GEMMA DOBSON
Surrey and Hampshire Surrey and Hampshire
Location
Languages
Pricing
Race Distances
Athlete Types
Swim
Bike
Run
Nutrition
Certifications
ESCI Level 1About
I love coaching, every athlete is unique, they encounter new challenges and react to training differently. This is what makes my job so enjoyable. I had a baby in November 2018 and trained my way back to Ironman fitness, completing an Ironman in 11:00:57 just 11 months after giving birth! I've just qualified for the Ironman World Championships on his 3rd birthday and for the Challenge Worlds at Samorin! I've also got a daughter born September 2023 and am personally rebuilding back to Ironman this summer.I appreciate the struggles of feeling unfit, juggling life and family with a training schedule, so you can expect a sympathetic ear - but don't expect to skive!! My first year of triathlon saw me compete at the GBR (AG) Worlds and Europeans in Aquathlon and Sprint then later the Standard distance. I went on to race in several different countries and started to increase my distance. I won Silver at the Triathlon England Middle Distance Championships 6 months after birth and Bronze at the Aquathlon Champs and have finished in the top 10 overall women at the Long Course Weekend in Wales. I also race track and am a regular at the Velodrome. Ironman is now my favoured discipline, I love the challenges and emotions, the mental game and most of all, the feeling that "Anything Is Possible" as soon as you cross that finish line.Having founded and set up Podium Addict, coached with Precision Coaching and Race Team, I now lead my own awesome team BLOC - arguably the BEST team out there! We have a fantastic community with athletes from total beginners who are learning to swim right up to Kona and World Championship qualifiers! It is a supportive and friendly environment, with lots of online team sessions, group races, events and more. Check us out here: https://www.bloc-raceteam.com/
Philosophy
Coaching isn't a one-size-fits-all umbrella. I've been under that umbrella myself and found it frustrating that my training plan wasn't really designed for me. This inspired me to take my coaching qualifications and learn how to do it properly; how to understand athletes needs and how to create a training plan that meets the athletes short, medium and long term goals.I'm a qualified triathlon coach, personal trainer and pre- and post-natal exercise instructor. I'm a 200hr Yoga Instructor.It's also really important to have fun and be in a community, triathlon can be a lonely sport which is why it's important to be part of a team. I'm a Mental Health First Aider and aim to be there if you need me for assistance outside of your training - training affects life, and life affects training. It's important to keep everything in balance.I use INSCYD testing for my athletes, you'll find out your VO2 Max, VLaMax, FatMax, Fat Combustion and Carb Combustion rates and your zones will be individually tailored to your specific body composition. No more FTP tests and no more generic training zones. This means that your training is more effective and you get more from your sessions. Don't worry if that all sounds a bit sciencey - I do the calcs so you can do enjoy the training and racing. You'll get faster, your body will become more efficient at burning fat and you'll know your lactate production and clearing rates to tailor your hard intervals so your body gains the most from your time.
Credentials
ESCI Level 1
Accomplishments
International Honours - Racing for Team GBR I'm very proud to have represented Great Britain in Triathlon, Duathlon and Aquathlon at Age Group around the World. 2023 World Long Distance Duathlon Championships (QUALIFIED) 2023 World Long Distance Triathlon Championships (QUALIFIED) 2023 World Long Distance Aquabike Championships (QUALIFIED) 2023 European Long Distance Triathlon Championships (QUALIFIED) 2021 World Triathlon Long Distance Championships Almere-Amsterdam 2016 Copenhagen ETU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon European Championships 2015 Alcobendas ETU Sprint Distance Duathlon European Championships 2014 ITU World Standard Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton 2014 Edmonton ITU Aquathlon World Championships 2014 Horst ETU Sprint Duathlon European Championships 2013 ITU World Sprint Triathlon Grand Final London 2013 London ITU Aquathlon World Championships QUALIFIED 2025 World Aquathlon Championship European Aquathlon Championship World Sprint Distance Duathlon Championships European Middle Distance Triathlon Championships European Sprint Distance Triathlon British and English AG Championship Podiums Aquathlon, St Neots - 2nd Silver Middle Distance Championships, Grafman Triathlon- 3rd Bronze Middle Distance Championships, Deva Triathlon - 2nd Silver Middle Distance Championships, Grafman Triathlon - 3rd Bronze (this time 9 months post-partum) Ironman and Iron-Distance Qualified 2021 Ironman World Championships Qualified 2021 Challenge Championships, Samorin (But couldn't go to either as I fell pregnant with my second child!) Ironman Wales 2016 Ironman Lanzarote 2017 Ironman Barcelona 2015 Ironman Barcelona 2019 Ironman Mallorca 2021 - 4th - QUALIFIED for IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Challenge Almere (Worlds) 2021 - QUALIFIED for Challenge Championships in Samorin Long Course Weekend 2015 Long Course Weekend 2016 Long Course Weekend 2019 Long Course Weekend 2023, 2024 Ultra Cycling LEJOG (Lands End to John O'Groats) - 2020 Pan Celtic Race Series 2021