Testimonials
"Words cannot express what a stellar coach Karen is, and I say that as someone who has coached leaders for 30 years. She has it all, starting with the most important attribute: a commitment to her clients and a passion for the sport. Karen is a world-class coach who shows the same enthusiasm for working with an aging, less-than-world-class athletes like me as she would for a young, elite athlete. She's a total gem."
- Diana M. Smith (Cyclist), MA
"I can't thank you enough for helping me get to the IMLP finish line smiling! You respected my life, my health, and my emotions. Whenever I saw my glass as half empty due to health and life challenges, you helped me see it as half full by focusing on my incremental achievements. Your ability to continually adapt my plan as new challenges arose not only got me to the finish line, but also helped me take FIFTY minutes off last year's marathon time!"
- Nicole Sheahan, (Ironman Athlete), MA
"Karen takes our weekly call very seriously and has, on a number of occasions, called while traveling and on vacation. This is massively appreciated. Karen has been great to work with -- I enjoy the weekly call and review of workouts, and also appreciate the manner in which she keeps all my goals in mind (athletic and non) in formulating my ATP. She is very knowledgeable indeed."
- Greg (Mulit-Sport), South Africa
"Karen is an awesome coach and I am so glad to have her. She pushes me to achieve more than what I think I'm capable of and yet balances it with my heavy work/family schedule. Her weekly Skype sessions are a gem!"
- Lynette (Cyclist), Singapore
"I have used Karen Mackin as a coach since 2009. Back then, my one goal was simple: to keep up with friends on road rides after struggling with this for a few years. After some initial testing and structured workouts utilizing a power meter, I was already making significant progress within a few months. That progress has steadily continued over the past eight years through a combination of my hard work and Karen’s structured weekly workouts and careful analysis of the data I generate. In short, she tells me what to do and I do it, and I show up prepared, which is invaluable given my busy personal and professional life. However, Karen has also taught me how to better understand my progress through the significant array of tools that Peaks Coaching has developed over the years (including the most recent ones available through WKO4). As I have become a more proficient cycling under Karen’s coaching, my progress has given me the confidence and ability to expand into mountain biking, fat biking, multi-day trips and cyclocross racing. Finally, and most importantly, she stresses regularly that my goals are my goals, and not hers. If I want to commit to them she will help me get there. It has required a lot of hard work and commitment on my part but it has allowed me to enjoy the bike and benefit from in ways I could never imagine. "
- Bruce (Cyclist), MA
“Karen is the perfect coach for me. She provides well thought out annual, monthly, weekly, daily plan, with the ability to make adjustments if needed. If I was doing things well, she told me, if I was not she was kindly but brutally honest. She also took the time and interest to ‘get inside my head’ to see what made me tick. She drove me to the edge, but never over the edge. She brought out the very best she could and had an uncanny ability to keep me motivated to do better. It got to the point where I never wanted to disappoint myself or Karen. Karen had a very real personal interest in my success, while maintaining the professional distance all great coaches have.”
-David Hart (Ironman Athlete), MA
"This was my second season with Coach Karen Mackin. She is an amazing coach. She helped me have such a successful season. I had podium finishes in 85% of my races this season. I can only attribute that to her dedication to her client’s needs and abilities. She is always available to discuss, alter, and make new workout plans for your training. She is very in tune with my needs as an athlete and my limitations. I achieved so much during the time that Karen has been my coach. I look forward to continue working with her in the future."
-Marnie Warner (Cyclist and Duathlete), VA
"I went on line and found Karen Mackin's name by chance. When we met I immediately knew she would be a good fit for what I was looking for. Being still a bit of an amateur triathlete, but with fairly high expectations, I needed advice on a variety of items from equipment to nutrition to just setting up a reasonable training program. I wasn't looking for a lot of spreadsheets and the like and Karen quickly adapted her input and help to what I was looking for and, importantly, what I could afford. She has all the traits one looks for in a good coach: knowledge, experience, enthusiasm, flexibility, humor, organization, and, above all, a commitment to the athlete. I plan on continuing with her for as long as possible and I highly recommend her."
- Tim Whitney (Triathlete), MA
"I have to say that Karen’s guidance and training has directly contributed to my success this year…. Masters CT State Criterium Championship, 3rd in the Masters CT State Road Race Championship, and a number of top finishes in Criteriums, won the 10K CT Senior Games with the 2nd fastest time of all age participates. I am 65 years old."
-Jeff Fryer (Masters Cyclist), CT
"I have been using Karen Mackin as my tri coach for 3 years and under her guidance, I have gained confidence and improved my times in all three sports. Karen has helped me prepare for numerous sprint and Olympic distance triathlons as well as for time trials and multi-day cycling events. Her detailed training plans, frequent analysis of my Power files, emails and phone calls, and nutritional advice were extremely helpful as I trained to complete Ride the Rockies 2008. With her coaching expertise, I was able to successfully complete my first multi-day cycling event. Karen’s experience as a triathlete and her energetic coaching style are both motivational and encouraging. She makes you want to work hard to achieve your goals. I continue to learn new ways to train and new skills & strategies that will help me achieve my goals; whether it is in cycling, running, swimming, or strength. Thanks, Karen!"
-Becky Smith (Cyclist and Triathlete), MD
"Congrats on your fantastic finish at IM! That's just awesome! I was thinking of you today, as I'm sure all of the team was, but I was thinking of you in particular as I did the Climb to the Clouds ride. Thanks to you, I got out of the saddle smoothly and sprinted the last length up Mt Wachusett, looking and feeling like a pro! Thanks for your coaching! Happy recovery and hope to see you soon!"
-Jennifer Fahy (AimTriTeam member), MA
“You are the only one that pushes me and makes me better. Your clients are sure to get their money's worth from you. It is funny b/c I remember so many little things you have said that have encouraged me. Just simple, but sincerely spoken words. I remember going up Petersburg pass one time a very long time ago. It was really far for me to ride that distance then. And you and I were the only women, as usual. So we were at the very back on the climb. I was so happy to be able to keep up w/ you. And then instead of you being happy that I was w/ you , you said "go ahead!, you can do it, I can't today". It really shocked me. I guess I didn't want to disappoint you so I pulled a head. Probably only a wheel, but it was huge in my mind! Then thinking you were satisfied I thought the rest of the ride would be easy! WRONG. After regrouping on the top, we took off and you were going to stay up front. Somehow you taught me how to descend and slingshot back and forth all in that 4 mile descent. It was so hard to go that fast downhill! We still were a long way from home.......doing a paceline into the wind on rte 22.......I thought I was going to die. My legs and lungs and arms and back hurt so much, but you were gentle in your encouragement and somehow I made it!”
- Inge Aiken (Cat 1 Cyclist, First Athlete coached from complete beginner!), NY