How is 1-on-1 coaching different from a downloaded training plan?

A template plan doesn't adapt to illness, breakthrough sessions or a changed work schedule. Individual coaching rebuilds each week from the athlete's actual training data and life, rather than coaching the average athlete.

Triathlon coach Auckland: 1-on-1 coaching built around your working week

Q: Do you coach in person in Auckland?

The coaching runs online through TrainingPeaks, which allows Mark to review every session rather than just the ones he attends. Being Auckland based means he knows the local races, training roads and pools, and in-person catch-ups happen when useful.

Q: How much does a triathlon coach cost in New Zealand?

Most quality 1-on-1 triathlon coaching in New Zealand sits between $200 and $500 per month. Bowstead Performance Coaching's current pricing and inclusions are listed on the coaching options page.

Q: Can I train for a 70.3 while working full time?

Yes. Most Bowstead Performance Coaching athletes work 40 to 60 hour weeks. A well-built 70.3 plan on 8 to 10 hours a week beats a poorly structured 14-hour one, provided it respects recovery and the athlete's calendar.

Q: When should I start with a coach before my A race?

For Ironman New Zealand or 70.3 Taupo, starting 6 months out is ideal and 4 months is workable. Starting later means managing existing fitness rather than building it.

I'm Mark Bowstead, a triathlon coach based in Auckland. I raced professionally for 10 years, won the 2009 ITU Long Distance World Championship in my age group, and took an engineering degree with First Class Honours from the University of Auckland before coaching became the job. I coach time-pressured professionals through Ironman, 70.3 and marathon builds. Every plan is written for the athlete's actual week, never copied from a template.

Who I coach

Most of my athletes work 40 to 60 hour weeks. Some are building toward a first 70.3. Others are chasing Kona and World Championship slots. What they share is limited hours, and a need for every session to count.

That's the coaching problem I like. An athlete with 20 spare hours a week doesn't need much craft from a coach. An athlete with 9 hours, two kids and a Monday flight to Wellington does.

How the coaching works

Plans live in TrainingPeaks and I rebuild each week from what you actually did, your session data, your comments, and how you're recovering. If life blows up a week, the plan bends with it.

You get every session written out with clear targets, comments on the sessions that matter, and straight answers on progress and fatigue. Read more about the approach on the Ironman and 70.3 coaching page, or the marathon plan for busy professionals if running is your race.

The races Auckland athletes build for

Most of my roster targets the NZ long-course calendar: Ironman New Zealand in Taupo in March, 70.3 Taupo in December, and the Tauranga Half in January. I've raced these courses myself, including fastest bike splits at the Taupo and Tauranga halves, so pacing plans come from having ridden the roads, not from a map.

Offshore goals work the same way. I coach athletes remotely across NZ, Australia and further afield, so an Auckland base is a bonus rather than a requirement.

Common questions

Do you coach in person in Auckland?

The coaching runs online through TrainingPeaks, which is how I can watch every session rather than just the ones I attend. Being Auckland based means I know the local races, the training roads and the pools, and catch-ups over coffee happen when useful.

How much does a triathlon coach cost in New Zealand?

Most quality 1-on-1 coaching in NZ sits between $200 and $500 a month. My current pricing and what's included is on the coaching options page.

Can I train for a 70.3 while working full time?

Yes, and most of my athletes do exactly that. A well-built 70.3 plan on 8 to 10 hours a week beats a poorly structured 14-hour one. The plan has to respect your recovery and your calendar, which is the whole point of individual coaching.

How is this different from a downloaded training plan?

A template doesn't know you had a cold last week, that your FTP test went better than expected, or that work just moved your long ride day. I rebuild your week from your actual data. Template plans coach the average athlete. You aren't the average athlete.

When should I start with a coach before my A race?

For Ironman NZ or 70.3 Taupo, 6 months out is ideal and 4 months is workable. Later than that and we're managing what's already there rather than building. If your race is further out, earlier is always more useful.

Talk to me

If you're in Auckland (or anywhere else) and weighing up a coach, get in touch or read about my background first. No hard sell, just a conversation about your race and your week.