Meet Your Coach: John Rea
Ever felt like you were winning the game of life, but losing yourself in the process?
Many high-performers are drawn to the challenge of endurance sport in the exact same way they are called to grow and expand their careers. We simply don’t settle for the ordinary. The kind of drive and determination it takes to succeed in business translates perfectly to the gruelling demands of a Marathon, Ironman, or Ultra.
But there is a dark side to that drive. If you are white-knuckling your training, tying your self-worth to your PB, and treating your passion like a joyless second job, I know exactly where you are sitting. Because I was right there with you.
Replacing One Obsession with Another
My own journey into multisport started years ago, amidst the rugged beauty of the Scottish West Highlands. As a young graduate with a growing family, I felt the heavy weight of responsibility to provide and create security. That drive led me into the corporate world of aquaculture. I climbed the ranks, eventually co-leading a business to become the most successful in its sector, even being named Aquaculture Company of the Year.
On paper, I was “crushing it.” But reality was a strangely empty, relentless drive to just do more, achieve more, and earn more. Success had become an obsession, and I was neglecting my health, my family, and my own well-being. Work consumed me.
Thankfully, I accidentally “fell” into triathlon. I remember when I first heard of the sport thinking, “What, all in the same day?” The challenge of the three disciplines, the connection with nature, the sense of accomplishment—it was the perfect escape and the ultimate antidote to the pressures of work. But like anything taken too far, I was in danger of replacing one imbalance with another. I eventually discovered I was using the exact same overplayed strengths—my inner Saboteurs—to strip the joy out of triathlon, too.
The Turning Point
An injury finally forced me to pause and ask a hard question: Why is “success” never enough? It was a shock to realize the issue wasn’t the business, and it wasn’t the sport. The issue was my own mind. My “operating system” was running on fear, stress, and perfectionism.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
Helping you find that space is my calling. I could never find a holistic approach to unify and simplify the science of Positive Psychology until I discovered Positive Intelligence® (PQ). It wasn’t just fluffy self-help; it was a science-backed framework and lifetime’s practice that has helped me rewire my brain, conquer my inner Saboteurs, and unlock a whole new level of performance and fulfillment.
As an age-group athlete, you know the phrase “no pain, no gain.” But when it comes to your mental state, that is a lie. There is a huge difference between being comfortably uncomfortable in a race and being chronically stressed and unhappy. Stress is actually a signal that something needs to change.
Building Your Mental Edge
In the world of endurance sport, we spend hours training the body—measuring watts, pace, and heart rate—yet we often neglect the operating system that drives it all. My work exists at the intersection of these two disciplines.
By combining the physiological discipline of British Triathlon coaching with the neurological framework of Positive Intelligence®, I help athletes build the “Mental Fitness” required to not just endure their sport, but to thrive in it.
Imagine thriving in your career AND your endurance sport with just 15 minutes of daily practice? Discover how to unlock sustainable performance, ditch burnout, and reclaim the joy of your sport—all while effortlessly integrating your training with your busy professional life.
I’m not an online “quick fix” guru. Nor do you want me to be. Building mental “muscle” is a daily practice build over months and years. You will find me supportive, passionate, energetic, and I will always tell it like it is—with a healthy dose of empathy and vulnerability. I look forward to sharing this journey and partnering with you.
My Approach
Reading my story is one thing, but if you really want to understand how I fuse endurance coaching with Positive Intelligence®, the best way is to dive into my content:
- 🎧 [Listen to the Podcast] – Join me as we explore the mental frameworks and real-world strategies that unlock peak performance.
- ✍️ [Read the Blog] – Deep dives, training insights, and practical tips on mastering your mind and your sport.
Official Certifications & Credentials
