When I started triathlon I trained at the Canadian Triathlon Center in Victoria as a resident athlete for 4 years. At 20 years old, I made the life-changing decision to travel to the small town of Iten in the highlands of Kenya. This 6-month stay adjusted my perspective of both life and running, and left me determined to be best athlete and person I could be. Soon after I joined TeamTBB and Coach Brett Sutton. I went on to be an athlete and coach under Brett from 2007 to 2013 in a period that shaped the training philosophies and principles I continue to use today.
Mat O'HalloranCoach Mat
In the year 2000 I started triathlon after being inspired by Simon Whitfield’s victory at the Sydney Olympics and Peter Reid’s win in Kona a month later. I come from quite a strong swimming background, originally starting my athletic career as part of the Island Swimming Club in Victoria, British-Columbia. During this stint, I occasionally went head-to-head with eventual 2x Canadian Olympic Medalist (1500m freestyle) Ryan Cochrane. After 7 very productive years working with TeamTBB I transitioned to be a full-time coach of the Alaska Tri Aspire Team. Over the past few years I have focused on coaching elite athletes to qualify or be selected for South East Asian Games, Asian Beach Games, Asian Games & Asian Duathlon/Triathlon Championships. Some of these athletes started from underprivileged from provincial areas, but have now managed to make a good living from the sport and get new opportunities.
At the competitive Age Group level, I have coached athletes to overall race wins, qualifiers to XTERRA World Championships, 70.3 World Championships, Ironman World Championships, ITU World Championships, and the Boston Marathon! I truly enjoy guiding ambitious age groupers to a 2nd chance in their athletic careers. Performance aside, I also work with athletes for walk/run programs, weight control and recovering from injuries. Our sport has a big recreational and wellness side to it that fuels the industry. I love how we can all potentially stay active in the sport until a very late age.
By following the Trisutto.com parameters, I mix an emphasis of developing sustainable bio-mechanics, adjustable long term planning, optimal equipment selection, rational race selection and mental consistency. I live in the Philippines and use the online software Addaero and Garmin Connect to plan and follow. I can communicate with any web based app. I also have regular experience with underwater swimming video/pictures.
I look forward to sharing your triathlon journey with you soon.
Photo Credits: ©Redg Plopino
I first met coach Mat during a Trisutto training camp in Spain. He got me ready for my first triathlon and then towards a better than expected result at my first Ironman 70.3 later in the season. It’s been great to work with Mat, he has all kinds of logical advice on equipment, nutrition and technique. He has made my start in the sport more direct and very enjoyable!
Ralf BattenfeldBasic Coaching
- Customised training plan (4 weeks)
- Weekly e-mails to your coach
- Fortnightly adjustments to your program based on post-workout and e-mail feedback
- Advice on race planning, tapering & race execution
- 5% discount on all Trisutto.com training camps
Personal Coaching
- Weekly fully personalised training plan
- Unlimited email communication with your coach
- Unlimited adjustments to your program based on post-workout and e-mail feedback
- Advice on race planning, tapering & race execution
- 10% discount on all Trisutto.com training camps
Premium Coaching
- Weekly fully personalised training plan
- Unlimited email communication with your coach
- Weekly Skype meeting to discuss training
- Unlimited adjustments to your program based on post-workout and e-mail feedback
- Advice on race planning, tapering & race execution
- 20% discounts to all Trisutto.com training camps
- 10% discount on Trisutto.com training apparel
- 10% discount on Trisutto.com bike fittings
Platinum Coaching
- Weekly fully personalised training plan
- Unlimited email communication with your coach
- Weekly Skype meeting to discuss training
- Program reviewed fortnightly by Senior Trisutto.com coaches
- Unlimited adjustments to your program based on post-workout and e-mail feedback
- Advice on race planning, tapering & race execution
- 50% discount to all Trisutto.com training camps
- 20% discount on Trisutto.com bike fittings
- Minimum commitment 3 months
Years in Triathlon
Kona Qualifiers
Podiums in WTC or Challenge events:
National Elite Titles
Mat’s Athletes
Ralf Battenfeld
First year triathlete and loving triathlon
Jong Sajulga
Kona qualifier, Boston qualifier and age group champion in Challenge and Ironman events
Martin Barner
Family man and 9h18 Ironman
Andy Wibowo
Olympic swimmer, Indonesian National Team and Kona qualifier.
Paolo Mangilinan
Age Group Champion and Swim Coach
Marc Atkinson
Age Group Champion and still getting faster after 50
Harley Keith Yu
Caltex Delo CEO and lover of the triathlon lifestyle
Joey Lynn Musselman
Kona qualifier and age group champion in Challenge and Ironman events
The Art of the Taper
Ready for action. Trackside at our Malaysian training base in Iskander Puteri. As athletes prepare for their key races, thoughts turn to tapering. What, when and how? Tapers are an individual thing, however one can be guided by the general principle that triathlon of...
The Magic Comes From Within
The gracious Ed Whitlock broke another World Record when 85 years old. Photo Credit: Todd Fraser/Canada Running Series Last weeks news of the passing of Canadian running legend Ed Whitlock, prompted the following reflection - Robbie. In 2003 at age 72 Ed Whitlock...
Race Recap: Podiums across Europe
Eimear Mullan finished in third place at Triathlon Gerardmer. A relatively quieter weekend of racing from the squad following the successful build up and finish of the Ironman 70.3 World Champs. This weekend we saw Ritchie Nicholls and Eimear Mullan racing at...
Photo Credits: ©Redg Plopino
Career Highlights
As a coach, potential athletes are often interested in my racing career and the results of the athletes I work with. I’m very proud to stand behind all of them! Below are some of my major highlights.
Coaching Career Highlights:
- 2014 AsiaTri Coach of the Year Award
- 7 Ironman World Championship Qualifiers (Kona)
- 9 Filipino Elite Champions (Off road – Short Course – Long Course)
- 24 Filipino Elite Podiums
- 10th Junior Elite Asian ITU Duathlon Champs Subic Bay (Philippines) 2012
- 3rd Junior Elite Asian ITU Continental Cup Subic Bay (Philippines) 2014
- 10th Asian Games Incheon (Korea) 2014
- 2 X Overall Champion (2015-2016) Bintan International Triathlon (Indonesia)
- 43 podiums (in their respective categories) in officially sanctioned WTC or Challenge events
- Qualified Elite athletes to the Asian Games, Asian Beach Games and South East Asian Games from the Philippines or Indonesia.
Athletic Career Highlights:
- 2nd place Canadian Junior Championships (Quebec City) 2004
- 4th place USA Junior Championships (Bellingham Washington) 2005
- 1st place Pro ITU Long Distance World Cup Subic Bay (Philippines) 2008
- 4th place Pro Ironman Langkawi (Malaysia) 2008
- 1st place Overall Kenyir Lake International Triathlon (Malaysia) 2009
- 2nd place Pro Laguna Phuket Triathlon (Thailand) 2009
- 5th place Pro De Jura Long Distance (France) 2010
- 3rd place Pro Cobra Ironman 70.3 (Philippines) 2012
- 4th place Pro Century Tuna 5150 (Philippines) 2012
- Kona Qualifier (Age Group) 2016
I started being coached online by Mat in early 2010 after undergoing knee surgery. Slowly but surely I got stronger and 18 months later I realised my dream of qualifying for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii. Over the years Mat has been patient and flexible to optimally adjust my training due to my various aches and pains, busy travel schedule, and different camps/training groups I like to join. I love having Mat as my online coach – it was a thrill to finally meet him in person in Vietnam in 2015 after all these years!
Joey-Lynn MusselmanI have been working with coach Mat for a few years now. He adjusts my training optimally around my busy schedule. It’s very important for me, because I travel outside the country regularly for business. To my surprise, I was able to achieve an Ironman distance PR with minimal training, by just focusing on the basics and working with the right compromises.
Harley Keith YuMat has helped me improve gradually and consistently for many consecutive years. It has allowed me to become the top long distance age grouper in The Philippines and achieve a long-time dream, to qualify for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii!”
Felipe “Jong” SajulgaBinan City
Contact Mat
If you are interested in training with Mat, feel free to contact us at anytime via the Live Chat button (envelope bottom right).