About Us

Athlete Achievements:
• Competitive swimmer since 1969 with over 100 open water race wins.
• US and World Masters Champion (pool and open water).
• Completed the 28.5-mile swim around Manhattan Island.

Coaching Expertise:
• Coaching athletes since 1983, working with over 1,000 athletes monthly through TOWER 26.
• Founding member and swim coach of Los Angeles’ first triathlon club (1983).
• Recognized as US Masters Coach-of-the-Year
• Expert coach for IRONMAN University.
• Co-founder of the World Open Water Swimming Association.

Professional Highlights:
• Former owner and publisher of SWIM Magazine, Swimming World, and Swimming Technique.
• Educated at Pepperdine University with a B.Sc. in Business.

Fun Fact:
• Swam 10,000 meters (1:15/100 M) in 2 hours 5 min at age 12.

Athlete Achievements:
• Former Division I and professional ice hockey player, leveraging a competitive athletic background to elevate coaching expertise.
• Began competing in triathlons in 2005 and transitioned to professional triathlete status by 2009, maintaining elite-level performance experience.

Coaching Expertise:
• USA Triathlon Certified Coach and IRONMAN University Certified Coach since 2009, focusing on comprehensive endurance and elite skill development.
• N.A.S.M. Certified Strength Coach with specialization in Corrective Exercise, Performance Enhancement, and Behavior Change to guide athletes in overcoming challenges and achieving peak performance.
• Founder and Head Coach of Red Racing (2014–Present), leading a team of passionate triathletes to push limits and achieve goals.
• Tower 26 Swim, Bike, Run Coach since 2016, providing holistic triathlon coaching to develop balanced, race-ready athletes.

Professional Highlights:
• Earned a B.A. in Political Science & Management from Fairfield University, utilizing strategic and analytical skills to optimize athlete training and development.

Fun Fact:
• Ran an impressive 4:59.15 mile at age 12 to win the Illinois State Championship—a record-breaking pace at such a young age.

Tower 26 Coach

Athlete Background:
• Triathlete since 1989 and experienced marathon runner.

Coaching Experience:
• Tower 26 coach since 2019, specializing in swim, bike, run, and triathlon training.
• Certified by Ironman University and USA Triathlon, with a TrainingPeaks Level 2 certification.

Fun Fact:
• Affectionately nicknamed "The Silver Fox" by Gerry Rodrigues.

Tower 26 Swim Coach

Athlete Background:
• Former US Open and Junior National qualifier, State Champion, and All-American.
• YMCA National Champion.

Coaching Experience:
• Coaching since 2007, including development of a 2016/2021 Olympian and 2015 World Champion.
• Guided athletes to Southern California Swimming Records and National Top Ten Rankings.
• Tower 26 coach since 2016.

Fun Fact:
• Tim was a hip-hop DJ and MC in the 2000s.

Tower 26 Triathlon Coach

Athlete Background:
• Collegiate softball player at California State University, Northridge.
• Marathon runner since 2001, completing a marathon on every continent.
• Active triathlete since 2004.

Coaching Experience:
• Coaching since 2007 with a USA Triathlon certification.
• Head coach for Team to End AIDS Marathon and Triathlon program (2007–2014).
• Coach for Red Racing since 2016.
• Tower 26 coach since 2018.

Fun Fact:
• Cindy has completed marathons on all seven continents, including Antarctica.

Athlete:

US Masters swimmer, 1981-present.

Triathlete, 2011-present. Trail runner, Ocean swimmer.

Coaching: 1977 - present.

Head coach and founder Westside Masters, head coach Triton Swimming and Triathlon Team.

Coached US Masters national champion team.

140 US/world Masters titles and 130 US/world Masters age-group records set by his swimmers.

Editor-in-chief, Swimming Technique Magazine.

ASCA World Clinic presenter.

TOWER 26 swim coach 2017-present.

Education: San Jose State University, Journalism.

Fun Fact: Thru-hiked the John Muir Trail at age 15. In March 1981, age 22, provided expert commentary for meet between defending NCAA swimming champ Cal and USC, for fledgling sports network called ESPN.

Coaching: 1999 - present.

9 Time USA Swimming National Team Coach 2008-2016.

FINA Open Water World Cup 10k Race Coach to 7 countries.

Coach of open water World champion and USA national champion, 5k and 10k.

ASCA level 5 approved.

U.S. Paralympic Swimming Coach. Head Swim Coach Keene College.

NCAA: 17 All-Americans, 11 New England collegiate Championships, 2 x LEC coach of the year, 4 x NEISDA coach of the year.

TOWER 26 swim coach 2018 - present.

Education: Ph.D. State University of New York at Buffalo, Molecular Biology.

Fun Fact: Ph.D in Molecular biology and did cancer research until switching to coaching and teaching.

Coaching: 2010 - present.

Todd has been in the sport of open water swimming and triathlon for over ten years. Prior to moving back to Maine in the beginning of 2015, Todd was coaching and swimming with Tower 26 as well as coaching youth and junior swimmers & triathletes. Todd brings knowledge and an ability to challenge people to be the best athlete possible. Todd is enjoying being part of the Maine community again with his wife Heather, daughter Zoe & their dog Maverick.

Education: B.S. in Athletic Training from the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Fun Fact: My brother Nate & I did the first SwimRun(Otillo) in North America in 2016.

Athlete:

Played lots of sports growing up (swimming, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, track & field, skiing...) but can be found these days riding / running on trails, competing in various distance triathlon events, & supporting efforts to increase access to sport.

Serves as a guide for visually impaired athletes racing paratriathlon events.

USAT AG National Championships and IRONMAN 70.3 World Championships qualifier.

Coaching: 2009 - present.

USAT Level 1 & IRONMAN Certified Coach.

Experience working with paratriathletes (as volunteer, coach, handler, guide).

Red Performance Multisport Coach (2016-2019).

Education: Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley, Integrative Biology.

Fun Fact: One of the experiences I am most grateful for was the opportunity to live, explore, and conduct research for a year in Australia as a Fulbrigh.

Athlete:

NCAA Honorable Mention All American, University of Michigan Swimming Team.

1996 and 2000 Olympic Trials Qualifier 100m Breaststroke.

Professional Triathlete 2010-2016. 3rd Place Wildflower Triathlon, 4th Place Escape From Alcatraz, 4th Place Vineman 70.3, 5th Place ITU Long Distance World Championships.

Coaching: 2004 - present.

Swim coach (age group, NCAA Division I and Masters swimming) 2004-present.

Triathlon coach 2006-present.

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Double Major Psychology and Sociology, University of Michigan. Certificate of Paralegal Studies. Loyola University Chicago.

Fun Fact: I eat the exact same breakfast everyday and I look forward to it every morning when I get home from my run with my dog Winston.

Athlete:

USA swimmer until age 15, AA time standards in 100, 200 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly.

Returned to competitive swimming in 2012, placing 1st in age group for Optimus Distance challenge 2.4 mile swim.

2016 USMS SCM Championships 7th nationally in age group for 200 butterfly.

2018 Wildflower Long Course Finisher.

2020 Became a bi-ventrically paced athlete (she calls her pacemaker Betty).

Coaching: 2011 - present.

ASCA Level 1 and 2 certified, Level 3 training.

Private Coach 2011 - present.

SCAQ Coach 2013-2015.

Jonathan Club Aquatics Director 2015-2020.

Tower 26 Coach 2015-16, 2021-present.

Education: BA in Theatre with an emphasis on Stage Management, Minor in Women’s Studies.

Fun Fact: Kristin was a custom fabricator for nearly 10 years and built many sets for Broadway and Las Vegas, she also was part of the 10 year anniversary tour of Rent. This could be why she has been known to sing show tunes while climbing canyons. (Albeit very poorly.)

Athlete:

Qualified for nationals as a kid in motherland of Slovakia and in high school qualifed for IL state championship in 200y free relay.

Played water polo for 10 years.

After graduating high school missed swimming so decided to give triathlons a try! And the rest is history..

Coaching: 2016 - present.

2016-2019 taught swimming for Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy.

2018-2020 coached age group swimming for Royal Swim Team.

2018-present started own business as a private swimming teacher and coach.

2021-present TOWER 26 coach and your favorite person to see at 5:45 am.

Education: BA in Psychology from ASU. Coming soon MS in Occupational Therapy.

Fun Fact: I am a proud dog mom of 2 huskies! I also teach water aerobics couple times a week because there’s nothing like dancing to disco with foam dumbbells.

Athlete:

World Tour Cyclist from 2011-2017. Top Ten in Tour de France. Top five in Vuelta Espana.

National pro time trial champion 2015.

Professional Ironman 2018-2019.

Member of the T26 Swim program 2018-2019.

Coaching:

Worked with the top coaches, physiologists, nutritionists and aerodynamic experts in the world throughout my professional career, was always highly involved in my own training, learning the sports science aspect of things so I could understand why I was doing what I was doing.

2021 Worked closely with crossfit and strength coaches to develop a functional program tailored towards endurance focused athletes to stay healthy and injury free.

Education:

Gulliver Preparatory High School, Miami, FL

One year at Lees-McRae college in Banner Elk, NC

School of life courtesy of pro cycling

Fun Fact: My first road bike when I was seventeen years old came from former Olympic Triathlete Manny Huerta who happened to be best friends with my mom’s boyfriend. This was during the time period where Manny was running 16’ 5k’s dressed in a banana suit while working for Jamba Juice, before he had secured professional sponsorship. Manny represented the USA at the Olympics in London 2012.

Athlete:

Played football, ran track & cross country and raced on the cycling team, University of Indiana

All conference, 800m run, University of Indiana

Rookie of Year, cycling team, University of Indiana

Elite cyclist for Texas Roadhouse, 2009

Triathlon All-American, 2009-2022 season

Professional Triathlon, 2012-2017

Coaching:

Trains athletes young and old, from Indycar and NASCAR drivers to Professional Ultimate Frisbee Players.

Coach of a world record rowing team crossing the Pacific Ocean.

Education:

Exercise Science and Business degree, University of Indiana

Fun Fact:

I am a cancer survivor.

I love cereal! Unfortunately, I have a cereal consumption problem. There’s no limit of how many boxes of cereal I can eat in one sitting. For my 30th birthday, I was gifted 30 boxes of cereal.

Athlete:

Played football for 25 years, College, Semi-Pro - 2008

NPC Men's Physique and Classic Bodybuilder 2011-2018

Entered Triathlon in 2015 on a relay team for charity and took first place first time out returned in 2019 and joined Tower 26 the same year.

Active Duty Air Force 2004-Present

Coaching (2008 to present):

2022 USAT Level 1 Coach

N.A.S.M Certified Strength and Personal training coach.

ACE Fitness Nutrition Certification

Education:

BS.BA Columbia College

MBA Webster University

Fun Fact:

I told my high school Swim coach who regularly sent athletes to college and beyond that, I had no interest in swimming, I also turned down a track scholarship to focus on football. Teenage me did not make the best decisions at that time.

Athlete:

Played basketball in High School (Mexico)

Triathlete (2016-present)

USAT AG National Championships qualifier twice.

LA Marathon runner since 2019

I've volunteered for Ironman 70.3 Oceanside four times, last time as a shift captain.

Volunteering to help with the first-time swimmers at the beach every Sunday

Coaching:

2022 USAT Level 1 Coach

Working on my USATF Level 1 and Water Safety certifications

Education:

BA in Business Administration with emphasis on Human Resources, Cal State Dominguez Hills

Fun Fact:

I didn't know how to swim eight years ago, I learned it at the end of 2015 to be able to do my first Sprint Tri in 2016.

I like challenges, so after my first Tri; I challenged myself to do a half Ironman. I completed my first 70.3 Arizona in 2017. (jumped from Sprint distance to Half Ironman).

I am always smiling. I have happy feet, every time I hear music I can't help but dance.

Athlete (qualified and competed in):

2-time KONA Ironman World Championship

2- time ITU Draft-Legal Sprint World Championship

2-time Ironman 70.3 World Championship

Boston Marathon

Coaching (2009 - present):

USA Triathlon certified coach

US Masters swim coach

USA Track and Field coach

PSIA ski instructor

NSP professional ski patroller

PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer

TOWER 26 swim, bike, run and tri coach, 2021 - present

Education:

Chubb Institute, web and business programming

Fun Fact:

Following my KONA Ironman World Championship in 1982 and before moving to the east coast, I was a personal trainer to Rod Stewart and Wayne Newton.