Matt V.
South orange, NJ
ATHLETE TESTIMONIALS
“From our first meeting, Ali really made me think about what it is I wanted to get out of triathlon; structuring my goals in a way that I’d never thought of before, helping me focus on the things that really mattered to achieving better performance, and ultimately designing the right training plan for me. I was a veteran triathlete before I began working with Ali, and never much considered working with a coach. I first enlisted Ali (she really enlisted me!) to help me with my swim stroke. In a matter of just a few months, I cut nearly 30 seconds per 100 yards from my swim time, and knew at that very moment I needed Ali to coach me for IRONMAN™. Ali doesn’t just coach for the sport itself. She coaches her athletes also for the experience. She understands the human element of triathlon, and how it impacts the athlete and their family. The time commitments. The balance between work, life and training. Her coaching methodology accounts for it all, and by that I mean she ensures accountability is a two-way street.
This is my third season training with Ali. I have exceeded my expectations in all three disciplines by a wide margin, and was amazed just how much I was “leaving on the field” in terms of training and performance before working with Ali. My first season working with Ali, I PR’d IM Mont Tremblant 70.3 by nearly 40 minutes, and IM Louisville by nearly 50 minutes. These are extraordinary gains by any measure, and I credit her with getting me to properly set and then achieve these goals. Her coaching doesn’t end there, however. Certifications and effective coaching style aside, Ali is a wealth of knowledge and single point of contact for all constituent elements of our sport. After a bad bike crash during summer 2019, Ali ensured I was in the proper hands with physical therapy – and sure enough I was back on the course in a matter of weeks (not months!). After a medical issue during IM Mont Tremblant, Ali unilaterally enlisted the help of a certified nutritionist to completely revamp my fueling plan – a move that proved invaluable during IM Louisville.
In a word, Ali is an AMAZING coach. I will not train for another race – whether half marathon, marathon, sprint tri or full Ironman – without Ali by my side. I can’t wait to see what goals we set for the coming year.”
Dawn K.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ
Greg L.
MAPLEWOOD, NJ
“Ali is the bomb! She’s literally the most amazing swim coach in the world. She took my 10-year-old daughter from being afraid of the water to swimming across the pool in less than 10 lessons. She is super warm and positive, and very professional. She’s so inspiring that she has made me want to try to do a triathlon. I would recommend her to anybody.”
“I started working with Ali from TRIumph Coaching two months before my third marathon (Philadelphia). Using my goals, she built a training plan each week, helped me avoid injury, and provided excellent feedback after each workout. I had no idea I could improve so fast, or have as much fun as I did. During the same two month period, she also improved my swim times by over 15 seconds per 100 yards. I'm a huge fan of Ali and TRIumph Coaching! And, if you're wondering, I set a new personal record by 13 minutes and felt great after the race. Can't wait for the next one!”
Dana I.
west orange, NJ
“I cannot say enough about Alison Headley and TRIumph Coaching. In June 2018, I began taking group swim lessons with her and quickly realized that I needed DRASTIC help with my swimming. I was contemplating racing in a sprint triathlon, but honestly didn’t think I could complete the swim portion. With Ali’s amazing coaching and constant encouragement, I’ve now done three sprint tris in the last calendar year and I’ve discovered that I LOVE to swim! I truly feel that this personal accomplishment would not have been possible without Ali’s training.”
Barry B.
Caldwell, NJ
Sarah B.
Maplewood, NJ
“I am not a marathon or triathlon champion. Far from it, in fact. I am simply someone who wants to stay in shape and continue being healthy while participating in road races and triathlons. Ali is a great coach who has helped me towards that goal. She is patient, motivational, and knowledgeable. She prepared weekly custom plans specific to my goals, helped me figure out optimum training regimens, and always gave excellent advice to keep me moving forward!”
Katy, created a plan that allowed me to get back into race shape after my baby was born. Her plan challenged me but was realistic given where I was - working with a hectic schedule and making adjustments to keep me on track. I consider myself so lucky to have progressed through the plan healthy and happy! But I know it wasn’t luck, it was working with an amazing coach.
While I was nervous for race day, I trusted Katy’s confidence and experience. I knew if I followed the plan she made for me, I would be ready - and I so was!
I felt great and I had so much fun at race day. Which shows I definitely was ready and probably could have pushed much harder.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Anna R.
Maplewood, NJ
“Ali has invested her time and energy both in an initial in-person meeting to really get to know me and my goals. She has also been using a very individualized approach in my weekly training plans. She touches base with me each week to find out how I am feeling and how I am progressing with my training before writing my upcoming plan. Alison also took me through a swim stroke analysis and gave very specific and targeted feedback that was easy to understand and follow. After just one session of working with her, I developed my stroke and thinking tremendously. Ali shares her good advice and experience generously and in a positive way, and she is very passionate about my development."
Howard K.
South orange, NJ
"TRIumph Coaching and Alison Headley coached me one year ago as I prepared for Ironman Arizona. My best performance ever…Ali had the unique ability to focus on her athletes, using the best in technology, and with thorough and frequent communication. After the race, I called Ali immediately…to which she blurted, “I am so proud of you!" This demonstrates just how much of an advocate Ali is, and how vested she is in her athletes. The multi-sport community is doing better because of Ali.”
Aliza S.
south orange, NJ
“Having Ali as my coach has been instrumental in enabling me to reach my triathlon and my personal goals. Ali is a gifted coach who is extremely knowledgeable about triathlons, overall fitness and time management. Ali has provided the tools and support to improve my overall fitness and also step up my game from casual to competitive triathlete.”
Brandon M.
livingston, NJ
“Coach Ali provided me with the blueprints to train for, and successfully complete, my first Ironman. After a few months of putting significant time into training on my own, I started to fear that there might be aspects of the race I was not properly preparing myself for. What types of training should I be doing? How would I know what to do on race day? I was a healthy eater, but isn’t there a nutrition aspect I should be factoring into my training? I was putting so much time and money into this race that the last thing I wanted to do was have race day be a disaster. Enter Coach Ali.
Ali’s training plans were the perfect mix of training, and she held me to it. She was hard on me, and that is what you want in a coach. But, as important, she was also flexible. She understood why I was competing in the race, and adjusted the training plans accordingly when needed because of family, work or other commitments. When I let Ali know that I could not dedicate all my time to training and needed a plan that allowed me to get through the Ironman and enjoy doing so, she listened and adjusted accordingly, and created the perfect plan for me.
Ali introduced me to the 4th element of Ironman – nutrition. I 100% believe that because of Ali’s regimented nutrition plan, I never once got injured or even cramped during a training run or ride, and was able to have a perfect race day. Ali literally wrote out to a tee every time I was supposed to drink, take a gel, eat a block, or lick salt (something I would never have done without her telling me).
Ali was very accessible. She was able to answer every question I had, and our pre-race meeting was invaluable (how would I know to put extra socks in my special needs bag?). She had set out personal goals, including hugging my family when I saw them on the race. During the race, I actually got off my bike and kissed each member of my family, something I would never have thought to do if Ali hadn’t mentioned it. She wanted to know how many times I peed during my training ride; now that’s commitment from a coach!
When the race finally came, I was totally prepared for everything. I attribute that to Ali’s coaching. I had a great race and enjoyed every moment – it was one of the best days of my life! If you are considering committing yourself to competing in an Ironman, I highly recommend doing so under Coach Ali’s expertise and guidance.”
Abby & Ron A.
New York, NY
Michele R.
maplewood, NJ
“From the bottom of our hearts we are so grateful to have you as our coach. Never felt better on the run… . In Katy we trust!
Thank you, Coach Katy, for everything! You have given us a memory that will last a lifetime.
“Coach Ali’s skilled, compassionate, and intuitive training process was instrumental in helping me conquer my goal of completing my first sprint triathlon recently. Her clinics were so helpful because they challenged both my body and my mind. In her bike clinic, Ali labeled every part of her own bike so I could learn the basic anatomy and terminology of a road bike. She also taught me how o pedal and charge gears in a smarter way. In her swim clinics, Ali always followed up each session with applicable videos for us to study and drills to try on our own. Finally, as I struggled emotionally with my ability to properly breathe while swimming, Ali helped build up my confidence in her private swim sessions. When she told me she knew I could do it, I truly believed she meant it. Her confidence in me allowed me to believe in myself and ultimately achieve my goal of becoming a triathlete. A dream come true!”
Rhonda P.
south orange, NJ
“I am very lucky to have had the opportunity to work with Ali of Triumph Coaching. As part of a local women’s triathlon group and someone with a limited athletic background, mastering the three sports has been challenging for me. Ali provided our group with thoughtful training plans; endless encouragement; patient, personalized support; and specialized clinics and workshops. Ali, having completed countless races herself, speaks from her own experiences in a way that truly resonates. Her background as an educator only enhances Ali’s tailored, knowledgeable approach to her coaching. I highly recommend working with Ali; I am so glad I did!”
Deb J.
South Orange, NJ
“I am a 56 year old accidental triathlete. In my third season, I thought I had maximized my non-athletic middle aged body. Enter Ali. Ali is everything you would want in a coach. Her expertise is evident. She answers every question comprehensively and is readily available for issues large and small. Ali got me focused and taught me so much about proper training - form, mechanics, frequency, duration, equipment, nutrition. Truly nothing was left unexamined and all was newly illuminated. But the real Ali magic is that she believes in her athletes. She is optimistic and endlessly patient in moving forward towards the goal. I feel very fortunate to have had the privilege of working with Ali, and can’t wait to discover all of the ways she will continue to help me grow.”
Sarah T.
Maplewood, NJ
Anthony B.
livingston, NJ
“Ali, thanks so much for your help in reaching my goal of swimming 1.4 miles in Provincetown Harbor at the Swim For Life! Your clinic and swim lessons taught me easy ways to improve my stroke so that I swam with more efficiency and had more energy to make it across the choppy seas. I am excited to continue with open water swimming - you have been a great support getting started and gaining confidence!”
“Coach Ali, I would like to say thank you very much for your coaching, mentoring and partnership over the last 17 months. During this period, I have been able to finish 2 Ironmans, 3 Half Ironmans, 1 Marathon, 2 Half Marathons, and 2 Open Water Swims. In each race I was able to PR and improve my times. I have no doubt that your strategies, plans and communication were a critical ingredient to the outcomes we achieved. More importantly, I have had 17 months of consistent training which was something I could not string together previously. This consistency has been a game changer on many fronts. I have no doubts in recommending your coaching services to other athletes.”