About me
Triathlon coach Dalibor Smažinka
I am a licensed triathlon coach from Hostivice near Prague and a multiple Ironman finisher. I coach adults who came to triathlon later and want to handle all three disciplines.
My philosophy in sport
I like endurance sports because they are true. They can't be cheated or bought. They can be enjoyed in a group, or done alone, with time to think and sort out ideas.
I started triathlon late. Many people advised, encouraged and inspired me along the way. This project is my way of giving something back.
From marathons to Ironman: my story
- Early yearsA solid sports foundation at an athletics-focused elementary school, then orienteering, cross-country skiing, cycling and snowboarding.
- 2010After a long break raising two children with my wife Klára, I returned to endurance running at 36 and started running marathons.
- 2014Added swimming and cycling and started training for my first Ironman.
- 2016Finished my first Ironman in Zurich, then completed another one each year.
- 2017Started studying triathlon at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University in Prague.
- 2020Graduated with a bachelor's degree and a Level II triathlon coaching licence.
My triathlon coaching licence
I earned my Level II triathlon coaching licence by graduating from the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport at Charles University in Prague in 2020, the only student in my part-time cohort to complete the programme, out of around 80 who started. The bachelor's programme is famously demanding: about 60 subjects, half of them practical across some 20 different sports.
Besides triathlon, I'm also a cross-country and downhill ski instructor, and even a canoe and kayak instructor.
Charles University · FTVS · 2020
My bachelor thesis in triathlon
Analysis of the current state of training records in triathlon
I surveyed around 180 Czech triathletes across age and performance groups: which sports watch or training device they use, which external sensors, which apps and which metrics matter most to them. Some findings were expected, many were surprising. For example, every performance group tracks training about equally often, but elite triathletes measure their races less than hobby athletes do.
What I can help you with
Every trainee starts somewhere different. Most of the work with beginners is swim technique, but we build all three sports into one training plan.