Stories from the road.
Team FLY.
PARCOURS coached Team FLY on their journey to the mythical Ronde Van Vlaanderen, a one day cyclosportive, full of hills and cobbled sections. We worked with a small group of beginner- and mid-level cyclists. Based on an FTP-test, we created personalised and fully individual training schedules. During the 3 month preparation, we organised two information sessions on training principles and (sports) nutrition. The team received an in-depth pre-race briefing and we worked out a nutrition and pacing strategy to set them up for a great day in the saddle. After an eventful day (severe weather conditions, multiple flats & a broken rear-derailleur), the whole team eventually made it to the finish-line.
- “Thanks for the support and the intensive coaching during the last few weeks. What an unforgettable experience!”
The Tack Family.
“Would you be up for coaching me and my family to the 20K des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes?”, read the text from Filip, a former PRCRS-coachee and entrepreneur. “Absolutely!” was the first thing I thought. What followed was a 12 week collaboration with Filip, his partner Petra and 2 daughters Ellen and Lies. They all had their own sporting history and individual goals, so a personalised approach was in order, while trying to create as much moments to work out together as a family. The whole family was submitted to a lactate test on the treadmill to determine their respective heart rate zones. We worked out a training schedule with respect to their own agenda’s, built around basic condition, building running volume, strength and flexibility training and eventually, as we got closer to their race goal, started working more and more on their target pace.
Filip ran a very solid half marathon PB in Amsterdam, the rest of the family surpassed themselves by running the 20K des Alpes-Maritimes barely a few weeks after their first 5K.
- “During the 20K I was tremendously excited. The beautiful course along the French Riviera and the fresh sea air made for a perfect setting. After 2h22, I proudly reached the finish line! The icing on the cake was sharing this adventure with my mom and sister. Thank you for the great coaching. I’m already looking for a next adventure out of my comfort zone!”
Tom.
As an entrepreneur with a young family, Tom is always balancing his priorities in life. He enjoys working towards big goals, both professionally and personally and that’s why he decided to tackle the 2023 Antwerp Marathon. We started Tom’s PARCOURS with a ramp test to determine his different treshold values and heart rate zones. Tom’s focus shifted more and more towards his running goal, but we kept cycling and power & mobility training in his schedule as complementary and injury preventive activities.
Tom’s marathon preparation was not just about physical endurance; we tackled his journey as a holistic collaboration, side-stepping into (performance) nutrition, the importance of HRV and sleep quality monitoring, and even introducing yoga and breathing exercices as (small but meaningful) gains contributing to his big goal.
- “Thank you very much for the past few months. Without you I sincerely could not have done this. Because of if your motivation, tips and schedules, I succeeded!”
Asster.
This hospital and health care company wanted to lift the yearly sportive challenges for their colleagues to a new level. Their employees could register for several running races, a cycling and a walking event. PARCOURS and Ready2Improve set-up a holistic coaching program, including training schedules, several training runs and core & mobility sessions, and workshops around basic training principles, the importance of the right equipment, the role of nutrition in exercise and sports, breathing and posture, injury prevention, sleep and mental rest, HRV and training readiness.
Our collaboration with Asster was focussed on encouraging spontaneous connections between employees through sports and exercise, more than it was about individual performances.
- “Thanks for the great guidance and coaching! Over the past few months, our employees have been training hard and getting ready for a number of sporting events. They ran the Monumentenrun, Dwars Door Hasselt and walked to Scherpenheuvel! We are proud of all our employees, and are sure we can continue this sportive trend into 2024. We’ve successfully built a (sportive) community and started a movement within the organisation that wouldn’t have been possible without your help.”
*in partnership with Ready2Improve
Sam.
“Call me crazy, but I’m running a marathon in december of this year. Would you be up for coaching me?” is what Sam asked Wouter when they reconnected after working for the same company for a while at the Antwerp 10 Miles in April ‘23. At that time, Sam was anything but a long distance runner. Mixing soccer, fitness, padel and the occasional bike-ride, Sam’s overall fitness was already at a high level. The challenge was to gradually build running form and mileage, without risking injuries on the way to achieving Sam’s ambitious goal.
Professionally, Sam has a key role in the family’s business, regularly travelling for international customers. Because of our regular contacts and check-ins, we managed to build a solid training routine around his busy work-life schedule. Thanks to a data driven approach and input from his wearables (Sam wears an Oura ring) we kept close track on the impact of Sam’s trainings and recovery. Prior to his marathon, we worked on a pacing & nutrition strategy to make sure he would get to the finish in one piece.
Sam decided to run the Antwerp Marathon on October 22nd, bringing his PARCOURS full-circle after starting our journey at the Antwerp 10 miles earlier that year. He smashed his 42.195K PR at the Malaga Marathon only 8 weeks later on December 15th.
- “Thanks so much for the help and coaching. I sincerely enjoyed working with you and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved. Berlin’s up next!”
Sara.
As a former Big 4 Senior Manager, turned start-up Founder with a young family, Sara knows what a busy work-life schedule looks like. 6 months ago, she decided to register for the 2023 Valencia Marathon, without any experience in running, let alone long-distance running. Sara’s journey is remarkable to say the least. The moment we started working together, we knew it would become a battle against the cut-off times in Valencia.
Sara went all-in for her marathon dream. Up to 4 runs and 2 physio sessions per week, supplemented with recovery-focussed workouts, mental coaching and nutrition-advice, set her up to fulfil her big ambition.
- “In May 2023, I was officially obese in terms of physical data, felt horrible mentally and physically. But I dreamed of a healthy life style and running a marathon. Everyone around me called me crazy when I spoke about the desire to run a marathon. I have learned that dreaming bigger is not just a choice; it's a powerful declaration of your strength and resilience. Running a marathon is a metaphor for breaking barriers and pushing boundaries, proving to yourself that you are capable of achieving more than you have ever imagined. Thanks for all your support and guidance. I’ve come a long way and I’m extremely proud of what I achieved.”
*in partnership with PEAK coaching