Testimonials for Fernando Braz's Training Program
Many runners have benefited from Fernando Braz's coaching. Their insight into his ability to guide runners to reach their potential is best expressed in their own words.
Gina Newton
In the Fall of 2007, I decided I wanted to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I had run 1 prior marathon, injured in a 4:17:21. I did a search for "running, coaching, and Boston" and stumbled upon Fernando Braz. I sought out his coaching skills and had my first GTD training schedule for January of 2008 in my hopes of qualifying for Boston in June of 2008.
Prior to Fernando Braz, I was a mediocre athlete. I danced and played sports but I wouldn't have considered myself extremely athletic.
Since working with Fernando, I have qualified for the Boston Marathon three times (my current PR is a 3:25:37) and most recently the NYC marathon. In 2009, I had a personal record in every distance I raced. I would not have accomplished what I have and what I hope to do in the future without the extremely close knit relationship and guidance I receive from Fernando as part of his Going the Distance coaching services.
Fernando is not only excellent at his technical knowledge of the sport but he is a wonderful, supportive person who is passionate about his work. I look forward to a continued relationship with him through Going the Distance.
Dan Vassallo
I started training with Fernando immediately after my first marathon at age 22. Since working with Fernando, I have gone from a good college runner to one of the best runners in New England, having PRed in every distance from the mile to the marathon.
If I were training on my own, I am certain that I would run 140+ miles a week, execute workouts that are not strenuous enough for significant improvement, race too often, and achieve modest improvements. However, with Fernando I am exceeding even my own expectations through a more-calculated program. As I am racing with less frequency as I did in college, Fernando has designed longer and more challenging workouts that can more efficiently challenge me. The design of many GTD workouts accounts for both physical and mental fatigue, and in addition to obviously improving my fitness, I think working under GTD has made me tougher mentally. The personalization of GTD workouts is also an asset. As I have improved significantly since my first season with GTD, the current workouts are more difficult to reflect my improvement in fitness and elevation of goals. I am one of many GTD athletes to say I have never done the same workout twice, so intervals never become stale.
Fernando has also been extremely flexible, allowing me to maintain higher weekly mileage than the majority of his athletes, as training more than the competition has been the recipe for me outperforming my peers my entire life. However, Fernando has taught me the patience to rein in my own desire to work too hard so that I can avoid overtraining and injuries and improve at a more rapid rate than if I had just run more miles.
Perhaps the most important aspect is Fernando's priority on his athletes juggling running responsibilities with a full-time job. I understand very well that many of my competitors do not have full-time jobs, but Fernando has helped me develop both the fitness and the confidence that I can run with those guys while still maintaining a job. Philosophically, I find this very important, and I'm glad my coach feels the same way.
Given my general durability and work ethic, I believe that I would have developed and improved as a runner as I approached my mid-twenties regardless of coaching. However, I did not envision myself being capable of achieving what I have achieved in the past two years. While I understand that Fernando's not the one going out there and doing the running, I also understand that I would be underutilizing my talents and not reaching my full potential without Fernando Braz's GTD coaching services.
Tyler Kidd
Under Fernando's training I set PRs in both the half-marathon (1:26:14 versus a previous PR of 1:28:44) and the marathon (3:00:05 versus a previous PR of 3:09:09). The three marathons I have run since Fernando started coaching me are my three fastest (3:00:05 (Richmond 2007), 3:04:23 (Philadelphia 2008), and 3:05:52 (Boston 2008)). More importantly, Fernando's personally-tailored training is not a "one size fits all" method. Instead, Fernando reviews workouts, race results, and personal feedback in tailoring training programs to meet goals and avoid injury. His workouts are varied, challenging, and enjoyable. I wholeheartedly recommend his coaching services.
Glenn Simm
Before Fernando
I've always enjoyed sports and competing. I ran to stay in shape and enjoyed participating in a few road races every year. I ran the Boston Marathon 3 times to raise money for charity and suffered through in 4 plus hours with a couple trips to the medical tent.
Intro To Fernando
My 1st experience with Fernando was at winter track 2003 at the Cove.
Tina Dowling , my wife, had been running track sessions with Fernando and kept telling me how much I would enjoy it. She was right again! I've continued to sign up for track since. Running on a track was a whole new experience. I had no idea what I was doing, but with Fernando's guidance, and help from other runners at track, I was hooked. The best advice I received from teammates was, "listen to the Coach, and follow his plan." I told Fernando right from the get go, "we're not dealing with lots of raw running talent here." Distance running doesn't come easy for me, it's a challenge and I really have to work hard to improve.
Fernando's Training Plan
I've learned that by following Fernando's weekly training program and doing "The Little Things" he outlines, including my favorite, The Dreaded Ice Bath, has made all the difference in my running. I'm a stickler for staying right with Fernando's weekly outlines. If I need to change it up at all, I try to check in with the coach and he's flexible, we always can work it out. Coach Braz never panics; he's got a confidence that no matter what obstacles get in our way, we're going to reach our ultimate goal. His experience and confidence rubs off on the individual athlete and mentally that's a huge advantage for me.
Success under Fernando
As I started to follow Fernando's program my race times improved. In 2003 I ran my 1st marathon under 4 hours in Chicago (3:44) and followed it up with a (3:43) six weeks later in Philly with no trips to the medical tent!! That set me up for trying to run a Boston qualifier, which at one time I thought would never be possible. Under Fernando's plan I qualified for Boston at Chicago 2004 (3:28) and have run a total of 6 Boston qualifying times since. I completed the USATF Iron Runner series in 2004, 2005 and 2008 and with Fernando's help had many PRs along the way. At the Hartford Marathon in 2007, Fernando helped me lower the bar again with a (3:12) PR and a year later at the Baystate Marathon 2008 a (3:10) PR.
Coach Braz is always there, whether it be at a Grand Prix event or on a street corner at the Chicago Marathon. He's offering his positive encouragement, in his subtle way. Sometimes I don't see the guy but I can hear him. It seems as though he gets as much satisfaction seeing a 5 hour marathoner improve as he does watching one of his elite runners improve. Just for an example, at the Philly marathon 2007, he stayed and ran his last runner in on a cool, 40 degree, windy, drizzly day. That's just the type of coach he is. He makes you feel like you're the most important competitor out there. He gives 100% so that makes me give 100%.
At a running banquet I once heard someone say that "Fernando made them the best possible runner that they could be." I can identify with that statement. I truly believe Fernando has made me the best I can possibly be as a runner for my ability. He's helped me reach goals I never thought were attainable, and we're not done yet. He's been there for me as a coach and also personally as a friend.
Kara Haas
I approached Fernando Braz about coaching services nearly 20 years into my running career, upon the advice of many trusted athletes and competitors. I was coming off a 6 month serious injury, and to say that I was severely dejected about my present and future state of running would be an understatement! I was quite sure that all my PRs were behind me, but I needed something or someone to pull me out of my slump - and that is when Fernando began to work his magic.
Fernando's gift of coaching lies in the fact that it is totally unique, customized, and tailored to each individual. He treats each athlete as if they were the most special, talented, and only runner who mattered on the planet - and after a while, you start to believe him, and hence, believe in yourself. Fernando painstakingly analyzes every aspect of your life, training, background, and goals and comes up with your own palette of training that is nothing short of, well, brilliant. It is his approach to the individual as a person, rather than just an athlete, that makes his formula so successful.
That formula has garnered me PRs at nearly every distance at age 38. I don't think the story will end there, though, as Fernando has a long term development plan for each of his athletes, that will help ensure success in the long haul. It is a program of patience, and discipline, but all who are fortunate enough to be under Fernando's tutelage will emerge not only a better runner, but also a better person.
