Meet Your BLOC Coaching Team
Triathlon Background
With over 10 years of coaching experience, Gemma brings both professional expertise and first-hand racing knowledge to every athlete she works with. Her coaching philosophy is built on empathy, adaptability, and lived experience—balancing training with family life, work, and even the unique challenges of returning to racing post-pregnancy.
Gemma’s own journey into triathlon began with a run-walk approach at parkrun. Since then, she has grown into an accomplished endurance athlete, racing Ironman events around the world, earning Age Group Great Britain kit, and cycling the length of the UK. Her story proves what she tells every athlete: anything is possible.
As Head Coach and Founder of BLOC Coaching & Race Team, Gemma has built more than a training group—it’s a community. She leads with a collaborative spirit, shaping the team around the needs of its members, and creating an environment where everyone contributes to the collective success.
Qualifications
- Ironman Certified Coach
- Leader In Running Fitness (British Athletics)
- Level 3 Personal Trainer
- 200hr Yoga Instructor
- Pre & Post-Natal Exercise Specialist
- Life Coach
Racing
International Honours
Gemma has proudly represented Great Britain across triathlon, duathlon, and aquathlon at World and European Championship level.
- 2023 – Qualified for World Long Distance Duathlon, Triathlon, Aquabike, and European Long Distance Triathlon Championships
- 2021 – World Triathlon Long Distance Championships, Almere-Amsterdam
- 2016 – ETU Powerman Long Distance Duathlon European Championships, Copenhagen
- 2014 – ITU World Standard Triathlon Grand Final, Edmonton & ITU Aquathlon World Championships
- 2013 – ITU World Sprint Triathlon Grand Final, London & ITU Aquathlon World Championships
British & English Championship Podiums
- Multiple Age Group podiums in aquathlon and middle-distance triathlon, including medals at Grafman and Deva Triathlons—achieved both pre- and post-partum.
Ironman & Long-Distance Racing
- Qualified for the 2021 Ironman World Championships and Challenge Championships (Samorin)
- Ironman races include Wales, Lanzarote, Barcelona, and Mallorca
- Multiple Long Course Weekend completions (2015–2023)
Ultra Endurance
- LEJOG (Land’s End to John O’Groats) 2020
- Pan Celtic Race Series 2021
- Preparing for the ultimate challenge: Swimming the English Channel, July 2027
Gemma continues to evolve as both an athlete and coach, bringing passion, energy, and deep personal insight into every training programme. Whether guiding beginners taking their first steps in sport, or supporting seasoned competitors chasing world-level goals, her message is always the same: with the right coaching and mindset, your potential is limitless.
Our products are manufactured both locally and globally. We carefully select our manufacturing partners to ensure our products are high quality and a fair value.
Triathlon Background
With over 15 years immersed in triathlon, Darren combines a professional engineering background with a deep passion for endurance sport. His coaching journey began during his time as a Nuclear Engineer in the Royal Navy, where he was first introduced to triathlon. Since then, his involvement has grown from competitor to coach, helping athletes of all levels achieve their goals.
A British Triathlon Level 2 Coach, Darren has been one of the lead coaches within Royal Navy Triathlon and has delivered training camps both in the UK and overseas, working with athletes from complete beginners through to elite performers. He understands that training must balance with busy lives—whether that’s work, family, or other commitments—and ensures his athletes get the maximum from every session.
Darren’s love of cycling runs deep, tracing back to childhood memories of watching the Milk Races with his dad—something he now shares with his young daughter. That passion for sport continues to shape his coaching philosophy: performance is important, but the joy of the journey matters just as much.
Qualifications
- British Triathlon Level 2 Coach
- Lead Coach – Royal Navy Triathlon
Racing
Darren’s palmarès reflects his passion for endurance and adventure:
- Completed the full 2020 Tour de France route (21 days, 3,484km, 54,000m elevation)
- Everesting on Mont Ventoux, joining the exclusive Club des Cinglés (rider no. 416)
- Qualified for and raced at the Ironman 70.3 World Championships 2022
- Multiple triathlon finishes across sprint, middle, and full Ironman distances
- Currently preparing for the legendary Paris–Brest–Paris ultra-cycling challenge
Darren brings energy, experience, and empathy to his athletes, creating training environments that are both structured and enjoyable. Whether it’s preparing for a first sprint triathlon or chasing a new PB at Ironman, his aim is always the same: help athletes perform at their best while remembering why they started—because sport should be enjoyed.
David’s coaching insight is underpinned by years of personal racing experience. When he speaks about training, it comes from lived experience:
- Triathlon – From sprint to Ironman distances
- Cycling – Raced up to 2nd category on the road for various teams
- Ultra-running – Completed seven 100-mile ultramarathons
- Running – Still races actively for his local running club
- Gym-based competition – Currently preparing for his first strength-based event
Triathlon Background
David has dedicated his career to helping athletes reach their full potential. His athlete-centred approach is built on the foundations of clear communication, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the demands athletes face in balancing training with everyday life.
David believes that a successful training programme must be flexible—fitting around home, work, and personal commitments—while still delivering performance outcomes. His coaching philosophy is rooted in empathy, knowledge, and first-hand experience, having competed across a wide range of endurance and multisport disciplines himself.
As a British Triathlon Coach Educator, David has played a pivotal role in developing the next generation of coaches through the British Triathlon Federation’s education programme. He continues to actively mentor and guide new coaches on their journey.
David works with athletes of all abilities and backgrounds and is still deeply involved in the sporting community, both as a coach and a competitor.
Qualifications
- Level 3 Triathlon Coach
- Level 2 Swimming Coach
- British Triathlon Coach Educator
- British Cycling Para-cycling Classifier
- Level 5 Sport & Remedial Massage Therapist
Racing
David’s coaching insight is underpinned by years of personal racing experience. When he speaks about training, it comes from lived experience:
- Triathlon – From sprint to Ironman distances
- Cycling – Raced up to 2nd category on the road for various teams
- Ultra-running – Completed seven 100-mile ultramarathons
- Running – Still races actively for his local running club
- Gym-based competition – Currently preparing for his first strength-based event
David remains passionate, committed, and constantly evolving as both a coach and an athlete. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced competitor, he brings empathy, expertise, and energy to every coaching relationship.
Our products are manufactured both locally and globally. We carefully select our manufacturing partners to ensure our products are high quality and a fair value.