There are a lot of things that make Alden a good running coach – his extensive knowledge of and passion for the sport, experience as a coach and accomplished athlete, and his attentiveness, responsiveness, encouragement, and support. But, what makes Alden a great coach, and sets him apart, is his interest in getting to know me not only as an athlete but also a human who is navigating family, professional, and other commitments while trying to chase running goals. Alden’s willingness to individualize and adapt my training plan to account for all the things outside of running is exactly the kind of coaching I need and want at this stage in my life.

- Karen, long time runner and athlete

I found running later in life and Coach Alden has been instrumental in my ability to progress year after year and tackle my running goals. Life will inevitably get in the way of training—whether it be travel, sickness, injury, or work. It’s been amazing to have a coach there to guide me through these up and down moments and keep me on track. Alden has coached me through 4 marathons, 3 half marathons, an 10k and a sprint triathlon in the last 4 years. And we will continue to work to beBTR!

- Marshall, former basketball player turned runner and triathlete

 Alden Basmajian and BTR Training and Racing have been instrumental in my journey through multiple marathons, a half marathon, and a half Ironman, and now as I prepare for an Ironman. Alden's expert guidance, personalized training plans, and unwavering support have not only helped me reach my goals but also inspired me to push my limits. His commitment to excellence and deep understanding of endurance sports make him an outstanding coach and mentor.  

- Rett, runner and triathlete

After years of on and off cycling, I made the decision a year ago to train consistently and asked Alden to coach me. I love Alden’s workouts because they are...EFFICIENT - I’m increasing my power and endurance and still have plenty of time for family and work. VARIED - Each week feels fresh and new. PERSONALIZED - Alden takes into account how I rode each workout and is always building me up to meet the specific challenges of my next race. Thanks to Alden, I’m in the best cycling shape of my life!

- Ben, cyclist

I am a marathon runner. I started working with Alden as my coach in the spring of 2017 – we had previously been training partners – thinking it would be an easy transition/similar training to my previous coaching situation. It was an easy transition, however, the training is different (in a good way). We added in two swim days, I do a lot more of my runs by time instead of distance (but he mixes in both), and workouts are more varied – some on the road, some on the track, some by time, some by distance. For someone used to running 90-105 miles per week when training for a marathon, running only 50-70 miles was a huge change and involved a lot of trusting in the training and the process. In 2018 I ran four races – a marathon, a 25k, and 2 5ks. I ran a huge (5 minute) PR in the marathon and qualified to the Olympic Trials. I ran a 3 minute PR in the 25k. In the 5K I broke 18 for the first time, and then 3 weeks later took another 10 seconds off my time. So far I have gone into all my races excited to race instead of feeling burnt out. While I know that not every race will be “good” or a PR, I am looking forward to the second half of the year with some more big goals to go after.

- Alexandra, marathon runner, 2022 50k National Champion and world championship qualifier, OTQ