Testimonials
Heather Thomson and Brian Doan
" If it’s a PB you're looking for or to simply "complete" your events, Personal Excellence Coaching is who you want crossing the finish line with you!
When Jane is handed a monumental coaching task, she dives right into it and makes it her goal to get it done and get it done the right way. Many coaches would have run the opposite way when approached with the details for racing 16 Ironman 70.3 events around the world in less than 8 months. After Jane heard us out, she was on board but not after some cautious consideration. See, Jane's services are unique: as much as she ensures that she is the right coach for you, she also ensures that YOU are the right athlete for HER! She is not about volume or pedigree, she is about making your training/racing experience the best you have ever had, by preparing you both mentally and physically for the races ahead and ensuring that how you get to the big day is as rewarding as the day itself.
Personal Excellence Coaching... a step in the right direction... many steps closer to believing in yourself, achieving your goals and realizing your dreams. "
" If it’s a PB you're looking for or to simply "complete" your events, Personal Excellence Coaching is who you want crossing the finish line with you!
When Jane is handed a monumental coaching task, she dives right into it and makes it her goal to get it done and get it done the right way. Many coaches would have run the opposite way when approached with the details for racing 16 Ironman 70.3 events around the world in less than 8 months. After Jane heard us out, she was on board but not after some cautious consideration. See, Jane's services are unique: as much as she ensures that she is the right coach for you, she also ensures that YOU are the right athlete for HER! She is not about volume or pedigree, she is about making your training/racing experience the best you have ever had, by preparing you both mentally and physically for the races ahead and ensuring that how you get to the big day is as rewarding as the day itself.
Personal Excellence Coaching... a step in the right direction... many steps closer to believing in yourself, achieving your goals and realizing your dreams. "
Duncan Wood
2003 Canadian Duathlon Champion - Age Group
"Training without a specific direction was the reason I struggled to attain my multisport goals. With the help of Jane at Personal Excellence Coaching Services, a personalized training plan was developed around my busy work schedule. This structured plan allowed me to earn places on the National Duathlon and Triathlon Teams and compete in multiple World Championships.
Thanks for your positive support - it means a lot to me. These are the personal touches that make you a unique coach."
2003 Canadian Duathlon Champion - Age Group
"Training without a specific direction was the reason I struggled to attain my multisport goals. With the help of Jane at Personal Excellence Coaching Services, a personalized training plan was developed around my busy work schedule. This structured plan allowed me to earn places on the National Duathlon and Triathlon Teams and compete in multiple World Championships.
Thanks for your positive support - it means a lot to me. These are the personal touches that make you a unique coach."
Marieke Gardner
2004 World Duathlon Bronze Medallist - Age Group, and Inside Triathlon Magazine 2004 Duathlon Age Group All American
" I started working with Jane just three months before the 2004 World Duathlon Championships. Up until that point I had been training on my own, using literature as guidance. I was training hard, but my training lacked focus and discipline. I wasn't taking rest days as often as I should have, and my key workouts were suffering as a result. In other words, I was well on track to burning myself out.
In the short period of time that I've had to work with Jane she turned my training around. She fine-tuned my training schedule, helping me to work harder during key workouts, and helping me to rest and recover when I needed to. Most importantly, she has been there with seemingly endless knowledge, motivation, inspiration and support all along the way.
I can say with complete certainty that without Jane's help, WE wouldn't have earned a medal from Worlds."
2004 World Duathlon Bronze Medallist - Age Group, and Inside Triathlon Magazine 2004 Duathlon Age Group All American
" I started working with Jane just three months before the 2004 World Duathlon Championships. Up until that point I had been training on my own, using literature as guidance. I was training hard, but my training lacked focus and discipline. I wasn't taking rest days as often as I should have, and my key workouts were suffering as a result. In other words, I was well on track to burning myself out.
In the short period of time that I've had to work with Jane she turned my training around. She fine-tuned my training schedule, helping me to work harder during key workouts, and helping me to rest and recover when I needed to. Most importantly, she has been there with seemingly endless knowledge, motivation, inspiration and support all along the way.
I can say with complete certainty that without Jane's help, WE wouldn't have earned a medal from Worlds."
Alex Burnet
" Thanks go out to Canada's best kept multisport coaching secret (and it's a good thing, cuz if the secret got out, I might not get the phenomenal personal attention she gives her athletes), Jane Armstrong of Personal Excellence Coaching Services.
You Rock Coach! "
" Thanks go out to Canada's best kept multisport coaching secret (and it's a good thing, cuz if the secret got out, I might not get the phenomenal personal attention she gives her athletes), Jane Armstrong of Personal Excellence Coaching Services.
You Rock Coach! "
Candace Ramdial
" I would like to pass on my absolute positive and impressive experience I have had with Jane Armstrong, coach at Personal Excellence. As part of a prize at the year end awards I won a 3 month coaching certificate from Personal Excellence. After having Jane coach me for 3 months, I continued with her services right up until my race at Triathlon Worlds in Vancouver this past weekend. Her professionalism, knowledge and truly personal touch with her athletes is outstanding!!! I went into one of my biggest races of my triathlon career feeling extremely prepared and motivated. I would confidently refer any athlete to her coaching services at any time. "
" I would like to pass on my absolute positive and impressive experience I have had with Jane Armstrong, coach at Personal Excellence. As part of a prize at the year end awards I won a 3 month coaching certificate from Personal Excellence. After having Jane coach me for 3 months, I continued with her services right up until my race at Triathlon Worlds in Vancouver this past weekend. Her professionalism, knowledge and truly personal touch with her athletes is outstanding!!! I went into one of my biggest races of my triathlon career feeling extremely prepared and motivated. I would confidently refer any athlete to her coaching services at any time. "
Andrew Weston
"Thank you so much for your coaching of me, not just this year, but the past 4 years. I have come so far as an athlete, through some pretty deep lows (i.e. injuries from accidents), and my success at Ironman USA in Lake Placid, my successes over the last 4 years for that matter, are because you have taught me so much more than just training plans.
You emphasize the whole package: physical and mental training; balance in one's lifestyle; everything matters, both big and small things; and you encourage positively - attitude matters! You understand me, and I feel comfortable talking to you about tough/awkward things - that is HUGE! Thank you!
You have the best job in the world, helping people to achieve their dreams! Again, THANK YOU (I can't say that enough). "
"Thank you so much for your coaching of me, not just this year, but the past 4 years. I have come so far as an athlete, through some pretty deep lows (i.e. injuries from accidents), and my success at Ironman USA in Lake Placid, my successes over the last 4 years for that matter, are because you have taught me so much more than just training plans.
You emphasize the whole package: physical and mental training; balance in one's lifestyle; everything matters, both big and small things; and you encourage positively - attitude matters! You understand me, and I feel comfortable talking to you about tough/awkward things - that is HUGE! Thank you!
You have the best job in the world, helping people to achieve their dreams! Again, THANK YOU (I can't say that enough). "
Melissa McMahon
" I tried three different coaches for my first four years racing Olympic Triathlon and my first Ironman Canada in year 4. I never made significant improvements during that time with any of them. I started training with Personal Excellence four months before my second Ironman Canada, taking off two full hours from my previous race, and three full hours off my first Ironman finishing time by the third! I have never had such personalized training. Jane turned my racing experience around in a positive direction. "
" I tried three different coaches for my first four years racing Olympic Triathlon and my first Ironman Canada in year 4. I never made significant improvements during that time with any of them. I started training with Personal Excellence four months before my second Ironman Canada, taking off two full hours from my previous race, and three full hours off my first Ironman finishing time by the third! I have never had such personalized training. Jane turned my racing experience around in a positive direction. "
Louisa Cantelon
2004 Ironman USA Competitor
"Competing in Ironman USA was a dream of mine. I learned to swim in 2003, and swam all sprint triathlons in backstroke. I decided to get serious with the sport and hired Jane Armstrong to coach me. She has taken me from a non-swimmer, non-biker, non-runner to an Ironman in 24 months. She had me at the start line, fit, confident and injury free. Jane ensured I was completely prepared nutritionally, spiritually and physically. This was no small feat for my coach."
2004 Ironman USA Competitor
"Competing in Ironman USA was a dream of mine. I learned to swim in 2003, and swam all sprint triathlons in backstroke. I decided to get serious with the sport and hired Jane Armstrong to coach me. She has taken me from a non-swimmer, non-biker, non-runner to an Ironman in 24 months. She had me at the start line, fit, confident and injury free. Jane ensured I was completely prepared nutritionally, spiritually and physically. This was no small feat for my coach."
Carlene Paquette
"In September 1997 I started going to Weight Watchers. I weighed in around 235 pounds. In the first month on the program I lost a total of 3 pounds. This was a sign that my weight-loss would not be easy. I began running in the spring of 1998 to help break through a weight-loss plateau. In the fall of 1998 I began running with the Motionware Running Club and that is when I first met Jane. She was incredibly encouraging to me and provided a lot of great advice. I ran my first 5K (37:40) that fall. With Jane’s encouragement I continued to build my distance and ran my first 10K (1:17:28) in January 1999 and ½ marathon (2:38:27) in May 1999. Although I was a solid back of the pack runner, I was ecstatic. It felt so good to just be out there and doing it. I attended Penguin Flight School in June 1999 and this was my first taste of effort based training. I purchased a heart rate monitor but just muddled along with it. In May 2000, after running my second ½ marathon Jane became my formal coach. At this point, I had lost just over 65 pounds.
In the summer of 2000 Jane introduced formal cycling cross-training to my routine, as well as hill training, tempo and speed runs. My stamina increased and my running speed picked up. My best race time-wise turned out to be a 5K in August 2000 where I ran 27:30 – a 10 minute improvement over my first 5K almost 2 years earlier and my first sub-9 minute mile in a race. If it hadn’t been a certified course I would have doubted that result. However, it was a nice indicator that I could get faster if I kept working at it. In October 2000 I did my first duathlon which consisted of a 4.8K run, 18K bike and 2.8K run. It was cold and it even sleeted and snowed during the race. However, it was also very fun and I was definitely hooked.
Jane designed a training schedule that kept me cycling and running through the winter. In 2001 I raced 2 more duathlons, a ½ marathon, a 30K race and a number of shorter road races. In 2002 with Jane’s continued help my cycling and running speeds have continued to improve. I have set personal bests at every distance I have run this year and am delighted to report the following times: 5K = 26:38, 10K = 57:20 and ½ marathon = 2:05:23. The improvement represents a lot of hard work on both our parts. I also raced a few more duathlons and my first triathlon, which was tons of fun.
In the 2 years I have been working with Jane she has helped me move from being a 10-11+ minute per mile runner to consistently running 8-9+ minute miles. She has helped me adjust my program on the fly to accommodate any injuries, deal with surprise snowstorms and keep me moving forward. Her caring attitude, positive energy and responsiveness have been a huge help. Since I started working with Jane, my husband says that he feels more confident that I am "doing the right thing" with my training. He no longer worries that I am overdoing it , or doing something crazy like he did when I was putting together my own program based on various books. He can see how Jane has responded to each challenge that has arisen and helped me to achieve my fitness and race goals. Although he is a non-exerciser, he can see the benefits that working with Jane has provided and remains a consistent supporter of our work together. We are both very satisfied customers and I would highly recommend Jane to you. She can help you achieve your goals, just as she has helped me to achieve mine."
"In September 1997 I started going to Weight Watchers. I weighed in around 235 pounds. In the first month on the program I lost a total of 3 pounds. This was a sign that my weight-loss would not be easy. I began running in the spring of 1998 to help break through a weight-loss plateau. In the fall of 1998 I began running with the Motionware Running Club and that is when I first met Jane. She was incredibly encouraging to me and provided a lot of great advice. I ran my first 5K (37:40) that fall. With Jane’s encouragement I continued to build my distance and ran my first 10K (1:17:28) in January 1999 and ½ marathon (2:38:27) in May 1999. Although I was a solid back of the pack runner, I was ecstatic. It felt so good to just be out there and doing it. I attended Penguin Flight School in June 1999 and this was my first taste of effort based training. I purchased a heart rate monitor but just muddled along with it. In May 2000, after running my second ½ marathon Jane became my formal coach. At this point, I had lost just over 65 pounds.
In the summer of 2000 Jane introduced formal cycling cross-training to my routine, as well as hill training, tempo and speed runs. My stamina increased and my running speed picked up. My best race time-wise turned out to be a 5K in August 2000 where I ran 27:30 – a 10 minute improvement over my first 5K almost 2 years earlier and my first sub-9 minute mile in a race. If it hadn’t been a certified course I would have doubted that result. However, it was a nice indicator that I could get faster if I kept working at it. In October 2000 I did my first duathlon which consisted of a 4.8K run, 18K bike and 2.8K run. It was cold and it even sleeted and snowed during the race. However, it was also very fun and I was definitely hooked.
Jane designed a training schedule that kept me cycling and running through the winter. In 2001 I raced 2 more duathlons, a ½ marathon, a 30K race and a number of shorter road races. In 2002 with Jane’s continued help my cycling and running speeds have continued to improve. I have set personal bests at every distance I have run this year and am delighted to report the following times: 5K = 26:38, 10K = 57:20 and ½ marathon = 2:05:23. The improvement represents a lot of hard work on both our parts. I also raced a few more duathlons and my first triathlon, which was tons of fun.
In the 2 years I have been working with Jane she has helped me move from being a 10-11+ minute per mile runner to consistently running 8-9+ minute miles. She has helped me adjust my program on the fly to accommodate any injuries, deal with surprise snowstorms and keep me moving forward. Her caring attitude, positive energy and responsiveness have been a huge help. Since I started working with Jane, my husband says that he feels more confident that I am "doing the right thing" with my training. He no longer worries that I am overdoing it , or doing something crazy like he did when I was putting together my own program based on various books. He can see how Jane has responded to each challenge that has arisen and helped me to achieve my fitness and race goals. Although he is a non-exerciser, he can see the benefits that working with Jane has provided and remains a consistent supporter of our work together. We are both very satisfied customers and I would highly recommend Jane to you. She can help you achieve your goals, just as she has helped me to achieve mine."