DARREN CONNAGHAN

Triathlon Coach

Darren is a qualified and experienced Level 2 triathlon coach having been trained in the UK by the British Triathlon Federation. As part of the team at www.wearetri.co.uk, which offers group training sessions and plans, he wants all athletes he coaches to benefit from the experience and knowledge gained over the past 25 years. He describes his coaching as “an opportunity to facilitate learning, enjoyment and ultimately success in the sport of triathlon whether you are new to the sport or an experienced athlete.”

After competing in Olympic and sprint distance triathlon events from 1987 to 1996, and organising the first student triathlon championships in 1992, Darren took up a new challenge, formation skydiving, gaining Silver at the 2004 national championships. A passion for this sport was superseded by a long-held desire to compete in an Ironman distance triathlon which he realised in 2005. With 2 young children, Darren has learned that training SMART is both the only option but also the most effective where triathlon is concerned. He has completed two further Ironman events, achieving an hour’s faster finish each time, and intends improving on this in 2011, an ideal example of the benefits of coaching.

With a Masters degree in Geographical Information Systems (GIS) from the University of Greenwich, he has spent the last 15 years working as a freelance GIS consultant for a variety of large organisations (e.g. United Nations) around the world, often in challenging locations such as Nigeria, Russia and Pakistan. His “can do” attitude, professional and calm demeanor resulted in selection and involvement in the only rapid disaster response mapping charity (www.mapaction.org), able to mobilise overseas within 12 hours of an emergency, such as the Haiti earthquake in January 2010.

“Darren’s coaching made the absolute difference: motivating and inspiring me to commit to my training plan and see it through until race day. He managed to improve my fitness and, crucially, my confidence to attempt my first triathlon. Most importantly, his support, encouragement, expertise and skill, has made the experience of my first triathlon an utterly unforgettable one and, perhaps most importantly, made me want to do another one!” Cecily Mills (1st time triathlete as Brighton Marina triathlon 2010).