Meet the coaches
rocky ursino, co-owner AND HEAD COACH
Currently at capacity, waitlist available
Rocky Ursino is a USAT accredited Coach and the Head Coach & Co-owner of PR Performance in Bellevue, WA. Rocky holds the title as Overall Winner for the 2019 Alohaman Extreme Triathlon in Kailua Kona HI. He is an 19 time Ironman, Ironman Kona World Championship finisher, Ironman Nice World Championship Qualifier, Norsman Xtri Black Shirt finisher, 14 time Marathoner, 10 time Boston Marathon qualifier and 2 time USAT All American.
An Elite AG athlete in the Northwest, Rocky has been ranked in the top 10 in his age group in both the Sprint and Olympic Distances. He has taken podium spots at the Half Ironman/Ironman 70.3 distances.
Rocky is expanding beyond triathlons and running and has qualified and competed in ÖTILLÖ Swim-Run World Championships in Sweden September 2021 and qualified in 2024 with his training partner, teammate and PR Performance coach, Andrey Esipov.
Rocky has been coaching athletes of all levels for over 20 years. From age group podiums to Ironman Kona and Boston Marathon Qualifiers, his expertise lies in his great care and hands on approach in coaching and developing his athletes in preparation for their races. Working you hard to develop your physical game, Rocky also spends time developing your mental game. “On race day, it’s just you and the open miles ahead and you have to be mentally prepared to take on the task.”
Sitting on the sidelines isn’t an option for Rocky. The best way to continue to learn about the sport and develop his coaching and leadership skills Rocky is still racing at a high level. “If I’m going to talk the talk I better continue to walk the walk with my athletes.”
Whether that’s as simple as getting you moving 5 days a week to improving your 5K time to qualifying you for Kona or the Boston Marathon, Rocky’s goal is to pull out that PR, Personal Record, from each of his athletes.
Robin White, co-owner
Currently at capacity, waitlist available
Robin is Co-owner of PR Performance in Bellevue, WA. Coming from a background of ski racing, swimming and rowing, Robin found and fell in love with the sport of triathlon in 1998. After over twenty years racing in all distances, her favorite part remains the encouraging and friendly nature of the sport. She has a passion to help others both reach their potential and find the joy in competing.
A 7-time Ironman, 3-time Kona qualifier, 4-time Boston qualifier, and 19-time 70.3 finisher, she has consistently been on the podium, including age group wins at Ironman Louisville and Ironman 70.3 Raleigh. A USAT All-American, she also competed for Team USA at the ITU World Championship, as well as taking overall female wins at local sprint and Olympic tris including Lake Stevens, Whidbey Island, Lake Tye, and Black Diamond.
As a wife and mom of two teen girls, she has an interest in balancing triathlon and busy life schedules. Her approach to coaching involves listening closely to her athletes to create plans tailored to each individual’s goals, background, and lifestyle.
Robin holds certifications from USAT and USMS, and is an RRCA-certified running coach. She enjoys continued collaboration with the PR Performance coaching staff to bring her athletes the best in training and multi-sport knowledge.
Kirsten Purdy
Currently at capacity - waitlist available
Kirsten Purdy has a background in competitive swimming and has been involved in the sport of triathlon since 2002. She has raced all distances from Sprint to Ironman with a podium finish at Hawaii 70.3. She consistently is placing in the top of her age group locally.
Kirsten has been coaching since 2011, holds a current USAT coaching certification and actively pursues further education in all areas of the sport. She works closely with athletes of all abilities helping to define their goals and limiters, thus establishing training objectives and a purpose to each workout. Kirsten’s athletes consistently are performing well and achieving their goals year after year. One sign of an excellent coach is athlete retention, and Kirsten’s athletes have been with her for years. They believe in her abilities and they believe in the process. A strong focus is placed on functional strength training and getting her athletes to the race healthy and ready to meet their goals.
Having raised two teenagers, Kirsten understands the need to balance training with family and career and tailors a specific plan that fits into your busy schedule.
Andrey Esipov
Coming from a background of competitive tennis, Andrey has been immersed in endurance and multi-sport racing since 2012. Andrey is a multiple Ironman 70.3 World Championship finisher, ITU World Championship finisher, and Boston Marathon qualifier, having competed at high level across a number of events and distances including placing Top 3 overall at Alaskaman Extreme Triathlon, Top 10 overall at Norseman Extreme Triathlon and earning multiple Ironman 70.3 age group podiums. Andrey has qualified and competed in ÖTILLÖ Swim-Run World Championships in Sweden September 2021 with his training partner, teammate and PR Performance head coach, Rocky Ursino.
Andrey is a USA Triathlon (Level 1) certified coach. As a new dad of 2 bouncing boys, Andrey puts an emphasis on helping athletes effectively balance endurance training and busy work-life schedules. His coaching philosophy relies on a data-driven and individualized approach to help his athletes achieve their goals.
Michael Covey
Michael Covey comes to PR Performance with 19 years of personal training and coaching experience. He graduated from Western Washington University with a degree in Exercise Science. At a very young age Michael became active in cycling, swimming, cross country, lifting, wrestling, fishing, hiking, mountaineering and of course, triathlons. Michael holds certifications through ACSM-Exercise Physiologist, USAT Level 1 and Level 2 and USA Cycling Level 1. Michael specializes in sprint distance triathlons to Ironman distance, Ultra Running, Long Distance Cycling and Climbing Mountains.
After working for 16 years as a Professional Trainer and Triathlon Coach for The Pro Club, Michael moved with his family to Texas. He currently resides in Austin Texas and continues to coach local athletes in the Seattle/Bellevue area.
karoline jones
Karoline Jones has competed in multisport racing with events at the local, regional and international level since 2002. She has competed in triathlon races ranging from sprint to half-iron distance courses, running races from 5K to half-marathons, cycling events (time trials), and multisport events including duathlon and aquabike races. She has earned podium finishes at every distance, with a recent 3rd in Age Group at the 2018 Calgary 70.3 Ironman.
Karoline is a professional sales coach, mentor & manager and has been involved in coaching athletes since 2007, starting with the Danskin Triathlon training group, Girls on the Run, Team Luna Chix Seattle Chapter and InFitness Running Group.
Karoline has worked with men & women of all ages and abilities, and has helped athletes achieve goals in every distance of multisport racing. Having a special interest in working with athletes who are working their way to full and half-iron distance course races, she is passionate about helping people achieve their goals, stay injury free and have fun along the way. She is both a USAT and USMS Member and is working on triathlon coaching certification.
robin sayed
Currently at capacity - waitlist available
Robin Sayed has 35 years of experience racing, beginning as a high school and college runner. She moved up in distance to run more than 50 marathons across the country, including 5 in historic Boston. Intrigued with the challenge of multi-sport she came to the world of triathlon. Robin has raced 14 Ironmans, with 5 at the Kona World Championships, and has a personal best time of 10:31:32. She has completed 24 half-ironman races with a personal best of 5:00:50 at the Clearwater 70.3 World Championships. In 2016 she started searching for new challenges and longer races, competing in Race Across Oregon 3 times, Ultraman Canada, and setting WA and OR ultra-cycling state time records.
Robin works as a Manager at AWS in the Telecommunications division, leading a technical team of innovators. She understands setting goals, working backwards, measuring progress and providing motivation. Robin exhibits balance: managing a busy career, raising two kids, and shows up ready to perform at her races. She can help you reach your next level of competition, and enjoy the community of the PR Performance team.
Robin is a USAT member and has been a USAT certified coach for 8 years. She loves to share her passion for the sport by helping others reach their goals and work their way up in distances, and competitive levels. She finds it most satisfying watching the athletes reach their goals.
paul raknes
Paul brings almost 30 years of personal and group fitness training to a late-life passion for cycling and triathlon.
The former owner and operator of Build Performance Center, Paul brings a depth of knowledge about power-based cycle training, as well as strength and conditioning coaching to his personal passion for participating in triathlons and mentoring and coaching triathletes.
Paul has completed 5 Ironman distance races, numerous half Ironmans as well as Sprint and Olympic distance races. Paul also races bicycles on the velodrome and the road and is a keen time-trialist.
Paul’s passion for the multisport disciplines and community are reflected in his love for group training sessions, his focus on athletes as individuals and his commitment to the sport and the community.
Paul is a USAT Certified Level 1 Triathlon Coach and a certified personal and group fitness trainer.
Caitlin SWITAJ
Caitlin Switaj is a USAT Certified Coach, USMS Adult Learn to Swim Instructor and Professional Triathlete. Coming from a background in competitive swimming and water polo, she has been involved in endurance sports for 25 years. She even spent her 21st birthday swimming the 1000-yard free at the USMS Nationals where she placed 3rd.
In 2013, Caitlin transitioned into racing triathlons and has since become a 9-time Boston Marathon qualifier, a 9-time Ironman/Ironman 70.3 age group podium placer, and an overall national champion in aquathlon. Recently, she qualified for her professional license by winning the New York City Triathlon amateur title. She enjoys racing every distance of triathlon from sprints to Ironmans as well as each discipline on its own.
While this is Caitlin’s second year coaching for PR, she has been coaching athletes since 2019. Her coaching style is to get her athletes to work smarter and more efficiently rather than just harder, especially with swimming where technique is paramount. She is excited to share her passion of this sport with her athletes and help them surpass their goals.
ALLISON SNOW
Allison came to triathlon with limited background in sports. From learning to swim for her first race in 2006 to becoming a three-time Ironman World Championship qualifier in 2024, she has experienced the full impact of triathlon to transform a person’s life for the better both physically and mentally. By setting goals and making steady progress toward them, Allison grew from a shy beginning athlete to a consistent podium finisher who has taken overall and age-group wins across Sprint, Olympic, and 70.3 distances. Through years of growth and learning in the triathlon world, Allison has worked with coaches both locally and internationally, giving her a wide understanding of different approaches to bring out the best in an athlete. Her background as a classroom teacher and education leader gives Allison unique insight in connecting with others and finding what motivates them. She knows firsthand the challenge of balancing a demanding career with personal goals and utilizes a range of techniques to find rhythm in the stresses of work and life. Connections with and support from fellow athletes have been a huge part of Allison’s success, and her motivation in coaching is to cultivate that connection for others to help them define their own goals and fearlessly embrace their potential.
Allison is a USAT Level 1 certified coach, with Long Course and Youth & Junior endorsements.
KYLE JOHNSON
Kyle Johnson has more than 30 years of national level coaching success. His commitment to the sport of swimming, talent and leadership ability landed him a full scholarship to Texas Christian University, where he served as team captain.
Kyle is our resident swim coach expert, offering a virtual coaching experience for swimmers of all levels. To say he is one of the best is an understatement. Coach Kyle has defined a style of coaching and has created a technical training curriculum that has driven the development of Olympic Trial Qualifiers, IRONMAN World Championship Qualifiers, NCAA Championship Qualifiers, USA Senior National Finalists, Junior National Finalists, and professional triathletes. He collaborates with world-renowned physiologists, physical therapists, human development and programming experts to guide athletes of all ages to experience healthy, reliable, and process-driven success. Kyle has competed in triathlons over the past 20 years, and serves as a technical consultant for the USA Triathlon (USAT) collegiate recruitment program.
Kyle is an Ironman Certified Coach. For details on his 1:1 virtual swim coaching program, please visit https://www.kj-multisport.com.