Coach Rick Hellard

Rick used to say those times are well out of reach nowadays, and that he still tries really hard, and he's there to help you achieve your potential, and then came Sept 16th, 2006 and he popped an unbelievable 8:41:14 Iron Distance at the Esprit Triathlon in Montreal.  This was a whopping 41min best time, for a guy that had already gone 9:23.  And to add encouragement to everyone, he turned 40 that year!! 

As a triathlete, Rick was given All American Team status three times as a junior (ranked Top Five in North America), then turned professional and raced around the world in everything from Olympic Distance (best time of 1:45) to Half Ironman (best time of 3:57) to Ironman (best time of 8:41:14). He raced on the French professional team based in Salon de Provence in 1989/90/91, racking up numerous wins and rarely being out of the top 10 finishers.

For more on Rick, go here.

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Brent Vandermeer, Age 29, Investment Advisor

I joined Zone3sports to improve my fitness through the coaching expertise of Rick and to train with people who have excelled in the sport. I also wanted some "insurance" in the form of coaching to help me reach my goals.

I started out with the goal of just getting faster at the shorter distance tri's, but then decided I wanted to do an Ironman. I've more than exceeded my goals with Rick and Zone3sports. Rick creates a great plan to follow and he tailored it to my schedule. A huge benefit was training with all the other Zone3sports athletes and being pushed by them. I'd highly recommend Rick and Zone3sports to anyone who wanted to take their performance to the next level.

A highlight, so far, in my racing was the completion of Ironman USA Lake Placid in '06. I finished almost an hour faster than I thought I could, crossing the line in 11 hours and 5 minutes. After Ironman, I've PB'd at every distance I've tried - a testament to the fitness level that Rick gets you too! I'm confident that the best is yet to come!

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Jim Brockbank

Through the coaching of Rick Hellard, I have achieved a level of fitness that has allowed me to realize my potential and numerous PB's across a number of endurance events, including my first Ironman. What has motivated me most is Rick's individual attention and the support and competitive spirit he fosters in the Zone3 training team. I highly recommend Rick Hellard and Zone3sports!

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Margaret Brockbank

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Nancy Coke

Canadian Ski Marathon, 

Keskinada Loppet,

Sharbot Lake Triathlon, 

Half Wildtri, 

Ironman Lake Placid (1st Canadian Female, 5th in AG, 18th female overall), 

Boston Marathon Qualifier (3:24)

Winner of Canton Marathon

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Mike Giles

Mike became a Zone3sports client in 1999. Since then, he has completed 7 Ironman races, with a PB of 10:14 (Florida 2003), 3 Rudy Awards (2002, 2003, 2005), and a Hat-trick Award (2005). Known as an endurance junkie, he rarely backs down from a challenge, and performs best in longer races. In a change of pace, among his goals this year are PB's in 10K and 1/2 marathon distances. Mike's "A" race this year will be Ironman Lake Placid, where he hopes to establish a PB for the course.

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Paul McAneney

'McAmaniac' learned to ski in 2003 and has now earned 3 Rudy Award in the process.

He crushed Ironman USA in 2003 and in 2004, he went a startling 10:30 at IM Canada!

And then came 2006 where he once again crushed the IM distance and went 10:08, qualifying for the World Ironman Championships in Kona.

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Miriam Nicholson

16 time marathon finisher including multiple Boston (1992 to 2003).

member of the Canadian long distance age group tri team 2003/2004.

3rd in age group IM France 2002 (first edition in Gerardmer).
IM featuring the highest DNF rate in the IM history

4th in age group IM USA 2003 - Hawaii qualified.

In 2006, after a few years of bad luck, Mim traipsed off to Embrunman in the French Alps. Embrunman is arguably the toughest IM distance race in the world, and she nailed the day with a great performance. Not much can keep the woman down!!

She also managed to do the Ottawa Aquabike just 2 weeks after Embrun and finished 2nd female overall

Earlier in the year, Mim did the Tampa Marathon to test her navigation skills.

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George Reid, the Machine

In 2002, at 48, George ran his fastest marathon in 20 years--a startling 2:54:48.

In 2006, George produced an incredible swim/bike/run at the Canadian Iron Distance Triathlon to finish in a phenomenal 9:58!! Yikes, there is no slowing this guy.

'thanks for coaching me to a level of physical fitness that I never could have gotten on my own, and for instilling the confidence to train smart
and race hard.'

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Grant Dawson

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Kate Page

"Zone3sports has helped me achieve and exceed my goals this year. The once thought impossible is now definitely possible thanks to proper training and dedication."

".and that now includes Ironman Canada 2006."

Thanks Rick!

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The Power Couple, also known as

the Irelands, Heather and Len

Heather and Len Ireland signed up for coaching to get to IMUSA in 2003. Len wanted to do an Ironman before he turned 50. He had a year. They were both good runners, but neither could swim very well and neither had done any extensive cycling. They did not have bikes, either. 

They also wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2004.

Through diligence and hard work, they both improved tremendously over the winter and achieved their qualifying times for Boston (Heather with a 15min PB of 3:39 and Len with a 35min PB clocking of 3:10.

Next up was the triathlon and qualifying for IMUSA at Muskoka.

They both had excellent races and snagged their spots.

At IMUSA 2003, Heather and Len had great days and enjoyed the complete experience (meaning they shopped allot as well as did the race).

Not sure what to expect, they signed up for IMUSA 2004 and put their noses to the grindstone again.

Both of them improved dramatically over the winter (again!) and Heather managed to chop 1h 25min off her previous Ironman time to finish in 11hr 51min.

Not to be outdone, Len hammered through the race and nailed down a 54min improvement to finish in 11hr 32sec placing 4th in his age group (podium!) and qualifying for the Hawaii Ironman!

These two are nothing short of spectacular, as in 2006, they went back to Lake Placid and both improved again with Len going 10:58 and Heather going 11:32 to finish 2nd and 1st in their respective age groups, thereby qualifying for the World Ironman Championships in Kona.

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Gloria Cawthorn

Thanks Rick for helping me to become a better runner and for getting me to my first duathlon. My race times have improved significantly over the 6 months I have been with Zone3sports. You and your awesome Zone3 team are truly inspirational. 

Richard Cawthorn

I can't believe what I have accomplished in my 1st season with Rick and the Zone3sports athletes. As a newbie to triathlon and having only run my 1st marathon in Sept 2005, I needed a personalized training program to get me ready for the 5 events I had registered for this summer.  Online training advice only gets you to a single event but is no help for several different events. Beginning with my 1st triathlon in June and ending the summer with a very successful  1st half iron (6h01), I had a fantastic season! It was the 1st time that I enjoyed my training program because the workouts made me faster and stronger, and yet kept me injury-free.  I also appreciatedly the friendliness and encouragement of such a successful and amazing group of athletes.

Margie Bailey

I signed up with Zone 3 Sports in January 2006. With Rick's guidance, my training approach has been completely remodeled, resulting in fresh PBs in both running and triathlon competitions. In 2006, I enjoyed a 47 minute improvement in the Canadian Half Iron Triathlon over my 2005 result. Thanks to Rick for a program that offers the right balance of structure and flexibility to keep me motivated and healthy through out! 

Ryan Cain

 .new guy on the scene

Lots to come, like, for example:

 Peterborough Half IM in under 5hrs

Qualified for IMCanada with no intention to do it, signed up anyway, trained 6 weeks,

Finsihed IMC in 11hrs

Focused on Philly Marathon for a few months, chopped 16min off his best time to knock off a very studly

2:49:56!!!

Earned the new nickname "Flyin' Ryan".

Sean Horrall

 Nonstop best times all 2006 season long.

David Markin

Multiple IM finisher, and this year, a 10:13 one at that!

Focused on Philly Marathon for the fall, PB'd by 3min and ran 3:10, finally getting that Boston spot he's wanted. 

Rita Petrocco

 Since joining Zone 3 Sports in July 2006 I've had personal bests in my last three races. Most notably I improved my half marathon time by seven minutes. I also requalified for the Boston Marathon with a personal best of 3:42:44. 

Thank you Rick for your highly effective training programs!

Mike Woodford

 .it has been great working with you over the summer. Each race that I did, I reached each of my goals, improved my PB in that race and I was well prepared for the event.

 Nordion 10K 35:45 - PB of 1:15. for that race and all 10K's - I wasn't well prepared, I was training for long distance tri's not 10K's, it hurt.

Muskoka - Swim PB of 2 minutes, Bike PB of 1 minute and overall PB by 2 minutes and got on the podium in my age group, plus my IM Canada Slot

IM Canada - I think that I took 10 minutes off my last time, qualified for Hawaii and was one spot off a podium spot, 6th in my AG. 

Kona, Hawaii - was a nice race.

 I can attribute most of the success to you and your coaching. I really appreciated working with you over the summer.

Leslie Sanderson

Leslie joined the Zone3 team in 2006, and enjoyed excellent results in her first year of triathlon, including 1st in her age group at the Ottawa Riverkeeper, 1st in her age group and 2nd woman overall in the Meech Lake Tri, and 2nd in her age group at the K-Town Tri.

She also had great results running, including 2nd woman overall in the Run for Reach 10K, and 1st woman overall in the Fall Colours 1/2 Marathon. Leslie ran her first marathon in the fall of 2006, clocking a 3:15:37 at the Philadelphia Marathon.

Leslie kicked off her 2007 season with one of her most painful racing experiences to date at the Around the Bay 30K.  Her fortunes turned after that, and after "sticking with the program", went on to one of her most satisfying and successful racing seasons ever.  The highlights of her season were winning her age group at Ironman Lake Placid, and going on to a podium finish (4th place) in her age group at the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.

Around the Bay 30K, Hamilton                     2:17.30           Glad to finish!
Orleans 10K, Ottawa                                          39.50           1st
Nordion 10K, Ottawa                                        38:16           2nd in AG
NCM Half, Ottawa                                         1:27.36           1st in AG
Emile's Run                                                        18:48                     
Tinman Half Ironman, Tupper Lake, NY        4:56.48          4th woman overall; 1st in AG
Ironman Lake Placid                                       10:48.56          1st in AG
Thousand Islands Triathlon, Brockville            2:20.44          1st
Xerox 10k                                                           39.55           3rd in AG
Ironman World Championships, Kona           10:48.10          4th in AG                                                   

Mike Herzog

on his way to a half marathon best time (1:29:02).

Yves  Fortin

"Coming to triathlon with a background in exercise sciences and with the goal of doing a first Ironman, I was looking for practical knowledge about the sport. I could have tried to do it on my own, but that would have taken me a long time.  Instead, I chose to benefit from Rick's experience in both racing and coaching, and that was the right choice! Zone3's practical no non-sense approach has helped me complete three Ironman races within a 14 month period, including going to Hawaii. Working with Rick gave me the confidence that I was not wasting my time or risking injury but investing my efforts where it paid to reach my goal. Thanks to Rick and other Zone3 athletes, my experience in both training and racing has been very positive. Aside from his vast experience and credentials, I particularly enjoyed working with Rick for his humility and his respect for everyone, regardless of their performance level. Whether someone wants to get fitter or perform at a higher level in a given endurance sport, no doubt Zone3Sports can greatly help. Thanks Rick for helping me get there!"

Photo, Yves crossing the finish line first at the Canadian Iron Distance Triathlon, 2005.