About Coach Deana
As an athlete, Deana began participating in endurance sports at a young age as a way to exercise and race in local 5K events with her mom. She is a runner by background, competing in high school and collegiate cross country and track and field. In college she began adding cross training such as swimming and biking to supplement her run training.
During her senior year of college, she competed in her first Ironman event and loved the challenge of going after goals that seemed impossible at first, following a process, and then doing her best to execute and overcome obstacles on race day and along the way.
Today she enjoys racing locally and across the country with her family and the team! She loves challenging herself and demonstrating to her kids what can be possible when working towards a goal, and she enjoys helping others reach their goals! It’s incredibly rewarding to help an athlete achieve something that seemed impossible before - whether that be a 5K, marathon, or Ironman.
Training & Racing Fun facts:
Favorite race venues: St. George (UT), Chattanooga (TN), South Africa
Favorite races: Ironman Texas (IM #6 but it was the first one as a mom!), Boston marathon, Ironman Wisconsin with husband and mom
Favorite places to train: Arizona (Tucson or Scottsdale), southeastern MN bluff country, and biking the perimeter of Lake Michigan
Passion & Coaching Philosophy
Deana has been an endurance athlete for decades, and uses principles of psychology and health promotion to stay committed to her endurance passion for the long haul, while enjoying the journey along the way. She understands that endurance sports are one piece of life and that it’s important to balance career, family, and other passions when looking at the big picture today and in the future. Sometimes sport might be a higher priority during a “season” of life, and sometimes it might be lower on the priority list. No matter where it falls for you, Deana enjoys helping all athletes plan and reach their current and future goals!
Coaching Experience & Athlete Feedback
Deana has coached youth athletes as a Middle and High School Cross Country and Track & Field coach, first-time finishers from the 10K to marathon and sprint triathlon to Ironman, as well as women coming back to endurance sports postpartum.
“You stood beside me, every step, stroke, pedal of the way. You were always positive, supportive and gave me grace and latitude when I wasn’t able to do so on my own. Thank you. I’ve had coaches before but none that I have actually connected with or that have inspired and pushed me to keep going, who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.”
“I felt prepared for this race with the time and energy I was able to give for training and thoroughly enjoyed the training program. This has been my favorite training program that I have done! I appreciate all of the thought you put in to designing my plan around trips and other commitments.”
“I just wanted to say, “thank you”. Without you - your patience, tremendous support, and wise training plans - I never would have been able to complete my very first ironman triathlon. ”
“Thank you, Deana. You are wise beyond your years and you are a remarkable triathlon coach (and athlete!!!)!”
Racing Experience
USA Triathlon All-American
6x Ironman Finisher
Personal bests:
10:21 (but with a shortened swim!) - IM Louisville
10:59 - IM Texas
20x+ 70.3 Finisher
70.3 Ironman World Championships Qualifier and Competitor - Port Elizabeth, South Africa (2018) and St. George, Utah (2021)
PR 5:06 - High Cliff Half Iron
Boston Marathon Qualifier
PR 3:17 - Napa Valley Marathon
Lutsen 49er (MTB Race) Finisher
2x Birkie Cross Country Ski Race Finisher and 1x Korte Finisher (enjoys hanging with the back of the pack until technique can be improved :) )
Collegiate Cross Country and Track & Field
Mile PR - 5:16
800 PR - 2:23
And many sprint and Olympic distance tris, 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons
Education
M.S. Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
B.S. Psychology
B.S. Mathematics
United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy