An Evidence-Led Approach to Elite Triathlon | Expert Series 11 | David Tilbury Davis, Coach of Ashley Gentle, Ex-Coach of Lionel Sanders

In this episode, we sit down with David Tilbury Davis, one of triathlon's most respected coaches with nearly 30 years of experience. David has coached world champions, Ironman podium finishers, and record-breakers including Sky Moench's American Ironman record at Florida 2023.We dive deep into David's evidence-based coaching philosophy, and what that means in practice. David shares insights on the coach-athlete relationship, the importance of trust and communication across different cultures and genders. Key topics covered:Why there's no magical formula for triathlon successThe 80/15/5 rule: basics, experimentation, and guessworkCommon training mistakes (hint: those really long runs)Sleep as the most underrated performance enhancerWhen recovery tools actually help vs. when they blunt adaptationManaging athletes across five continents and multiple culturesDavid's no-nonsense approach cuts through the noise of social media training trends and brings it back to what actually matters. Whether you're a pro or an age grouper balancing training with family and work, this episode offers practical wisdom you can apply immediately.