TS Coaching

23/09/2026

As a coach, I'm so focused on my athletes that sometimes I forget I'm supposed to be improving too. So recently I decided it was time to put some effort into my own swimming.
The fact that all my swimmers seem to be disappearing into the distance while I admire their technique from way behind had absolutely nothing to do with it, of course... 😂
With my mobility gradually resembling that of a rusty garden gate, I knew technique was becoming more important than ever if I wanted to maintain any sort of pace. So I booked some lessons with Andrew at Boost Coaching.
As anyone who's ever had swim coaching knows, the first lesson is a wonderful exercise in humility. You arrive feeling pretty pleased with yourself and leave wondering if you've ever actually swum before.
You spend the drive home thinking, "OMG, I'm never going to get this."
But then you trust the process, follow the drills, listen to the advice, and eventually things start to click. Or at least that's what I kept telling myself.
Last night was lesson number three, and if I'm being honest, I'd been quietly dreading it all week. If a perfectly reasonable excuse had presented itself, I might have accepted it with both hands. But I put on my big-girl pants and turned up anyway.
Then Andrew texted to say he'd had a cancellation and could fit me in earlier.
Fantastic.
More suffering, but sooner.
My biggest challenge is probably my legs. They simply don't move the way they used to, and we spent a lot of time working on my kick. Up and down the pool on my back, trying to get my legs moving correctly. Then working on foot position. Then onto my stomach. Then finally adding my arms back in.
Not for speed.
For stability.
And then something unexpected happened.
I did it.
Well... for about half a length anyway.
But honestly, half a length felt like winning Olympic gold.
I'm still not sure which one of us was more excited or more surprised. 😂
For the first time in a long while, I caught a glimpse of what might be possible. Not where I am right now, but where I could get to if I keep showing up and doing the work.
That's the thing about improvement. It rarely arrives in giant leaps. It sneaks in through tiny breakthroughs, little moments when something finally clicks.
So I've got two weeks until the next lesson. Two weeks to practise, repeat the drills, and convince my legs that they're actually part of a swimming stroke.
For the first time in a while, I'm genuinely excited to see what's possible.
And maybe, just maybe, I'll stop getting left behind by my swimmers.
Well... most of them.

12/07/2026

Feeling incredibly humbled and grateful

A huge thank you to the entire Twisted Sisters family for awarding me The Sisterhood Award at last night's End of Season Awards Dinner.

What an amazing evening from start to finish! The food was incredible, the laughter was endless, and it was so much fun finally putting names to faces without swim caps and helmets!

Being surrounded by such a supportive, inspiring, and fun group of women (with the odd guy) is something truly special. This award means so much to me, and I am genuinely humbled to accept it.

Thank you all for your friendship, encouragement, and for making this club feel like family. I'm proud to be part of such an amazing sisterhood.

Also a shout out to Belly Worship for letting us take over the restaurant for the night! Amazing service as always.

01/07/2026

The perfect time to sign up. It does not matter how fast you run (or walk). It is all about experiencing something new

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22/06/2026

When your athlete is away on holiday and promises they will swim every day. Then says they forgot to take their watch! She is obviously training really hard! 🤣

22/06/2026

An amazing event last year. I can't wait to do it again.

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12/06/2026

My husband and I always joked about sympathy pain. When I was pregnant with Sam, he had an upset stomach every morning. When one of us is hurt, the other one feels it. It has become a bit of a family joke.

But when one of my athletes has a sore ankle and so do I, that is simply taking it too far!

Another one has a twinge in her shoulder. Today my shoulder was not happy.

So to all of my athletes out there. Can you not hurt yourself any more? 😂

09/03/2026

I am really pleased to be able to support such an amazing program. Getting women to try new things and gain confidence in their abilities is amazing. I can't wait to see all of our new ladies cross that finish line at the People’s Triathlon Series in May.

Have you ever watched those athletes on television and thought 'I could never do that!" Well, what if I told you that actually you can. You do not need to be a professional athlete. You just need the right event and the right guidance. This is your chance. Are you brave enough to give it a go? Or will you stay on the couch watching it on TV?

Tri Start Sisters is a 10-week training program tailored to support you in completing a Try a Tri or Sprint Triathlon.
The program begins on March 16, 2026, and concludes on May 24, 2026.

Program highlights include

Registration for the Try a Tri or Sprint Tri event in Mission Bay on May 24, 2026, People’s Triathlon Series
Membership to the Twisted Sisters Club, with access to the Gear Library to borrow wetsuits and other items. (Current members can sign up at a discounted rate)
A structured 10-week training plan, and guided coaching sessions.
A weekly Monday night Zoom call with our club coach.
A weekly Wednesday night coached swim or run session in St Heliers.
A weekly Saturday morning open water swim at Takapuna Beach.
A weekly Sunday morning group ride at either Point Chevalier or Mangere Bridge.
Support before, during and after the race on 24th May 2026.

As well as all of the help and support that comes with being part of the Twisted Sisters Family.\

https://tristartsisters.events.mygameday.app

28/02/2026

Who is keen? A brilliant way to make new friends, accomplish a long term goal and become a part of an amazing group.
Also open to current club members.

Tri Start Sisters Try-a-Tri Race for Current Club Member $90.00

Tri Start Sisters Sprint Race for Current Club Members $145.00 NZD

Tri Start Sisters Try-a-tri race for NON club members $135.00 NZD

Tri Start Sisters Sprint Race for NON club members $185.00

Tri Start Sisters is a 10-week training program tailored to support you in completing a Try a Tri or Sprint Triathlon. (we can also look at aqua bike and duathlon if there is any interest)

The program begins on March 16, 2026, and concludes on May 24, 2026.

Program highlights include

Registration for the Try a Tri or Sprint Tri event in Mission Bay on May 24, 2026,

Membership to the Twisted Sisters Club for those who are not current members with access to the Gear Library to borrow wetsuits and other items.

A structured 10-week training plan using Training Peaks and guided coaching sessions.

A weekly Monday night Zoom call with our club coach.

A weekly Wednesday night coached swim or run session in St Heliers.

A weekly Saturday morning open water swim at Takapuna Beach.

A weekly Sunday morning group ride at either Point Chevalier or Mangere Bridge.

Support before, during and after the race on 24th May 2026.

As well as all of the help and support that comes with being part of the Twisted Sisters Family.

Sign Up Here
https://tristartsisters.events.mygameday.app

24/02/2026

"My name's Judith. I'm 58. Six months ago, I started swimming laps at the public pool.

Not for exercise. Not for health. Because my doctor said if I didn't do something about my stress, I'd have another heart attack.
I hate swimming. Hate the chlorine smell. Hate how my body looks in a swimsuit. Hate the fluorescent lights reflecting off the water.

But I showed up. 6 a.m., three days a week. Slow lane. Just me and the water and my humiliation.
The fast lane was always packed. Serious swimmers. Sleek bodies cutting through water like knives. I tried not to look.
Then one morning, a lifeguard-kid named Travis, maybe twenty-stopped me.
"Ma'am, you're swimming wrong. Your form's going to wreck your shoulders."

I was mortified. "I'm just trying to survive here."
"Let me show you." He spent twenty minutes teaching me proper technique. Breathing. Stroke mechanics. How to move efficiently instead of fighting the water.

Something shifted. Swimming became less about surviving and more about...... improving.
I started coming five days a week. Got faster. Stronger. Started timing myself.
One morning, I accidentally got in the fast lane. Didn't realize until I'd already started.
A woman in her thirties tapped my foot. Universal signal for "you're too slow, move."
I moved to the slow lane, embarrassed.

But it made me angry. Why couldn't I swim in the fast lane? I was getting faster. I had as much right.
Next week, I got in the fast lane deliberately. Swam my hardest. Kept pace.
The same woman caught up to me afterward. "You don't belong in this lane."
"I swam the same speed as you," I said.
"This lane is for competitive swimmers. Real swimmers."
"I am a real swimmer."

She looked me up and down. "You're like, sixty. This is our lane."
I went home and cried. Not sad tears. Rage tears.
Called Travis. "How do I get faster?"
"Why?" he asked.
"Because someone told me I can't."

He grinned. "Now you're talking. Let's train."
I started training seriously. Intervals. Technique work. Strength training. At 58, I became an athlete.
Three months later, the pool hosted a community swim meet. Open to all ages.
I signed up. 100-meter freestyle.

That woman was there. Her name was Kelsey. She saw me and smirked.
The race started. I dove in. Swam faster than I'd ever swum in my life.
I didn't win. Came in fourth out of eight.
But I beat Kelsey by two seconds.

Afterward, I was in the locker room when she walked in.
Expected her to be angry. Instead, she sat down next to me.
"That was impressive," she said quietly.
"Thanks."

Silence. Then: "I'm sorry I was a bitch. I was... I'm twenty-nine and slowing down already. Seeing you get faster while I'm getting slower made me feel...... obsolete. Like my time was over."
I stared at her. "You're twenty-nine. You're a baby."
"In swimming years, I'm ancient. I used to compete in college. Now I work in IT and swim at 6 a.m. to pretend I'm still that person."

We sat there. Two women at different life stages, both terrified of becoming irrelevant.
"You're not obsolete," I said. "You're just changing. So am I. Doesn't mean we're done."
She wiped her eyes. "You're faster than you were three months ago. I'm slower. That scares me."
"Then train differently. Adapt. I had to learn everything from scratch at fifty-eight. You can learn to be a different kind of swimmer at twenty-nine."
We became training partners. Kelsey taught me racing strategy. I taught her patience. How to enjoy swimming instead of just chasing times.

Last month, we both competed again. She got first in her age group. I got second in mine.
But the real win? In the locker room afterward, a sixteen-year-old girl asked Kelsey, "How do you stay so fast?"
Kelsey pointed at me. "Train with someone who refuses to quit. Age doesn't matter. Heart does."

I'm 58. I started swimming to avoid a heart attack.
But I learned this, We waste so much time fighting each other. Young versus old. Fast versus slow. Like there's limited space for people to exist.

But there isn't. The pool is big enough for all of us.
The woman who threatened you might be drowning in her own fears. The person you dismiss might become your greatest teacher.
Stop protecting your lane. Invite someone in.
You might both get faster."

Let this story reach more hearts....
Please follow us: Paths To Go
By Mary Nelson

12/12/2025