Athletes

Stevenson Coaching & Consulting

Athletes

Athlete Testimonials

JANE CULLIS

I began running competitively in 2003 with the cross-country and track team at McGill University. During my three years with the Martlets I improved from a twelve-minute 3000m to a 10:08 3000m, won two individual track and field provincial medals (2005, 2006) and one cross-country provincial medal (2004), and had a best placing of 24^th at the CIS Championships in 2005. In 2006 I moved to Toronto to pursue a graduate degree in Medical Biophysics and completed my last two years of varsity eligibility with the Varsity Blues.

After graduating from the varsity program, I shifted my focus to running longer distances, something that I have long anticipated. I was thrilled to hear that Nicole would be helping out with the University of Toronto Track Club beginning in January of 2009 and looked forward to learning from her years of experience as an elite marathoner. During this relatively short time Nicole has indeed served as an invaluable mentor and has motivated and challenged me to reach new heights

After dealing with a string of injuries in 2008, I have been healthy and injury-free for the last eight months, in large part due to Nicole’s close guidance and expert advice. In the summer of 2009, Nicole helped me develop and execute a solid program of base training, strength work and workouts, which culminated in my first-ever road running victory at the Midsummer Night’s 15k in August. In the fall, we focused on improving my strength and speed over shorter distances. As a result, I took two more road running crowns, one at the Oakville Turkey Trot 5k in October and another at the Casablanca Classic 8k in November. I finished my fall season with a 5^th place finish at the Ontario Provincial Cross-Country Championships and a 33^rd place finish at the AGSI National Championships in Guelph, helping the University of Toronto Track Club’s Senior Women claim team gold and silver medals, respectively.

In the time I have known Nicole, she has challenged me to run outside of my comfort zone and execute workouts and times that I never thought I could. Nicole communicates her ideas and expectations clearly and in a manner that bubbles with positivity. She leads by example, often working out alongside me and pushing the pace, or even driving in her car behind me, which is quite terrifying. These qualities make Nicole an inspiration as well as an excellent coach. I look forward to another strong season with Nicole in the spring of 2010, with my sights set on the Ottawa Marathon in May.

Personal Bests:

3000m – 10:08

5k (road) – 18:25

8k (road) – 29:55

10k (road) – 36:32

15k (road) – 1:00:21

Half-Marathon – 1:21:46

KRISTA DUCHENE

The process of being self-coached to coached was easy in my transition to “elite” marathon running – thanks to Coach Nicole Stevenson. We emailed and met in person to develop a training and sponsorship plan that would allow me to balance part-time work as a dietitian and parenting a three and one year old. Nicole refined my existing training plan to a challenging yet attainable level that was specific for me. Her timely responses, supportive emails and phone calls, expertise and wisdom as a world-class marathon runner make her a great coach. She has sound advice and encourages you to listen to your body – rest when you need it and give more when you should.

As a result, I set 4/4 personal best times in one season with Nicole: a 36:39 10 km, 60:06 16 km, 1:19:14 Half Marathon, and most notably a 2:46:27 Marathon, which placed me 5^th in Canada’s Womens Overall Marathon Rankings. She also facilitated my success in gaining support from Chariot Carriers, Eload, and adidas.

I look forward to another season with Nicole and will, no doubt, continue to recommend her to fellow athletes.

Krista DuChene,Dietitian and Marathon Mom

TARA NORTON

I am a professional Ironman triathlete with over 20 Ironman and Half Iron-Distance podium finishes to my name including a 2nd place finish at Ironman Lanzarote in 2007. I am still searching for my first Ironman victory, however, and recognizing Nicole as one of Canada’s top marathoners, I began working with her in June of 2009 specifically to improve my run.

Nicole draws upon her vast experience and technical knowledge to provide me with a training program tailored to my very specific needs. Nicole came on board as my running coach shortly after I suffered a near career-ending hamstring injury, and she has tirelessly worked with me to help me regain my strength and improve my gait. Nicole has the expertise to adjust workouts to ensure I have only quality sessions, and I meet her regularly for one-on-one training.

The results have been incredibly impressive to date, and I have never felt stronger as a runner. Nicole keeps me motivated to continue to work harder and get faster, and I am convinced that, with her ongoing coaching, my next season will be my best ever.

SUZANNE ZELAZO

Women’s distance running in Canada has long needed a coach like Nicole Stevenson. In fact, there has been a glaring paucity of female coaches on the Canadian scene which her presence finally begins to rectify. To be sure, I have myself been coached by some amazing male coaches, however, under Nicole’s guidance, I have witnessed the valuable nuances of having a coach that understands the particulars of women’s running from a bodily and experiential way, as well as an intellectual and mental one. Obviously an incredible athlete herself, Nicole’s coaching goes hand in hand with her own inspirational career and talent. At times, (and to our simultaneous excitment and fear) Nicole will jump into intervals, pushing the pace when and where she thinks we need it. There is something quite motivating about running mile repeats beside a 2:32 marathoner!

By no means a “easy” coach, Nicole is certainly open and flexible in her approach to training and racing, and this in turn allows for a genuine specificity in meeting and addressing the individual needs of her athletes. For example, because I also compete as a pro triathlete, Nicole works closely with my tri coach Tara Norton to ensure a balance of intensity and recovery, as well as to negotiate an optimum race schedule. In just one year under Coach Stevenson’s guidance, I shaved 9 minutes off my half marathon time, even claiming my first half marathon victory at the GoodLife Toronto Half Marathon.

She’ll certainly make you work hard, but Nicole will also ensure you rest easy and sufficiently—executing a restraint that (much as I sometime resist it), has ensured that I have been injury free all season. In her first official year of coaching, Nicole has amassed some of Ontario’s top distance and multisport talent, creating a training environment that has been unparalleled in my experience, and a group of runners that is sure to make a mark in upcoming years!