurant after the race which is where my two brother-in-laws found me laying on the cold tile floor of the bathroom and dragged me back to the hotel. Medical tent probably would have been a better plan. I never wanted to repeat that experience again. Two coaches later in came Matt Ison. Every race I have done since “Coach Matt” has been on the scene has been a PR. My first 70.3 I finished in 5:29 my last 70.3 I finished in 4:35. Before Matt I was excited to contend for an Age Group Award in the local races and now I am a contender in the Overall in those races. In the larger races I have been in contention for the WC’s. Matt coaches several of my friends and it is clear our workouts are individualized to our specific abilities. Although he also coordinates our workouts to integrate the group runs/swims at our local club and builds our training so despite our different abilities we can train together. “Coach Matt” pushes me to my limit yet also knows when he needs me to back off. I have grown to trust him because the results speak for themselves. Matt is an outstanding coach has brought me from being a participant to being a contender. Thanks Matt!!!
/// David Smith - All Distance Triathlete
Team Zoot
Husband, Father, Sherpa for Brooke Smith
New Milford, CT
“Matt is a great tri coach. I am in my 40s and am very busy. I am married with two kiddos at home. I also run a business. I got started in triathlon in late 2014 with the goal of doing an Ironman 70.3 and lots of other local tri’s along the way. I started coaching with Matt at the very beginning of my tri journey. What I like about Matt is that he just tells me what to do and I do it. He programs my workouts in Training Peaks a few weeks in advance. I always know what is coming up and upload my workouts as I complete them. I get the maximum benefit out of a limited number of hours swimming, biking and running. I feel great at every race that I have done and continue to get faster in the water, on my bike and when I run. Matt’s a great guy and always available to chat or text if I need him. I’ll be coaching with Matt for years to come.”
/// Elizabeth Korinek - Cyclist
Phoenix, Arizona / ATX at heart
Click here to see a week of Elizabeth's Training
“Brick wall to Podium - Before Matt I spent a lot of time training with huge weekly mountain running totals (up to 20,000 feet), long workouts, big mileage, and I was always tired, but only getting 4% improvement in race times year over year. And making , at best, 5th/AG in my races. I didn't know how to get better, and I was just wearing myself out. I was just banging my head against a brick wall. Now: Matt added science and experience to my effort. I train less, I'm less tired, I don't feel that I'm wearing my body down. In races I've started getting 1st and 2nd places in my AG. And my race times improved 10 to 12%.”
/// Timothy Virgo - Ultra Runner
Colorado Springs, CO
“Matt is a great tri coach. I am in my 40s and am very busy. I am married with two kiddos at home. I also run a business. I got started in triathlon in late 2014 with the goal of doing an Ironman 70.3 and lots of other local tri’s along the way. I started coaching with Matt at the very beginning of my tri journey. What I like about Matt is that he just tells me what to do and I do it. He programs my workouts in Training Peaks a few weeks in advance. I always know what is coming up and upload my workouts as I complete them. I get the maximum benefit out of a limited number of hours swimming, biking and running. I feel great at every race that I have done and continue to get faster in the water, on my bike and when I run. Matt’s a great guy and always available to chat or text if I need him. I’ll be coaching with Matt for years to come.”
/// Nelson Costa - All Distance Triathlete
New Milford, CT
"I feel incredibly lucky to have met Matt when I did. I qualified for Kona in November of 2014. I decided that I needed to have a coach if I wanted to continue to improve. After quickly disapproving of my first experience with a coach, Matt was asked to take me on as his athlete. I learned right away that he was dialed into what it took to be a successful triathlete. He understands the balance of life, work, and training. He understands from both an educational stand point from his degree from Baylor and from his personal experience as a professional triathlete and experience at the olympic training center. As a physical therapist, I am inherently critical of some coaches approach to their athletes having treated many of them after chronic injury and overtraining. Throughout the past year, training with Matt has allowed me to stay motivated and I realize that I always have something to learn from him when we talk. He is knowledgeable about what is necessary to attain goals and allow triathlon to be a lifelong sport. He did a great job on educating me on proper nutrition with racing and training and has given me effective workouts that are specific to my current fitness level. He has helped me to attain my PR for full IM distance in Kona as well as my PR for 70.3 in Oceanside and qualifying for World's 70.3 in Australia and a PR for the St. George 70.3 course by 25 min. He has shown me that training doesn't have to be hours upon hours of training as long as the training that is performed is intense and specific."
/// Tammy Nicholson - All Distance Triathlete
Pheonix, Arizona
Ironman World Championship Qualifier
Wacth Tammy at the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kona!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Tczb2f5s_0
"I've been working with Matt for about a year and a half. I am his only non-triathlete client. We are working together to get me a qualifying spot in the Boston Marathon. When I started working with him I was just recovering from an injury set back. This, however, did not stop him from giving me quality workouts that helped me recover and made me stronger. Matt has consistently pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, which led to some amazing gains for me in both speed and endurance. He did all this while working with me through issues in life that just show up and throw you a curve ball. All in all, Matt is a great coach and you'll definitely get good results!"
/// Mary Primrose - Marathon Runner
Cleveland, OH
