Session 14: Managing Pre-Event Nerves

With over 14 years of experience in the fitness industry, Paul aka Mr Brightside is the founder of BrightsidePT, a coaching community built on passion, inclusivity, and progress. A former competitive 800m athlete with a background in biomechanics, Paul combines deep technical knowledge with a genuine drive to help others transform their lives.

Paul created BrightsidePT to offer a safe, friendly, and supportive space for people who may have felt overwhelmed or discouraged by mainstream gyms. His mission has always been to empower individuals to feel stronger, more confident, and part of something bigger.

Known for his boundless enthusiasm and commitment to his clients, Paul thrives on watching people push past their limits and achieve more than they ever thought possible. He believes coaching is more than just fitness, it’s about showing up for others and believing in their potential, even when they can’t yet see it themselves.

Paul brings warmth, energy, and deep expertise to STRIVE, and is proud to support individuals in unlocking their best selves … one step, rep, or breakthrough at a time.

Nick has over 40 years experience in the running industry having been a junior and senior international who became a high performance coach 25 years ago. He’s worked as head event coach in the UK and for team GB in cross country, road and track. He’s also been national marathon and road coach over the years. Nick owns a company called RunningWithUs and together with his team of coaches they spend most of their day helping real runners, club athletes and those often running for the first time and raising money for charity.

“Everybody matters and you are a performance athlete if you want to be better tomorrow than you are today.”

Nick commentates regularly at race events and sometimes on live TV broadcasts and is known for hosting training camps, training days and workshops throughout the year all in the world of endurance running & sport.

Nat is an Elite Athlete with a long list of accolades including World Biathle Champion and Winner of Ironman 70.3 Egypt and Weymouth.
Nat’s World class experience, combined with her refreshing down to earth approach to high performance coaching, means she has helped hundreds of people to reach new levels of their potential within multi sport events.
When it comes to getting the best out of individuals, Nat is an Elite Athlete with a non-elitist approach. Whatever their goal, and whatever level they wish to achieve, Nat always sees it as an honour to be a part of her client’s journey. In her own words; “No dream is too big, and no achievement is small.”
Nat’s personal achievements to date include:

• World Biathle Champion
• Champion Weymouth and Egypt Iron Man 70.3
• Double Champion of Long Course Weekend Wales
• Winner Outlaw Full

Goals Nat’s working towards right now:

• Challenge Mallorca October 2024

Donna is the Founder of The Evolve Co. and creator of STRIVE. As a highly experienced performance coach Donna has helped ambitious humans to thrive in their careers for well over a decade. Specialising in getting clients ready for pivotal moments such as public speaking, investor presentations and job interviews, Donna is passionate about fear management and the neuroscience of human performance.

Donna has worked across a variety of sectors including; Civil & Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace, Consumer Brands & Financial Services, and has appeared on Sky News and Euronews.

Donna’s Personal Challenges to date include:

• Olympic Distance Triathlon Windsor
• Sprint Distance Triathlon Bournemouth
• Weymouth Half Marathon
• River Arun 3.8k Swim

Goals Donna’s working towards right now:

• Half and Full Distance Ironman
• Southampton Marathon

Jase has spent the past 24 years facilitating and coaching service personnel within the Royal Air Force. Initially joining as a Physical Training Instructor, he specialised as an Adventurous Training Instructor, his most recent role was within the Defence SERE Training Organisation involved delivering survival training across the MOD. Jase has worked in a number of different roles in the outdoors, with sports teams, individual athletes and senior management teams. He has also organised, managed and delivered high altitude expeditions all over the world.

Jase’s Personal Challenges to date include:

• Climbed Escalada Eagle in Spain
• Multiple ski touring expeditions in Europe, including the Haute route 2017 & 2022
• Wilderness bike packing expeditions in the Highlands

Goals Jase’s working towards right now:

• To summit Mount Denali in 2026 for RAF ATI’s as a Lead Instructor

Rob served in the RAF for 22 years as a Battlespace Manager and Fighter Controller. Along with numerous operational assignments in the UK and overseas within NATO, he spent time in the training environment as a Trainer, Coach and Mentor. He also had the privilege of being the Career Manager for over 500 personnel. With significant experience of working in, and leading, teams across the globe, Rob is passionate about facilitating growth in others.

Rob’s Personal Challenges to date include:

• Marathon and Half Marathon distances
• Windsurfer all over the world
• Mountaineering in the UK and overseas

Goals Rob’s working towards right now:

• Climb 214 Wainwrights in the Lakes

Pete is an experienced Senior Leader, Chartered Engineer and Psychotherapist with a passion for developing individuals’ wellbeing and resilience. Pete himself has achieved many personal challenges, including climbing mountains across 4 continents, and running numerous marathons and ultra-marathons. Being heavily involved in charity and community work for over a decade, Pete was honoured by The Queen in 2021.

Pete’s Personal Challenges to date include:

• Climbing Kilimanjaro and Toubkal in Africa
• Reaching Everest Base Camp climbing
• Numerous trail races of Marathon and Ultra distance, London to Brighton 100km

Goals Pete’s working towards right now:

• The Big Swim
• Climb Mount Triglav in Slovenia

Lisa is a GBR Age Group Sprint Triathlete currently training towards the World Championships in October 2024. Alongside her busy training programme as a Pro Triathlete, Lisa runs her own successful marketing consultancy based in Dorset following a 25 year career within the corporate word and led the marcomms for the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, briefing over 200 people per week.

Lisa’s Personal Challenges to date include:

• Weymouth 70.3 Ironman 2018
• Weymouth 70.3 Ironman 2019 Female Relay Team – Winning Team
• Finland 70.3 Ironman 2023
• Valencia European Triathlon Championships – Top 10 GBR finisher, Top 20 European finisher
• World Triathlon Championships Leeds 2022 – 1st Female 50-54
• European Triathlon Championships Madrid 2023

Goals Lisa’s working towards right now:

• 2024 World Triathlon Championship Malaga