Sonic Endurance
Train Smart. Race Bold.
Belong to Something Bigger
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Sonic Endurance is dedicated to helping athletes of all abilities achieve their endurance goals. We understand that no two athletes are alike and the response to training is an individual process. We regularly incorporate field-based testing and functional movement testing in order to assess an athlete’s progress towards their goals. It is our mission to develop a plan that uses your training time efficiently while preparing you to accomplish or exceed your goals.
Sonic Endurance
Personalized Training
Unlock Your Potential
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It all begins with culture—and Sonic’s culture stands above the rest. Coaches and athletes unite as a team, supporting one another through training, overcoming challenges, and pursuing personal goals. At the heart of Sonic’s success are acceptance, mutual respect, and a deep appreciation for each athlete’s individuality. The coaches are not only highly knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in helping you achieve your goals.
Through strategic partnerships with athletic trainers, physical and occupational therapists, training camps and trusted vendors, Sonic ensures every aspect of your training experience is optimized for your success.
At Sonic, every finish line marks a victory over your personal limits.
I signed up with a Sonic coach to improve personally as a triathlete, and almost immediately I started training smarter. I was working harder in many sessions, but I was also less tired overall at the end of the week. I was meeting my primary goal of sustainable fitness for years to come, and as a nice bonus my race times improved dramatically!
But more importantly what I have gained from Sonic, which I didn't know I needed, is a culture of community and support. This is a team focused on affirming each others' wins no matter what they look like, providing support through successes and challenges, and generally bringing a positive attitude to endurance sports. I came for myself, but I'm now proud to be a part of this team team!
My Journey all start in the summer of 2021 when I found myself unhappy with my current fitness level. I had not seen a gym in roughly 10 years, or even attempted any type of cardio workout. I set my goals a bit high without really knowing what I was getting myself into. I registered for my first full Ironman in Lake Placid! In this process I found Sonic Endurance and started working with Maribeth. One of my first times meeting Maribeth, was also my first time EVER swimming in a lap pool, and it showed! Maribeth evaluated my skill level, and spent countless hours teaching me how to swim, while improving my technique and endurance. Swimming was my absolute biggest challenge of the three disciplines. Maribeth was always available for encouragement, support and a good laugh throughout my journey. Working with Maribeth not only kept me accountable, but without her, my goals would not have been met. From Swimming, biking, running to fueling properly for races, Maribeth was there every step of the way. I have continued to work with her as my Endurance coach now for 4 years and have never felt more accomplished in my endurance goals! Working with Maribeth and Sonic has given me some of the best years of my life, the value of working with Maribeth one on one is priceless. Forever grateful!
Joining the Sonic Endurance team and being a 1 on 1 coached athlete has been a life changing experience. I achieved goals I never even dreamed of, including my first full Ironman finish. Coach Stacey gave me the confidence to sign up for Ironman Lake Placid and with her guidance, I never once thought I would not finish. On top of that, the Sonic team has literally become some of my closest friends and chosen family.
Sonic Endurance is more than a coaching company.
Sonic Endurance is a collection of like-minded individuals
We’re Endurance Coaches – and we are athletes. We like to get our hands dirty. We train, we race, we fail, and we succeed. We understand what you experience throughout your seasons of training and racing because we are right there beside you, on the same journey.
Through years of training, racing, and coaching, we’ve learned our athletes benefit most from a team approach. We each bring something different to the table and want you to benefit from each perspective. You’ll have your 1-on-1 coach, combined with the knowledge, experience, and expertise of all our coaches. Together, we bring our passion for triathlon to coaching in support of your goals and behind the process of uncovering your potential.
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UTMB Rothrock 25k and 50k Course Thoughts
What were your impressions before and during the race? Did anything surprise you? Tema – I thought there was great energy before the race – the volunteers were very helpful and the bib pick-up process was extremely well-run. John – All the email communications from UTMB were very professional and slick (even more than Ironman). That said, those glossy communications did not accurately convey how technical (read: rocky) the trails were, nor the amount of bouldering and rappelling that would be entailed. Tema – We were very surprised by how technical and challenging it was. We didn’t feel we could run for much of the course because it was too rocky. I even had the benefit of John warning me how technical it was (the 50K was Saturday and the 25K was on Sunday). We definitely should have taken it more seriously when the race director referred to the “Cliffs of Despair” in the athlete briefing. How did the race unfold for you? Tema – I felt great leaving the start line. It was easy road running, and I was enjoying the race vibe. That shifted abruptly to an extreme uphill on very rocky terrain. It was a shock. I felt defeated and after only 3 miles I had to have a talk with myself and recommit to the race. As it continued, I realized I would be hiking on rocks for miles and miles. I was able to run on more flat terrain from mile 6.5 to 7 and 10 to 11. Other than those short sections it was hiking over rocks or traversing boulders. I was very happy to have my hiking poles for both ascending and descending. The descents were so steep I needed careful footing and support to keep from falling. John – I felt great at the start (same as Tema). That initial climb was a monster, but by the time my (back of the pack) group got there it was a traffic jam. It reminded me of those pictures of Mt. Everest where everyone is queued up to hit the summit. Once we got to the top of the ridge though the group broke up and I was able to run on the trails. That turned out to be one of the only sections of the course where I could run. I felt like I was sticking to my race plan – nutrition and hydration were good, but the heat eventually must have gotten to me. Around halfway I started to cramp up. I even had a couple bouts where I couldn’t move. That was a fight the rest of the way. It was probably around miles 15-20 I realized I was going to be hiking most of the way rather than running. I wished I had hiking poles (and knew how to use them). They would have helped on those descents and the seemingly vertical climbing. What would you share with someone who’s thinking about the race? Tema – First and foremost, know you are going to be on rocks and boulders for most of the race. Don’t do this race if you have a fear of heights either. I would not do this race without poles. Be prepared to hike! John – Everything Tema said. Given the pace, you are going to be longer on the trail between aid stations, so carry more liquids and fueling that you would normally think you’ll need. I would also recommend heat acclimatization to prepare. The race was in mid-May and was much warmer and more humid than any of my training runs. No doubt that was a major cause of my cramping problems. Would you run this course again? Tema – Honestly, no. I am glad I experienced a UTMB event and I’m proud I was able to finish. I prefer courses that are more runnable. I don’t need a bouldering and climbing challenge. John – I’m not sure. Perhaps I did as best as I am able to on this course, but I’m stubborn so the feeling I have “unfinished business” might push me back there. And I hear they may have a 100K option next year…. P.S. from Tema – thank god I didn’t see any snakes. The race director warned us about them. Had I seen one I would have actually perished.
Open Water Swim Tips and Tricks
The warm weather has arrived and open water swim season is upon us. We kicked off our open water swim season and here are a few thoughts on how to help you when you swim in open water. Get Comfortable Before Race Day If your first open water experience is the race itself, you’re making things harder on yourself. Try to get at least one or two practice swims in the same type of water — lake, bay, ocean — before the event. Even 20 minutes of open water time helps your brain adjust to the unfamiliar environment: murky water, reduced visibility, the absence of a bottom to reference. This can help immensely with open water swim anxiety. What should I wear? Wetsuit or no wetsuit depends on water temperature and race rules, you can check our our thoughts on wearing a wetsuit here Most open water events allow wetsuits when water temps are below 76–78°F. Wetsuits add buoyancy and warmth — both helpful for beginners — but they can feel restrictive around the shoulders if you’re not used to them. Practice in yours before race day. Regardless of wetsuit, apply body glide or anti-chafe balm around your neck, underarms, and anywhere your suit rubs. Saltwater and repetitive motion will find any vulnerable spot. For goggles, match the lens to conditions. Clear or light-tinted lenses work well for overcast days or evening swims. Dark or mirrored lenses are worth the investment for morning races when you may be swimming directly into the sun. Speaking of sighting, especially on those early morning swim starts Sighting: How to Swim Straight Without a lane line to follow, even strong swimmers drift. Sighting is the skill of briefly lifting your eyes above the waterline to spot a landmark and confirm you’re on course — and it’s one of the most valuable things to practice. The basic technique: As your lead arm extends forward, press down slightly on that arm to lift your goggles just above the surface. Take a quick peek, then immediately rotate into your normal side breath. Keep the motion minimal — you want your eyes above water, not your whole head. Lifting too high drops your hips and creates drag. If you know that you have one side that is stronger than the other, you can off set that by bilateral breathing. What to sight on: Buoys are the obvious target, but they sit low and disappear in chop. Look for something bigger behind them — a tall tree, a building, a flag. Pick your landmark before you start and know what you’re looking for. How often: Every 6–10 strokes is a good starting point. As your stroke straightens out, you can stretch that to every 15–20. Over-sighting disrupts your rhythm, so trust your stroke between looks. Sighting into the sun: Morning races can put the sun directly in your eyes. If you can’t see your buoy, navigate off a taller secondary landmark instead. Other swimmers are also useful — the pack generally goes the right direction. Mirrored or polarized goggles help significantly, so check the race start time and plan your gear accordingly. If you do decide to follow a swimmer, make sure they are heading in the right direction. Also note, open water swimming burns more energy than pool swimming — sighting, dealing with chop, and the excitement of a race all add up. Start slower than you think you need to. It’s much easier to negative split an open water race than to blow up in the first 200 meters and struggle home. If you do find that you are struggling to get your breathing under control, pop your head up and allow yourself a reset, you can breaststroke to keep the forward momentum. We can control a lot of things with our training. We cannot control the weather that shows up on race day. Calm water is a gift. More often, you’ll deal with some combination of wind, waves, and surface chop — and how you handle it determines a lot of how your race goes. Swimming in chop: Short, choppy waves disrupt your breathing rhythm more than your stroke. The key is flexibility — be willing to breathe on both sides so you can always rotate away from a wave. If you’re a one-side breather, practice bilateral breathing before race day. Getting a mouthful of water mid-race is disorienting; training both sides gives you options. If you are in salt water and you get a mouthful, try not to swallow it as it can cause GI distress. Headwind and oncoming waves: Shorten your stroke slightly and focus on a strong catch rather than a long glide. A long lead arm pause just gives the wave more time to push you back. Keep your tempo up and your head low. Crosswind and current: Wind pushes water, and water pushes you. If there’s a consistent crosswind, you’ll drift downwind even with a straight stroke. Aim upwind of your target — how much depends on the strength of the wind, but even a few degrees of compensation makes a big difference over distance. Check periodically whether your drift correction is working and adjust. Tailwind: Enjoy it. Let the waves carry you a little, extend your glide, and conserve energy for the harder legs of the course. Sighting in chop: Waves can block your view entirely on a low sight. In rough conditions, sight slightly higher than normal — enough to clear the surface — and accept that you’ll lose a bit of efficiency. Sighting twice in quick succession (two strokes apart) can help confirm what you saw on the first look. The bottom line: rough conditions slow everyone down. Don’t panic if your pace feels off. Stay relaxed, adjust your breathing, and keep moving forward. Open water swimming rewards preparation, but it also rewards showing up. The swimmers who improve fastest aren’t necessarily the most talented; they’re the ones who get in the water regularly, pay attention, and come back
Do I Need a Triathlon Coach? An Honest Answer from Coaches Who Are Also Athletes
We get it, the balance is real in sport. The reality is self-coached triathletes finish triathlons and endurance events all the time. But there’s a reason coached athletes improve faster, race smarter, and stick with the sport longer