Category: Targeted Programming
Pikes Peak Athletics Training Center
Colorado Springs, Colo.
Year Awarded: 2022
The mission
Serving the needs of elite athletes is a challenge few facilities meet successfully. In Colorado Springs, Colo., Pikes Peak Athletics Training Center is not only an exception but also a model of targeted programing that caters to this unique demographic.
At Pikes Peak Athletics, swimmers, runners and cyclists alike can hone their skills under the guidance of seasoned coaches in both group settings and individual sessions personalized to the athlete.
Programs are designed for both professional athletes and those with the potential to reach that status.
That’s how the center has become a destination for those who wish to achieve excellence in training from experienced coaches and the latest technology.
Brilliance at work
Pikes Peak Athletics Training Center has distinguished itself by offering programs that meet the rigorous demands of professional swimmers and elite competitors. The facility boasts cutting-edge equipment along with high-performance training regimens. This targeted approach ensures that athletes receive top-tier coaching and access to specialized programs tailored to their goals.
The center’s coaching staff comprises former competitive swimmers and expert trainers who bring firsthand experience to their methods, creating a unique dynamic where athletes can receive customized training plans that align with their competition schedules, skill development and peak performance needs. The center emphasizes individualized coaching while also offering group classes that put swimmers in a more competitive environment.
Special highlights
The program considers only professional athletes or those who show potential to achieve elite status. This ensures participants can keep up with the group’s rigorous training standards.
Coaches collaborate with each athlete to discuss objectives and areas for improvement, tailoring training programs to individual needs.
The group meets and trains three days per week, fostering a collaborative environment where athletes can work and learn together while still receiving individual attention from both house coaches and their personal trainers.
The latest
While the Professional Triathlete Training Group continues serving competitive swimmers, its broadened its
services to include elite runners who intend to compete in triathlons — races that typically combine running, swimming and cycling.
“We have great runners who are looking to get involved in triathlons but have no swimming background,” says Rob Putnam, head coach of the triathlon program. “These are elite-level runners, but they’ll swim one length and say they’re out of shape. I’ll remind them, ‘No, you’re not out of shape. This is technique-based.’ They’re realizing how important technique is.”
For this group, programs are tailored to help them not only qualify for upcoming races, but also ensure they’re competitive.
The center also implemented new technologies that help less experienced swimmers and pros alike to fine-tune their skills. Cameras in the pools record their swims from the side and head-on. From a large monitor on the deck, they can see how they’re performing and what changes need to be made.
“That kind of immediate feedback is great,” Putnam says. “A lot of us are visual learners.”
For further analysis, they can use swim paddles equipped with sensors that offer detailed insights into their stroke mechanics, measuring force output, stroke rate and length, among other metrics. Swimmers can download the data and measure their progress over time.
The program has become more inclusive over the years. Andy Potts, a six-time NCAA All-American swimmer serves as a recruiter, spotting talent and inviting them to join. Some may only have nominal experience swimming competitively but show potential as elite athletes.
A personal invitation “helps people feel less intimated to join our program,” Putnam says.
