MEET THE WINNER | Best Running Coach
For over 20 years, Dale Sanford has dedicated his career to helping athletes reach their full potential. As co-founder and head coach of Build Peak Compete (BPC) Performance Coaching, Dale works with runners, cyclists, and triathletes nationwide and beyond to help them train smarter, perform better, and enjoy the sports they love.
A lifelong athlete, Dale knew early on that he wanted a career in sports performance. Growing up around renowned sports performance coach Chip Smith helped inspire that path, though it wasn’t until his twenties that he realized his true passion was coaching endurance athletes. Today, Dale specializes in helping “time-crunched” athletes maximize every minute of training while building habits that support long-term health and performance.
THEIR MISSION
At BPC Performance Coaching, success is defined by more than just the results on race day. While personalized training plans are an important part of the process, Dale and the BPC team believe true performance comes from addressing every factor that influences an athlete’s success.
That includes nutrition, hydration, recovery, equipment setup, technical skill development, race strategy, and mental preparation. Rather than focusing on one piece of the puzzle, BPC helps athletes build a complete system for sustainable improvement. Although the coaching team works with highly competitive athletes, Dale says many of their clients simply want to become healthier, age well, and continually improve. “They may not think they’re competitive,” he says, “but they’re competitive with themselves.”
WHAT SETS THEM APART
Dale believes the best coaching relationships are built on genuine investment in each athlete as a person, not just a performer. BPC supports athletes of all levels, from first-time 5K runners to Ironman competitors, by tailoring training plans to their unique goals, experience, and lifestyles.
The team also places a strong emphasis on making endurance sports sustainable for the long haul. While race goals are exciting, Dale is most passionate about helping athletes fall in love with the training process itself. “If you enjoy the training and stay consistent,” he says, “the results are going to come.”
EXPERT ADVICE
When it comes to improving performance, Dale encourages athletes to focus on consistency before anything else. By building a routine that athletes can realistically maintain, they’re far more likely to see lasting improvements than by chasing the hardest workouts. He also encourages athletes to immerse themselves in the local endurance community. “If you’re really looking to take your sport performance to the next level, start ingraining yourself in the local endurance community,” he says. “It could be a life changer.”
LOOKING FORWARD
With athletes competing in races nearly every weekend, there’s never a slow season at BPC Performance Coaching. Dale and the team continue to support runners, cyclists, and triathletes of every level as they pursue personal bests, tackle new challenges, and discover what’s possible through smart, sustainable training.
For anyone unsure where to begin, Dale encourages them to simply reach out. Whether it’s finding the right training plan or connecting with the right local group, BPC is always happy to help athletes take the first step.
Buildpeakcompete.com / IG: @BPCcoaching | @BPCDale
By Zoe Harrison / Photo by Tindall Stephens
