GET TO KNOW US
TEAM ASCEND ENDURANCE
At Ascend Endurance, we’re more than just a coaching team – we’re your partners in achieving success. Founded by Dan, Sophie, and Lisa, with over 15 years of experience coaching endurance athletes, our mission is to provide a holistic coaching solution that helps you excel in endurance sports, and beyond.
Whether you’re aiming for a personal best in triathlon, preparing for an ultra marathon, taking on multi-day events, swimming the channel, or conquering a Grand Tour stage, we’ve got you covered. Our coaching approach goes beyond just training. We understand that true performance comes from a well-rounded strategy, which is why our unique approach brings together tailored training plans with expert strength and recovery guidance, and individualised nutrition strategies.
We believe that the path to peak performance isn’t a solo journey – it’s about having a dedicated team behind you, offering personalised support to help you thrive, both in sport and in life.
At Ascend Endurance, we empower you to push your limits, reach your goals, and rise to your full potential.
DAN DUNFORD
Dan takes pride in his attention to detail, empathy, and ability to bring clarity to every athlete’s training program. He believes in revisiting the ‘why’—the intention behind each plan—to ensure it aligns with the athlete’s goals and personal journey.
A Certified British Triathlon Coach and UESCA Ultra Endurance Run Coach, with a degree in Applied Sports Science, he understands the science behind training inside and out.
Dan embraces new challenges beyond coaching, from short to full-distance triathlons, single-discipline events, and off-road triathlons, with his sights set on adventure racing in the future. Often taking on such a variety of events to broaden his experience and further enhance his coaching.
Whatever your goals, Dan is all in—ready to help turn your ambitions into reality!
SOPHIE TABOR
Meet Sophie, Ascend’s go-to physio and coach. Bringing a wealth of experience working with endurance athletes at all levels, she’s all about helping you stay injury-free, bounce back from injuries, and smash your goals.
A proper endurance enthusiast herself, Sophie’s dabbled in everything from modern pentathlon and eventing to triathlon, ultra and trail running. Right now, she’s focusing on getting back into road running.
Having battled through some big injuries along the way, she totally gets the ups and downs of recovery – both physically and mentally – and brings a heap of empathy and support to everyone she works with.
LISA WATT
Lisa is a sports nutrition coach who helps athletes optimise nutrition for better performance and long-term well-being. Specialising in gut health, sports performance, and supporting female athletes, her approach is centred around ‘food as information’. She believes that what we eat provides our bodies with the instructions needed to function optimally. Lisa helps athletes build a sustainable, healthy relationship with food that supports their goals and overall health.
With personal experience in overtraining and under-fuelling through her participation in marathons, triathlons, and rowing, Lisa is passionate about guiding athletes to fuel their bodies for lasting success.
When not coaching, Lisa enjoys training for her next event or running through the countryside. Breakfast is her favourite meal, especially a stack of pancakes after a weekend trail run!
NUTMEG
Meet Nutmeg, the boarder terrier who’s got everyone wrapped around her paw. She’s ridiculously cute, with that scruffy little face that makes it impossible to stay mad at her – even when she’s being a right handful!
Full of energy and mischief, Nutmeg has mastered the art of being both adorable and highly frustrating in equal measure. Whether she’s stealing socks, chasing after anything that moves, or giving you those 'not so' innocent eyes when she’s in trouble, she always manages to keep life interesting. But somehow, you can’t stay annoyed for long, because she’s just too lovable.
How can I begin to describe my time with Poveda... It was simply life-changing! I always imagined that Bali would be a breathtaking destination, but thanks to Poveda, I was able to not just experience the culture, but have once-in-a-lifetime memories. I got so much more than I ever anticipated from my holiday.
- Alice Bloomberg
WHAT OUR ATHLETES SAY ABOUT US
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We would love you hear from you. Drop us a message or book a free call