Coaching Highlights
- Coached athletes from beginner to race wins within 2 seasons
- Coming from a strong cycling background, Arthur is well positioned to develop an athletes bike leg and run off the bike
- Living in the mountains of North Wales has given Arthur a unique insight into coaching and training for the more challenging races such as mountain based events as well as the flatter faster racing that he has personal success with
- Runs Snowdonia based training weekends and 1-2-1 sessions
- Completed the 3 month TTT Certification process 2020
Personal highlights
- Snowman Legend 2021-classed as the hardest middle distance race in the UK-Won his AG.
- Welsh Junior Champion 2012
- Middle or 70.3 distance overall podiums
- Multiple triathlon wins at sprint and olympic distance
- Ran for Wales fell running team
A well know face and somewhat of a personality on the North Wales race scene! Dr Arthur Connel first competed in triathlon and fell running at the age of 19, winning the Welsh Junior Championship and gaining selection to run for Wales in the World Fell Running Championships. He won the Llandudno triathlon twice (2012, 2016) becoming Welsh Champion in 2012. Arthur prefers races on hilly tough terrain and has competed successfully at sprint distance upwards. Some of his noteable achievements include winning the Bro Dyfi olympic distance triathlon twice, regular podium finishes at the Slateman, Sandman and Snowman AAHE races and a 2nd place finish at the Eirias middle distance plus Xtra Mile Events triathlon. In addition, he has won several sprint distance events including races at Harlech, Llanrwst and Pwllheli. Slightly further afield, he has also podiumed at the Chirk and Macclesfield triathlons.
Arthur has helped numerous athletes to achieve their goals in triathlon, running and cycling and over recent years has worked with several of the coaches at Total Tri
Training to further improve his own coaching abilities. One of his star athletes is undoubtedly his wife, Catherine Connell who he has guided from a complete novice triathlete in 2017 to become the winner and podium finisher at many big events in 2019. Catherine won the following races in 2018 and 2019 : Abersoch Triple Crown (2018), Deva Divas (2019), The AAHE Savage Series Championship and finally the notoriously tough ROC held by Sensation Events. Recently Arthur coached Catherine to completed the Everest Challenge with only 30mins of scheduled sessions a day, proving that you can train 'smart'.
https://www.totaltritraining.com/training-for-an-everesting-attempt
Arthur is passionate about helping athletes progress at triathlon and is the perfect coach to help you prepare for anything whether that may be your first triathlon or one of the tough hilly races he loves racing in.
Meet Arthur
I live in North West Wales and have changed career from a research scientist to full time triathlon coach for TTT, so the science and research background crosses over really well to staying on top of the latest training protocols in Triathlon. Outside triathlon I enjoy keeping up with the latest developments in science, playing the guitar and piano, rock climbing, hill walking and kitesurfing.
The biggest lessons I've learned while competing at triathlon is that it takes a certain amount of time and specific preparation to optimise your genetic potential. I've tried to take shortcuts during training in an attempt to get fitter in a shorter space of time and it simply doesn't work. Consistency is the key to success and progression in this sport and good communication between coach and athlete is required to achieve this.
My best seasons have been achieved through carefully balancing my training load depending on other stress factors in my life such as work and family. I believe I've made all the mistakes while learning how to do this and therefore I'm able to stop you from making these mistakes. My specific area of expertise would be Triathlons in tougher conditions and terrain having raced many races featuring trail and mountain bike and run legs, as well as some very cold swims.
Being coached by Arthur...
Testimonials
Read what our athletes have to say about being coached by TTT. Click on each testimonial to read the full story.
Arthur has guided Catherine from a complete novice triathlete in 2017 to becoming the winner and podium finisher at many big events in 2019. Catherine won the following races in 2018 and 2019 : Abersoch Triple Crown (2018 & 2021), Deva Divas (2019), The AAHE Savage Series Championship and finally the notoriously tough ROC held by Sensation Events.
Catherine then went onto completing the Everest Challenge bike ride within 15 hours whilst juggling a busy work schedule by Arthur cleverly designing her program accordingly- 30 mins of schedule sessions proving that with the right coaching and training plan, anything is achievable.
I have only been training with Arthur for a few months, however this has been time enough for him to demonstrate his diligent, driven, enthusiastic and caring approach. From the off, he really listened to my triathlon experiences so far, and where I would like to get to. He has taken time to understand where my strengths and weaknesses are, and map these to the specific profiles of the events I had entered or planned to create a targeted and efficient training plan for me to be able to perform at my best. Although I am not new to triathlon, nor to the more endurance based or tougher events, I have always been a ‘plodder’. I am usually just happy to be out there enjoying the scenery and adventure. Being completely honest though, a lot of what held me back from doing what I wanted to and pushing to perform as best I could and race the events was my confidence, which left me a bit stagnant and frustrated at my lack of progress. Since having Arthur as my coach however, I have hugely benefitted from his knowledge and holistic approach. He strikes a wonderful harmony between challenging sessions and recovery, actively encouraging me to read my body better to judge where to pitch the session, think about nutrition, fatigue, and emotional and physical well-being and gaining more control over those little niggly worries that were holding me back. He has a natural aptitude to attune with the needs of his athletes and be responsive and flexible in his plans to get the best from me. I feel as though my confidence in my own ability is growing, and I am more able to explore the possibility of pushing out of my comfort zone and actually racing an event and this makes me hugely excited for new triathlon adventures ahead. I very much look forward to learning much more from Arthur and his expertise. - Grace
.I’ve competed at triathlon for over ten years and was part of the welsh junior development squad in my teens. I wanted to take my performance to the next level and feel that I have started to unlock my true potential through structured training with Arthur and Total Tri Training. I have achieved my strongest performances since joining the team and feel I can progress to competing at a higher level than I would have imagined for a very long time. The training is designed to keep you motivated while remaining flexible and efficient so you can fit the sessions in around any busy work schedule. - Owain
I cannot recommend Arthur highly enough. His approach to coaching is relaxed yet efficient. To be honest when I first started being coached by Arthur I couldn't believe the attention and care with which he coached me. It felt as if I was his only athlete. He always has time to talk and nothing is ever too much trouble. No part of my training has ever been 'cut and pasted' - every session is thought about and tailored to me as an individual. I consider myself as not the easiest person to coach, as my life has little fixed routine and things often crop up last minute. It is never too much trouble for Arthur to chop and change things to make sure I still get the most out of my training. With Arthur's help I have become much fitter, more focused, and recently completed my first triathlon. Since meeting Arthur he has become much more than someone who schedules my workouts. He is a proper coach, a mentor, and even a friend. – Tom
Arthur as a coach puts everything into perspective. His training plan is tailored for my main event with smaller goals/challenges to get me there so I do not get bored. His training schedule takes into consideration my busy working and family life. I learned that numbers are good but how I feel is more important. Arthur can see my numbers but always asks for feedback and tries to understand how the session or race felt. Becoming part of the TTT family was the best move I did. The group spirit during our Zwift sessions, coaches’ encouragement to dig deep, work hard or skip an interval if too tired became part of my life. TTT offer plenty of activities including presentations on different topics or never ending willingness from coaches or other TTT athletes to help or give advice via different WhatsApp groups is something which self-coaching never gives you. – Sarka
I’m only a few weeks into my training programme but I’m already reaping the benefits of a more structured approach. I’ve found Arthur extremely approachable and a really good listener. He’s very willing to work around my hectic and often changing schedule and is very conscientious in very quickly adapting my training plan to reflect how I’m feeling and have responded to earlier sessions. The level of communication and responsiveness has been excellent and I can’t wait to see where I am in a few months time. – Kathryn
LAURA FAIRHURST, GB ATHLETE AG 40-45 - "I totally trust his training plan and his knowledge is so extensive, I feel very confident to hit each training session as he requires as a result. " READ MORE>>
Having been a competitive triathlete in 2010-14, I had a break from triathlon, but decided I wanted to start competing again, I asked Chris to start coaching me.
I can not believe what great gains I have made in all 3 disciplines already. His programmes are dynamic and extremely specific to me and my up-and-coming competitions and also my athlete physiology.
I was suffering from numerous reoccurring injuries when I started my training with Chris. He was extremely cautious on his approach to bringing me back to running, he used the other disciplines to keep my fitness through my rehab and now I am back to full running fitness I have come back stronger than ever in a relatively short amount of time.
I have struggled in the past with coaching as I am the type of athlete who will do more than is asked of me and I don’t ease back enough. Chris has taught me the importance of training within zones and resting when necessary. As a result I am literally flying in terms of my performance and results.
I totally trust his training plan and his knowledge is so extensive, I feel very confident to hit each training session as he requires as a result.
There are times when life is busy or perhaps am not feeling myself, Chris is very in tune to when my performance may seem slightly out and wants to address the issue and help to get me back on track.
I have seriously never had such great gains from any coach like I have got with being coached by Chris before. Being part of the TTT family I feel has really changed my life for the better and I am so excited with what next year is going to bring with regards to my racing.
Everest Challenge
Riding 9000m of ascent in 187.92km in 15 hrs
Arthur used structured training sessions of 30mins to prepare Catherine for this challenge