Adam Clarke

I swam competitively from the age of 7, but first got interested in triathlon at the age of 14 when I took part in a sprint team relay with my brother and best mate, who all swam for Coalville Swimming Club. We did pretty well for a group of young lads and won the junior team award. Later the same year I undertook the same event as an individual and won the junior award. This was in 1986 and I was hooked.

 

For the next 20 or so years I dropped in and out of triathlon, swimming, cycling and running as a young family came along, working away from home, studying for my degree and the general pressures of life distracted me. But I always returned after the distractions waned and each time I reentered the scene I got a little more serious and got a little better. I have competed consistently now since 2006 and completed my first Ironman in 2008. 

 

During my triathlon career I have had a number of coaches from a general all round starter coach, a run biased triathlon coach, and a run/bike biased triathlon coach and all have left me with great experiences and achievements. Then in 2015, I became aware of a local cycling coach who seemed to be working miracles with his athletes. I would read Facebook posts of guys riding well below 20 minutes for a 10 mile TT and sub 50 minutes for a 25 mile TT. To me this was pro level: how were these guys doing this? I trained really hard as a triathlete, putting in the long hours and the best 10 I had ever posted was just over 25 minutes and I considered myself a good cyclist! After watching from afar for almost 12 months, I couldn't hold back any more - I had to know how this was being achieved! So my journey with Matt Bottrill Performance Coaching began in 2016 and with just 8 weeks of Gareth's coaching I was standing on a podium for the first time at a local 1/2 Ironman event! 

 

Since then I have represented Great Britain as a member of the British Triathlon Age Group Team on two occasions, competing at the World Multisport Championships in Aquabike (swim / bike) and finished in the top 10 of my age group on both occasions and top 3 Brit. I regularly win my age group in sprint triathlons and have been known to win overall. I have completed multiple iron distance triathlons and took part in the inaugural Otillo - Isles of Scilly (swim - run).

 

I have been fascinated in the process of coaching since I started coaching young swimmers at the local swimming club and the positive impact it can have on people. The process of taking an athlete who has drive and determination and applying the principles that Matt has instilled into all his coaches, resulting in an athlete that has been trained to perform to the best of their ability. It really is an inspiring journey.

 

My coaching ethos are: 
* A hard working athlete will always beat a talented athlete who won't work hard

* It wont come over night, but it will come
* Trust the process

* One session at a time.

 

I work full time as a senior quantity surveyor along side training and coaching. Managing this as well as having 4 kids, 2 dogs and a wife (not in order of preference!), means I fully understand the issues that life brings and can really help athletes get the best return on their time investment.

 

Qualifications:

Level 2 British Triathlon Coach

Level 1 British Swimming

Currently studying Level 3 Association of British Cycling Coaches

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

HNC Civil Engineering