In January of 2008 I asked Kim to be my coach for the upcoming triathlon season. From day 1 Kim impressed me with her knowledge and professionalism. She did a great job of listening and designed a training plan that fit with both my abilities as an athlete and the everyday demands of my life as father and business owner. Kim was easy to get in touch with if I had questions and my workouts where always easy to understand.                                                                                                                                  Prior to working with Kim I had been a “self-coached” athlete. I had enjoyed doing triathlons and had reached the point where I could usually get into the top 10 of local area sprint triathlons. When I first met with Kim I told her my goals where to start reaching the podium in some of the races and to complete 2 half-ironman distance races. Thanks to Kim 2008 was what I like to call my break through season. I had several top 3 age group finishes, an age group win and a masters overall win in sprint and olympic distance triathlons. I also completed my 2 half-ironman (70.3) races this season, going sub 5 hours (4:57) in one of them. It is a great feeling showing up at a race knowing that I am prepared to compete. Thanks Coach Kim.

       I am very excited about continuing to work with Kim for the 2009 season. My 2 big races for 2009 are the Boston Marathon in April and Ironman Louisville in August. I know Kim will have me ready for both.

Michael Williams, Half IM and Olympic distance Triathlete and Marathon Runner (nice guy!)

  "When I first came to Kim for triathlon training, I didn’t know how to ride a road bike or swim a lap in the pool. She stayed patient with me and took me step by step through each of the disciplines. Thanks to the dedication and teaching skills Kim has provided, I now compete and place in the top 1/3rd of my age group. What a great leader, role model and competitor!"      

 Anthony Garcia, Triathlete  

  "Kim Dunker is a gifted and talented coach. She took the time to identify my goals, develop a plan to help me reach them, and push me beyond what I thought I was capable of. Kim is a teacher, motivator, and has the ability to create a well understood training plan - just what I was looking for in a coach. I have seen my results rise to another level in both triathlon and running events. Kim has also coached Arlene, my wife, and Grace, my 12 year old daughter. I would recommend Kim to anyone committed to improving their performance."

Glenn Alex, Olympic Distance and Half IM Triathlete

"I have been working with Kim for approximately three months and she has launched my training and performance to the next level. The workouts that she writes are tailored to my needs and ability levels, with focus on the areas that I need the most help in. She has been motivating and positive, which encourages me to keep going when I probably would have quit on my own. The combination of her enthusiasm and knowledge provide an excellent training environment. At our first meeting we laid out my short and long term goals. I have met many of these goals already. In the past three months I have started to do weekly track workouts and thus far I have dropped five minutes off my 10k time. I took 1^st place in my age group for the TRI the Parks summer series, and I qualified for nationals next summer. Working with Kim has helped me achieve these goals faster than I expected and has also motivated me to strive for even more. I think athletes of all skill levels can benefit from her coaching and personal motivation."

Rebecca Hutchinson, Olympic Distance and Sprint Triathlete

"Kim is a wonderful coach. I have never been a fan of track workouts, but Kim's positive energy is contagious. I shave time off my splits as each workout builds off the last, and I can easily see the improvement in my overall running form. I highly recommend Kim to anyone who wants to take their running to the next level."

Rebecca Dunlap, Runner and Triathlete 

"I have worked with Kim to learn proper techniques in all aspects of triathlon. I knew I was a pretty good swimmer, but working with Kim, I have learned proper technique and my confidence and speed in the water have improved dramatically. Running has always been a weakness for me. I have been working with Kim on speed and I have not only gotten faster, my endurance has increased as well. I thought I hated running, but after working with Kim, I actually enjoy it!

"Kim is a great coach. She has such depth of knowledge and experience, but more than that, she has a great outlook. Kim is an accomplished athlete; I am a mom who is pushing forty and used to weight 245lbs. Kim is able to adapt to my goals and she is genuinely happy when I meet those goals. She is a motivator without being over bearing. I always look forward to the time I spend working with Kim and after, I have a great sense of accomplishment."

Shannon York, Sprint Triathlete

I completed my first and what I thought would be my last triathlon at The Tugaloo State Park Olympic distance Race in September 2004.   It was a disappointing experience to be one of the last 5 people to finish the race.  In 2007, with some encouragement from my husband and friends, I decided to try another Triathlon and hired Kim as my coach.  She has been amazing!  I now LOVE triathlons.  I often encourage as many women as I can to participate.

The very first 2007 race I competed in was the Clemson Sprint Triathlon on May 12^th.  Kim developed a training plan & I followed it to the best of my ability.  She was always available to answer my many questions or accommodate any change to my schedule.  Kim worked with me on basic swimming & biking techniques (I hadn't swam laps since 2004, nor been on a bike since then either) and positive mental strategies.  She was a strong support every step of the way.  When race day rolled around I felt prepared and confident.  The best part of the Clemson race was hearing Kim ½ mile from the finish cheering and pushing me to "pick off" the next guy, then the next, on the challenging uphill finish.  Not only had she finished 1^st in the Elite division, but she came back and finished with me!!  I was so pumped and excited to finish so strong!  I was hooked on Triathlons & Kim.

Since the Clemson Triathlon Kim has helped me grow from an intrepid beginner athlete to a much more confident one.  I've finished numerous triathlons, both sprint and Olympic distances-always finishing in the top 25%.  I even went back to the Tugaloo Race that was so disappointing in 2004.  Thanks to Kim, I knocked off 1 ½ hours from my previous time!

As an extra bonus, my running has improved also.  I consistently have 1^st and 2^nd age group finishes for 5K's I compete in.  Kim developed and worked with me to both compete in triathlons & train for a marathon simultaneously.  Together, we accomplished my goal of qualifying for the BOSTON MARATHON.  Kim's the best!!

2008 promises to be a fun year.  Kim's currently working with both my husband and I on our latest challenge:  The Florida 70.3 race.  I have no doubt we'll both meet and exceed our goals with Kim's help.

April Williams, Triathlete and Marathon Runner

Back to "Coaching"