Reviews
“As a waka ama athlete, working with Jay and his Open Athletic brand has been a game-changer for my performance. I first met Jay at the gym and soon after started joining his running sessions. From there, we began chatting about programming and how to take my training to the next level. We trialled a few weeks using TrainingPeaks, and the results were immediate—my performance lifted fast.
Three years later, we’re still going strong. We meet up every few months to reset goals, plan for big races, and structure my training so I peak when it matters most. Since working with Jay, I’ve won national and world titles and competed in some of the most prestigious events in the sport. At the highest level, every detail counts—and Jay supports me through it all. Highly recommend.”
Mitch Zandstra – New Zealand Waka Ama Elite Team
“When I first signed up for Ironman New Zealand, I had zero experience with triathlon. No swim-bike-run background, no idea what I was doing — just a big goal and a bit of a crazy dream. Jay took me on from day one and guided me through the entire journey with patience, knowledge, and an approach that just made sense.
He built a training plan that worked around my life and gradually turned me into someone who could handle the volume, the training load, and ultimately, the full Ironman distance. He knew when to push, when to pull back, and how to keep me focused when motivation dipped. Jay was always available, always supportive, and kept the bigger picture in mind the whole way through. What really stood out though was how invested he was – he even came down to Taupō on race day and spent the day chasing me around the course, cheering me on and making sure I had what I needed. That kind of support made a massive difference and something you only get from a great coach!
Crossing that finish line in Taupō was something I’ll never forget — and I absolutely wouldn’t have got there without Jay in my corner. If you’re starting from scratch or chasing big goals, Jay’s your guy. Couldn’t recommend him more.”
Josh Hartley – Ironman Finisher
“An absolute legend! Jay has not only coached me to a sub 3 marathon but he has taught me a load of important principles about training and diet. I’ve been around him for years now and he’s always gone out of his way to help me achieve and accomplish my goals. He keeps it real, holds you accountable and pushes you to be your best!”
Campbell Attwood – Boston Marathon Qualifier – Elite Hyrox
“Having Jay be apart of my running journey as a coach was an absolute game changer. He gave me the ability to believe in myself and achieve some epic things along the way. Jay isn’t just an epic coach to make you Fast As F*#k but always makes you feel comfortable to talk through training, goals and life in general. He’s a great coach to have part of your journey and I couldn’t recommend more.”
Ruby Barnes – Track & Field – Hyrox NZ Champion
“Having Jay as my coach for the last 4 years has been a game changer for my fitness and training.
Everything is so personalised to suit my training goals but also personal life. He strikes the perfect balance of knowing when you have more to give and to keep pushing you, or when training needs to step down for a moment.
I have achieved goals I never thought would be achievable for me as an athlete with Jay, I had always wanted to do an Ironman but hadn’t considered it possible before training with him. Now I’m committed to my second one! Being able to check in when needed means I can get the best out of my training when things change.
I couldn’t recommend Jay highly enough, not only an epic coach but great guy as well.”
Kate Higgins – Ironman – Triathlon – Ultramarathon Finisher
“I started jogging many years ago but I never ran consistently, I carried annoying injuries from time to time, and was so nervous entering events that I didn’t get to enjoy them.
Then I set a goal to run the 60th Rotorua Marathon and I knew I would need help from an expert to achieve it. Although I was a bit scared to start the journey, getting Jay as my run coach was the best decision – I achieved my goal and loved every minute of it! With Jay’s coaching, I now have the confidence and ability to enter a range of events. I’m also the healthiest, fittest and strongest I’ve ever been, and through Jay I’ve met an awesome community of people that lift each other up to achieve their goals.”