--Albert Dyrness San Ramon, CA

"In my 40s I suffered from lower back problems and my doctor suggested that I lose weight to lessen the load on my back.  I stared to run regularly, but would often injure a knee, hamstring, calf, etc.  I decided that running alone would not work for me.  I started to mix in swimming and biking and signed up for my first sprint-distance triathlon.  The encouragement of other competitors and sense of accomplishment hooked me.  I decided that in the next summer I would try to enter one triathlon per month.  I was able to complete two Olympic distance triathlons and one ½ marathon.  At the end of the summer, I wondered what I could do next?  Could I ever finish a ½ Ironman (70.3 distance) triathlon…the Olympic distance times 2?  After reading two books, I still felt the goal was impossible.  I found Coach Paul and on our first session he convinced me that a ½ Ironman triathlon was an achievable goal.  Coach Paul evaluated my fitness and developed a custom program with specific workouts each week.  He kept me almost completely injury free for the full 8 months leading up to my first ½ Ironman.  I must have asked 1,001 questions along the way and Paul would patiently answer each one.  He gave me encouragement and stretch goals.  He adjusted my workout schedule when work and life made it impossible to get everything done.  There was a point late in the training when for the first time I thought I might be able to really do this.  That realization carried me through my entire ½ Ironman experience.  I came down the finish chute with pure joy in my heart and immense gratitude for my coach, Coach Paul.  My fitness has improved dramatically since starting with Coach Paul.  At the shamrock run ½ marathon, I reduced my time by 33 minutes from the previous year and in a recent 10k, I beat my personal best time by 21 minutes.  I am still managing my back through fitness and core training.  My back pain episodes are few and far between, and much less severe.  I owe a great debt of gratitude to Paul Kinney of Kinney Multisport not only for helping to improve my quality of life, but also for leading me to discovering that nothing is impossible."