Aubrey Aldy – He who is “All Day Endurance!”
By Kelly Joy
“Coaching to me is caring for others, putting them before myself, being concerned for their wellbeing when they race and train.”
The thing that has always struck me about Aubrey Aldy, Coach and Owner of All Day Endurance, is his physical silence. What I mean by this, is the sense of stillness and calm that seems to surround him. He remains unruffled, a steady pillar amongst the athletes that twirl around him at one of his track sessions at Naples High School. With an unobtrusive voice, he steers the athletes through their paces, guiding them with skill through their workout, and offering calm advice or congratulations as they break out to take a drink.
Driven to Succeed
However, what you would not know is that bubbling beneath that cool exterior, “All Day Endurance” baseball cap, dark cropped hair, and wiry, well trained physicality, Aubrey is a hum of energy. A tangible, electric passion for his role as coach and mentor, yielding an insatiable drive to be the best possible version of himself, as he helps others to reach skywards to their goals. Whether that be in a triathlon or marathon, a 5K or an ultra. You could be a swimmer or a runner, coming back from injury or a pro. Twenty years old or seventy, Aubrey has the tools, experience, and knowledge to propel you up your mountain of aspiration.
Once Upon a Time…
Like all great fairy tales, there is always a humble beginning. We start in Texas where we have with a six-year-old Aubrey, who like most of us kids of the 80’s aspired to be “Daniel – Son” the “Karate Kid”, failing that we wanted to be a great soccer player or run in the Olympics. Aubrey chose soccer. As the eldest child of parents, who in themselves were exceptional athletes (His father was Captain of the football team and had been scouted by the NFL, and his mother Captain of the Cheerleading team). It therefore comes to no surprise that the eldest Aldy kid excelled in sports, driven by a competitive nature. “I wanted to win more than anything else.” This nature, however subdued with age, is still a propulsive force, as Aubrey strives to be his “ultimate self” in whatever he does. At the top sits coaching.
Life moves on, Aubrey finishes High School in Ohio and promptly moves to North Carolina. He is 19 and looking for direction. He is craving a regimented existence to guide him on his path, Aubrey enlists in the Army! The forces provided the path he needed, the guidance to discover who he was. He excelled in physical training, and with the yearning to win still prevalent, he was pulled up by his Army Sargent and told “Your problem is that you always want to be the best at everything!” Whether that is a good or bad thing, I am personally unsure. Without wanting to be the best, how can you look to improve? As the years flew by, Aubrey gained skills as a medic, then the medic on site for physical training tests. He had even run a couple of races by then, and so it had begun.
Aubrey Meets his Princess
After eight years (3 years active service and 5 years in the reserves) Aubrey leaves the Army. During this period, now in his early 20’s, he has already met and married his princess. Crystal enters stage left. He had been working as a Commercial Refrigeration Foreman for Supermarkets in North Carolina; the hours were long. It was at this time his friend suggested that he try a Triathlon. Then one day he strolls into a Triathlon specialist store and his life changes path. Hanging out in the store and chatting with the guy who had clocked Aubrey’s time in recent a local Tri race (it was a 33-minute 10K – GULP, that is fast) – he offers him a job in the store, a role in the Tri club and a personal trainer role. “I was kind of winging it. I was a terrible swimmer,” he tells me! He progresses and does a personal trainer’s course at the local community college and starts to train adults at a local Boot Camp. This now means he is travelling less and home more often with his new wife. He also acquires a nickname “All Day Aldy!”
An Athlete is born.
Aubrey is now excelling in both his competitive triathlon and coaching careers; he secures governing body training courses under his “hydration” belt.
USA Cycling / Track and Field / Triathlon / Personal Training / Swimming (he has additionally read a lot of British courses too)
As much as Aubrey does not want to highlight his professional career, it is important to note that he has trained as a Triathlon Pro and this means a) he is talented b) humble c) been trained by multiple people who are at the top of their game. He had been racing for a couple of years when he decided to take the leap. It took another 6 years for him to eventually hit his goal and turn pro. Which highlights a drive and tenacity that translates to the coaching arena. He was mentored by Peter Kotland (Pro Ironman athlete, Ultra Man and Coach), David Tillbury – Davis (Pro Triathlete Coach) and Tim Floyd (Magnolia Masters Swim Coach), amongst others, each imparting knowledge, and a different coaching style on our story’s hero.
The Aldy’s arrive in Naples, FL on a whim and settle.
The story could continue in a chronological fashion, and we could cover every tiny detail of Aubrey’s life, from working at the YMCA, creating All Day Endurance, racing world class races and so forth, you know the regular stuff (add sarcasm here, this is not regular - “racing world class races”). But I think what is essential to know is what makes him the coach he is today, and how he continues to evolve in this area. We discuss his core values and coaching style.
Aubrey works off a personalized coaching style. That means he will create a plan for the individual, which is specific to their goals, age, needs, lifestyle and starting point. He describes it as “flexible coaching.” He uses both his personal and scientific knowledge to tailor a plan to that particular person, molded to their needs, not his ease. Aubrey’s perspective has changed from that competitive 6-year-old. He now sees himself as the example, he needs to reflect his own core values as a coach:
A.D.E CORE VALUES
Resiliency - creating robust and strong athletes
Inner strength - to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable
Good Health – you cannot be strong, unless you care for everything else in your life (nutrition, sleep, stress)
Consistency – consistent in training. Random training = random results, you must believe in the process and trust it.
As the years ticked by, Aubrey’s coaching flourished, and he now also offers lactate testing. But what has he learnt over this time? Personally, in life and training he understands he can push hard, harder than many, but he has also learnt that everyone has limits. We are not limitless! These physical boundaries are things we must understand to push occasionally, but not ALL THE TIME! And that is something he tries to convey to the people he trains. He explains, “You cannot make an athlete push too hard too soon, or often”. He continues “Of course an individual in training can make mistakes, and that is where a coach helps. An outside perspective is a good thing, it can help a person stay on the rails, not overdo it, and get stronger, without getting injured.”
The 5-year plan in life and coaching.
So, what is the 5-year plan? Aubrey aspires to grow his business, to continue to do the individualized, one-on-one coaching plan, but then to also introduce small group training sessions and, build a world class Master’s Swim Program for all levels. This would include an offering of twice daily training sessions for triathletes, open water swimmers and people striving to improve.
What I do know about his coaching is, he genuinely is putting you above himself, and he takes the time to give you a thought out and rational plan. This comes from personal experience, because when I chose to use Aubrey as my coach, it was on talking with him. I could feel his passion, his quiet drive and tenacity. He was well educated and versed in all aspects of the training, from not only the workouts (which are personalized to you and your goal), but the delicate balance of pushing you and holding you back (I like to run to exhaustion, way too often), making you rest, advice on fueling and being respectful to a person’s life and the stressors that involves. Take my example:
I have now known Aubrey for over a year and as a “late to running” (age 40 to be exact – yup that is officially middle aged) individual, a mother of three boys under 12, a wife, I work, no family to help with the children. With all this EXTRA stuff I have, he has helped me lower my marathon time significantly. I have gone from not running at all, to now being able to run 50 miles and a fast 5K at age 43 years. It is with his kind, but firm holistic approach, careful study, and sustained dedication that enables his drive, care, and expertise to get you where you desire to be. But you must be ready to listen. Note, I have never been injured under his tutelage.
Wherever Aubrey decides to take the business, I can assure you it will be with meticulous thought and most certainly “done right”! He will provide a solid base on which the building blocks of the ADE values can be secured upon. You will know you have a coach that cares for you above himself! If you are willing to trust, you will have a greater chance to attain your dreams, and even if that takes 2 years or 6 years, you most veritably will become a stronger and improved athlete for it. You can still feel emanating off him the competitiveness, which was integral to the success of that small kid kicking a soccer ball. It is what drove the young man to join the army and get back on the right path. It guided the adult to work hard, study hard, train hard, to create the “very best” version of himself. It is this “best version” of self he gives to you, as his athlete, client and eventually friend.
Aubrey Aldy Fun Facts
What Inspires you? – “When someone goes after whatever they are passionate about, as you do not have to be motivated to do something you truly want to do.”
Quirks and superstitions! – “I only ever take one pair of sunglasses to a race, so I do not have to make a choice.”
Interesting characters you have met on your journey? – “I have coached so many interesting people over the years, who all look at sport so differently. On a broader note, I have had so many coaches and mentors all of whom have been amazing influences on me.”
Areas you want to improve in? – “Public speaking and to be a better teacher.”
Favorite fuel? First Endurance EFS
Favorite sneaker? – Nike Vapor Fly Next %
Favorite gadget? - Rancilio Silvia Espresso Machine
What do you have planned next in racing? – I am looking to still run a fast marathon, try out for the Track and Field masters, and Race Across America (RAAM) as a 2-person team and fight for the record.
Tell me one thing that people would not know about you? - “I am slightly addicted to Jimmy Deans Breakfast Sandwiches I can have them at least 4-5 days a week. Oh and chicken nuggets. “
“I am not an entertainer; I am here to be a good coach.”