LifeSport Coaches

Lance Watson LifeSport "Master Coach".

Lance Watson has been coaching triathlon and distance running since 1987. Over the years, Lance has coached some of the most successful athletes in the sport of triathlon and duathlon, including:

Lisa Bentley (10 Ironman wins)
Simon Whitfield (Olympic and Commonwealth Games Gold)
Greg Bennett (World No. 1, Olympian)
Laura Reback (3 Time World's Medallist)
Brent McMahon (Olympian, Xterra Champion, Pan Am Games Silver)
Steve Larsen (Pro Cyclist, Ironman Champ)
Lucy Smith (2 x World Duathlon Silver Medallist)
Melissa Spooner (Ironman Champ)
Tereza Macel (Canadian Champion)
Sarah Howell (National Running and Duathlon Champ)
Lauren Groves (National Team)
Mark Bates (Multiple National Champion)
Cheryl Murphy (National Runner and Duathlon Champ)
Andrew Noble (World Duathlon Champ, US Triathlon Series Champ)
Sharon Donnelly (Olympian)
Peter Reid (Technical Coach, Hawaii Ironman Champ)
Jamie Cleveland (Ironman Florida Champ)
Leandro Macedo (Olympian)
Jasper Blake (National Team, Ironman Champ)
Andrea Fisher (Multiple Top 5 Ironmans)
Brigitte McMahon (Olympic Gold Medallist)
Kim Loeffler (US Ironman Champion)
Chris Lieto (Multiple Ironman Champs)

A Human Kinetics graduate (sport psychology minor), Lance has had the opportunity to work with and be mentored by numerous world-class swim, bike, run and triathlon coaches and liaise with many top sport professionals (scientists, psychologists, nutritionists, therapists, etc.)

Lance has coached at the 2000 Olympics, 2002 Commonwealth Games and 2003 Pan American Games, and 2004 Olympics. He has been head coach at several national-team events and coached at various Ironman, ITU World Cup and world championship events. As well, he was an award recipient as “Triathlon Canada Elite Coach Of The Year” five times from 2000-2003, and 2005.

Testimonials:

Lisa Bentley, Ontario, Multiple Ironman champ
“Lance has taught me everything that I know. He has been a tremendous coach and teacher. I totally look to Lance for guidance in my training and in balancing training and life. He truly understands the physiological aspects of training. He explains to me why the training is a certain way and what the benefit is; he explains the purpose. He explains how these aspects fit into the macrocycle and then I understand. As long as I am a professional triathlete, Lance will be my coach. I still have an awful lot to learn, and he is the perfect mentor.”

Kim Loeffler, Vermont, US Long Course Triathlon Champ, 8th in Kona.

"When I saw the schedule I was like, "that man is crazy". But once I got going I was like "that man is genius!" How did you make me so fast so soon??"

Dan, Seattle, Washington
"Working with Lance Watson for the last 2.5 years has been invaluable to my progress as an athlete. I have achieved new PR's at every distance while still maintaining an extremely busy work and home life. His knowledge of training and the process of physical adaptation allows me to get the utmost out of my limited time. Lance is a tremendous resource and the best investment I have made in my personal development."

Errol, Boca Raton, Florida
Lance’s genius lies in his unique ability to create a complete athlete out of an ordinary guy like me by preparing them emotionally, mentally, physically and tactically for the races where they compete. By preparing me mentally and structuring training that constantly pushes my limits, I have improved from a middle of a packer to a consistent podium placer. Further, his infectious positive attitude has influenced all aspects of my life. If you want to win races while growing as a person, Lance is the coach to seek.

Paul Regensburg LifeSport "Master Coach".

Paul Regensburg is currently a senior coach and partner with LifeSport Coaching, an organization that he leads with Olympic Gold Medal Coach Lance Watson. LifeSport, recently named “the Official Coaches of Ironman”, is an industry-leading coaching company that helps amateur and professional athletes from around the world develop to the next level and achieve their goals. Paul has the distinction of being the Triathlon Canada High Performance Director/Team Coach of gold medal winning teams through a full cycle of major multisport games including the 1999 Pan Am Games, 2000 Olympic Games, 2002 Commonwealth Games, and 2003 Pan Am Games – a feat unmatched by any other Canadian sport. In 2000, he also provided the color commentary for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s Olympic Triathlon coverage of Simon Whitfield's historic sprint finish in front of the Sydney Opera House that brought Canada the gold medal in the Olympic debut of Triathlon.

Paul holds the highest possible level of coaching certification in triathlon; a National Coaching Institute Diploma and Triathlon Master Coach designation. Paul was the Director and Coach of the National Triathlon Centre in Victoria at the PacificSport Canadian Sport Centre from 2000-2005 and during this time was instrumental in building the Centre and the development of Triathlon Canada’s high performance programs. Paul holds a BPHE degree from the University of Toronto and a NCCP Level 3 Certification in Cycling. His coaching specialty lies in developing emerging athletes into internationally competitive athletes and has helped a number of athletes achieve their dreams of going to Olympic Games, World Championships, and other major multisport games.

Paul’s Coaching History:

LifeSport Senior Triathlon Coach, Olympic Distance through Ironman, Current
2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Coach/Advisor, Netherlands Triathlon Team
Hawaii Ironman & 70.3 World Championships Coach, Pro/Amateur, 2005-current
ITU World Triathlon Championship Coach, Elite and Age Group, 1996 - 2008
Director and Coach of the Canadian National Triathlon Centre, 2000-2005
2004 Olympic Games, Athens, Canadian Triathlon Team Leader
2003 Pan American Games, Santa Domingo, Triathlon Team Coach
2002 Commonwealth Games, Manchester, Triathlon Coach
2000 Olympic Games, Sydney, Team Camp Leader / CBC Color Commentator
BPHE Degree, NCI Diploma, NCI Triathlon Master Coach, NCCP Certifications in Cycling/Swimming, Level 3 Triathlon Official, Bronze Cross/RLSS/First Aid
Triathlon Canada High Performance and Coaching Committee, 1997 – 2005
Head Coach – Commonwealth Triathlon Club, 2000-2007
Head Coach – Keyano College Cross Country Running Team, 1999
Head Coach, 98 World University Triathlon Championship, Germany
Club Coach, Jasper Tri Club, Northern Lights Triathlon Club, St. Albert Tri Club
Alberta Provincial Junior Coach, 1996 & 1997
Alberta Summer Games Coach, 1993, 1995 & 1997

Paul’s Philosophy:

Assisting the athlete in achieving their full athletic potential
A Belief in the athletes ability to achieve
The athlete gaining an education on how their body responds physically and mentally to training, adaptation, and competition
Focus on the process goals to achieve the outcome
Focus on details outside of training that promote athletic development
Enjoying the opportunities of sport through international cultural experiences
Professional athletes gaining the ability to receive financial success to earn a living through sport
The athlete gaining experience and success at national and international competition

Testimonials:

Carolyn, Victoria, Canada
“I have worked with Paul for the last 5 years. Since moving to Victoria in 2001 I have improved from a development athlete to National Team and 2008 Beijing Olympic hopeful. I credit a huge part of this to the motivation, positive reinforcement and challenging program that Paul has provided. He has been an amazing supporter throughout my career and I definitely share my successes with him. It is not easy to find the right coach and I feel lucky to have the opportunity to work with Paul now and in the future”

Michelle, Vancouver
"I knew next to nothing about swimming and biking and not much more about running when I called LifeSport in the spring of 2006. However, Paul obviously knew the sports from the basics to the advanced techniques. Since becoming my coach, he has talked, e-mailed, swam, peddled, and run me through drills, techniques, gadgets, and purpose with incredible patience and persistence. He helped me define my objectives which included training for Ironman Canada in 2006 while holding down a full time demanding job as Crown counsel. At the outset, he taught me it was all about performance, not outcome. He focused my regimen on quality over quantity. The few times I got down on myself, or questioned why others were training harder and longer, he always pumped me up and put me back on the road of positive thoughts about my personal performance and goals. Paul is clearly committed to helping his athletes do their best. I’m a perfect example – I went from getting a bike, racing in my first ½ marathon, and having a swim lesson all in the spring of 2006, to qualifying for a coveted Kona slot at the end of the summer. I have no doubt that my faith and trust in Paul’s coaching got me to the World Championships. And the best part is that I had an enormous amount of fun on my journey. It’s obvious to me that Paul’s a great coach because he loves it."

Alister Russell LifeSport "Senior Coach".

Alister Russell is a British Triathlon Level III Coach and is currently working towards his UK Athletics Level IV award. He has been coaching since 1985 in the US and UK and was the Scottish National Junior Coach from 2003 – 2005. He has also worked with a number of senior elite athletes, and has acted as team manager for both National junior and senior teams at duathlon and triathlon.

In recent years he as concentrated on helping age-group athletes fulfil their potential and has helped numerous athletes qualify for their national teams at Olympic distance, long distance and duathlon at both European and World Championships. Athletes coached by Alister have taken World and European titles. Additionally, he has helped a number of athletes prepare for, and successfully compete in, Ironman races around the world.

Alister prides himself on his technical expertise and is always looking to expand this knowledge with a view to helping his athletes train to achieve their full genetic potential. However, coaching is not just technical knowledge, it’s also about passion and commitment, and Alister has both in vast quantities.

National Team Coach
Proven Coach of National and World Champions
Over 20 years Experience
Level III Triathlon certified, Level IV Athletics
Passion for Beginner, Amateur and Elite level coaching

Testimonials:

Sara Gross PhD, 8x Top 5 Ironman finisher:
Alister was my first coach and took me from age-group to entry-level elite athlete. In the course of a year, he improved my 10km run time by 3 minutes through technical improvements and fitness gains.

Coming from a non-swimming background, Alister helped me to improve my confidence in the water, my body position and propulsion. With his help, I began to feel like a swimmer.

He is easy to talk to, and well-informed on all matters triathlon; both intelligent and understanding. If you are looking for a coach who will improve your performances by training smarter, using your time wisely, and swimming, biking and running more economically (hence faster) then Alister is your guy."

Hillerie. Victoria:
"Alister's coaching style is very helpful and effective. He speaks softly yet commands attention. His swimming advice is invaluable is is his patience with athletes of varying ages and abilities"

Anne. Hawaii:
"I get e-mails daily plus I can log on as much as I wish to my Training Peaks page specific to me with all my workouts, diary of past workouts, races etc. I can e-mail questions as much as I wish, and I speak with Alister on the phone. Alister's program is tailored specifically to me and my goals, age and fitness level. He runs me through some wonderful field tests. Each day I input my training data and comments. If something jumps out at Alister he will shoot an e-mail back and if necessary adjust my workout schedule. His power tap (bike power meter) feedback has been excellent"

Dan Smith LifeSport "Senior Coach".

Dan Smith is a NCCP educated triathlon coach who has been around endurance sport and high-performance sport his entire life, and started coaching over twenty years ago. Beginning with sailing, where he was certified at the highest level nationally, he later was recognized as the regional expert in windsurfing, and then went on to instruct snowboarding. For the past several years he has been coaching triathlon, cycling, mountain bike and running on the East coast. He is an expert level mountain bike racer, racing MTB since 1985, a category one rider, and has podium finishes at numerous triathlons.

Complementing Dan's extensive sport experience is his technical knowledge. Dan has managed/owned bike and sport shops and was the Norco Canada rep. He is LifeSport's technical equipment expert and is at the leading edge of bicycle industry knowledge for performance, bike fit and aerodynamics.

Testimonials:

Bill of Tucson, Arizona after Ironman New Zealand.

"I got a spot to KONA!!!!! Man, what a sweet surprise...I cannot believe I am headed to KONA this fall.
I owe a lot of this accomplishment to you for taking the task of figuring out when and what to do for training away from me so I could just focus on doing what you had planned."

Christina of Madison, Alabama after finishing Pikes Peak marathon
"To sum it up, it was an AWESOME day. All of my visualization came true with me running the last mile feeling strong, great and with a huge smile on my face enjoying the accomplishment. Best piece was to have the experience of feeling stronger as the race went on, especially the last eight miles when so many others were visibly struggling. Bottom line, had a great time and am glad that I "checked the box. THANKS for everything."

Nicole of Calgary, Alberta after Cranbrook Half Ironman
"I'm just back from the race and it was the best Triathlon experience I've ever had. Thanks so much for your support leading up to this race. All the advice you gave me about effort, hydration and nutrition really prepared me well!"

Scott of Decatur, Alabama after Atomicman Half Ironman
"After 1 year and 3 months of training and 6 crappy triathlons I finally had a good one! Heck - I HAD A GREAT ONE! Never had to walk in the run. I am extremely pleased and grateful for your help. I needed a good race and am so motivated to have a good winters of training."

Lucy Smith LifeSport "Senior Coach".

Long time coach and accomplished athlete, Lucy Smith is a 15 time Canadian Champion and Internationally ranked athlete in triathlon, duathlon, and distance running. She is a versatile competitor having achieved success over a range of events from 5000m on the track to the Ironman distance in triathlon. Since participating in her first fun run at age eleven, Lucy has developed her athletic career into a passionate full-time pursuit of excellence that has been rewarded with a Silver Medal at the World Duathlon Championships, Gold Medals at the Canada Games and Canadian University Championships, and countless podium finishes at international triathlon, duathlon and running competitions. Her accomplishments have been recognized with many National and Provincial "Athlete of the Year" Honours, and she was twice Athlete of the Year while a student at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

Lucy has coached athletes to podium finishes in Ironman (elite and age group), Olympic distance, Triathlon, Duathlon and distance running.

-Coach since 1988
-Level III certified
-World Champion Coach
-National team athlete in triathlon, duathlon and distance running
-Coach of national champions and international athletes
-Degrees in Education and English Literature

Philosophy

"I take a holistic approach to developing athletes over the mid and long term. I will help you find a balance between meeting your performance goals and striving for your dreams, while balancing family, career and life. I will share 25 years of racing and coaching experience to help you find out what you are truly capable of achieving, through support, encouragement and training expertise."

Testimonials:

Kirsten Sweetland, World Junior Triathlon Champion
"She has so much knowledge and so many insights about everything a young athlete would need to know that conversations between her and I can just go on forever! There is so much to learn from her that I definitely became a different athlete in just a year being coached by her."

Gerard Vroomen, Founder and Owner of Cervelo
Lucy coached me for the year leading up to my first Ironman. I've always found Lucy's workouts to be easy to follow, and if anything was unclear it was always explained quickly and clearly. If it's the journey that counts I can say it was a success."

Byron, Vancouver, Canada
Lucy often speaks of “personal excellence” and over the couple of years while Lucy coached me, I ran personal best times almost every time I toed the start line. As coach and athlete, we worked as a team, setting short and long term goals, and developing periodized training cycles in order to continue to improve fitness, and maximize performance at specific times of the year. Lucy has a wealth of information in sport and was always sharing it with me and if she came across something new, she always passed it on to me. After competing in her own races, Lucy would often pass on insights she had gained from the experience. I have observed that Lucy applies her quest for excellence not only to her own athletic career and coaching, but to all aspects of life. Lucy has been an inspiration to me as both an athlete and a person.

Sherri, Nanaimo, Canada
For me you were really a life coach. You helped me see past my limitations, you made me take responsibility for my training and you helped me to look at events in a much larger sense than just a clock or a time.

Mark Overton LifeSport "Expert Coach".

Mark Overton has been involved in triathlon and endurance sport as a coach and athlete for 18 years. Following an active youth that included playing competitive ice hockey at the college level, he started competing in multisport purely to stay fit. Over the years Mark achieved coaching certifications in triathlon while spending time doing his practical educational component at the National Triathlon Centre in Victoria, B.C. He also has completed education at Malaspina University-College in Physical Education and Psychology. Mark has coached swimming, soccer and ice hockey in addition to triathlon. He has been a licensed competitive bike racer and won several podiums at regional triathlon events. He was formerly the head coach of the Nanaimo Triathlon Club, and has extensive experience helping athletes at the beginner to intermediate level in taking the next step to achieving their goals and dreams.

Mark has been mentored by National and Olympic coach Lance Watson for the past 10 years.

Mark currently works with athletes at the Performance and Premier level.

- NCCP Certified Triathlon Coach
- University Education in Physical Education and Psychology
- Mentored for 10 years by International Coach Lance Watson
- Professional Firefighter
- Counselor
- Level Three First Aid
- Head Coach, Nanaimo Triathlon Coach
- Swim Coach, Nanaimo Triathlon Club
- Former high-level ice hockey player and triathlete

Philosophy:

"Sport is a life long endeavor. I believe it helps with every aspect of your personal development including building character, discipline, and a newfound respect and understanding of what your body is capable of. Coaching is a tool to help individuals attain their goals, whether to become an accomplished athlete, or pursuing fitness for health and life longevity. My strength lies in my determination to provide guidance through my knowledge and education of how the body and athlete mind works. I motivate athletes by drawing from my experience as a competitive athlete and my leadership skills as a certified coach. My career as a professional fire fighter along with my educational background in psychology and counseling contribute to my effectiveness as a coach in turn helping athletes to get the best out of themselves."

Testimonials:

Octavio, Brazil:
Hi Mark, I'm sending you my time results, I enjoyed all the race, it was very hot 40° C and in the bike a little windy, but I had a lot of fun! Thank Lance W. and Team and you (especially) for being so professionals. I will always be pleased for all the work you did with me, thanks again.

Bruce Regensburg LifeSport "Expert Coach".

Bruce Regensburg has taken Triathlon, Swimming and Cycling certified coaching courses. He has been coaching for over 10 years. He specializes in developing athletes from introductory levels to becoming experienced, successful triathletes.

Bruce has also completed 7 Ironman competitions, including 2 Hawaii Ironman, and has been a member and team manager of the National Triathlon Age Group Team.

Testimonials:

Michael, Canada
Bruce’s encouragement helped me to complete two Ironmans and one half Ironman since then, including the New Zealand and Arizona events this year, and St Croix last May. Your program is a great asset for people who are considering the sometimes intimidating but wonderful sport of triathlon.

Robin, Canada
Through the first session and the second and now suddenly I can swim! Thank you for getting me to this lovely place. For all your patience, persistence and fine coaching, Cheers!!

Bill, Canada
Up Yellow Lake Pass and heading back to Penticton. Still feeling really strong. All the coaching and advice from Coach Bruce has left me feeling pretty good. I have probably taken in over 3,000 calories during my 6 1/2 hours on the bike. Nutrition is the key to this event and Bruce trained me well.

Jessica Depew LifeSport "Expert Coach".

Jessica Depew has been a triathlon club coach in both cities of Vancouver and Victoria, sharing her nearly 10 years of experience with aspiring triathletes. Over the years, she has collaborated on training projects and clinics with several top coaches, including Lance Watson and Paul Regensburg. Jessica has a high level of technical expertise and positive, can-do attitude about training and racing. To complement her coaching repertoire, Jessica is university educated in nutrition and sciences, is a BCRPA certified personla trainer, and is a recipient of the "Langara Faculty Association Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Science". Jessica is also an active triathlete, and 3 time national age group team member.

-NCCP Educated Coach
-University studies in nutrition, award winning student.
-LifeSport mentored coach
-Club coach, Vancouver, Victoria.
-BCRPA certification as a personal trainer
-Experienced triathlete and national age group team member.

Philosophy
Every athlete is an individual, with different needs. Programs need to be tailored to suit the athlete’s abilities and goals. My job is to understand what these are, and design a program to guide them to success. My coaching philosophy will consist of a balance between positive reinforcement, motivation, and a strict focus on technique and form. Quality over quantity is my mantra.

Jessica Kirkwood LifeSport Club Coach.

Jessica Kirkwood is a former member of the National Under-23 Women’s Team and a proven international performer. She is a favorite coach of the local triathlon club, and a very effective technical swim coach. Jessica combines her experience in high performance triathlon with her great hands-on skills and passion for sport to motivate club athletes. As an athlete, Jessica was a podium finisher at the Caledon ITU International Triathlon, 4th at the Senior National Triathlon Championships, and a 10th place in the Corner Brook World Cup. Jessica has her Level NCCP 1 Triathlon coaching and Cycling certification.