“Get to Know Your Coach”: Jim Levesque
We will be doing a “Get to Know Your Coach” Q&A with each GE coach over the next few weeks, enjoy!
What’s the inspirational story behind Grit Endurance? I did my first marathon in 2006 and my first triathlon in 2008, and I’ve been hooked ever since! I became a triathlon coach in 2014, and I knew right away that I wanted it to become my full-time career. That turned out to be tougher than I originally thought, but the journey was well worth it. In 2016, I began coaching with a triathlon store called Live Grit, whose endurance team was called Grit Endurance. That experience was a huge step forward for me, and I met some amazing people, some of whom are still with Grit Endurance today! Unfortunately, the store closed in 2019, so I went to coach with another club. That club folded in the spring of 2020, and I knew then was the time to start my own club. I decided to call it Grit Endurance, because that time with Live Grit had been so impactful in my coaching development, meant a lot to many of the first athletes I had ever worked with, and it fit the culture I wanted to create. In June of 2020, Grit Endurance was official, and we were on our way with about 10-15 total members at the time. Fast forward to 2025, and we have over 100 amazing team members, not to mention countless others that have also taken part in the fun over the past few years!
What fuels your passion as a coach? I love endurance sports and the positive impact it can have on people’s lives, and I’m driven to help as many people as possible find joy in the sport, so that they can experience that impact.
What is one thing you wish you knew before creating an endurance team? I’m actually glad I didn’t know how much work it would take to grow a business while working a full-time job. If I had known, maybe I wouldn’t have started down that path, but I’m so glad I did!
What has been one of your most memorable moments with Grit Endurance? There have been so many, but my top memories are seeing the emotions of athletes crossing the finish line, whether it be their first half marathon or finishing an Ironman. With that said, 70.3 Michigan in 2024 stands out, because we had over 20 finishers, so that was an incredibly special day!
If Grit Endurance had a theme song, what would it be? “Eye of the Tiger” because our team is always “Hanging tough, staying hungry”
If you could add one more sport to Grit Endurance, what would it be and why? Soccer, because I played soccer from age 6-22, so it’s really the only other sport besides swim/bike/run that I know anything about!
If your athletes could describe your coaching style in three words, what would they be? I hope they would be Positive, Focused, and Athlete-Centered
What is your favorite drill or activity to prescribe for your athletes? Race simulation workouts, because I love seeing the confidence athletes gain from practicing the specific demands of their upcoming event
What’s something you’ve learned from your athletes that’s surprised you? It’s amazing how different each athlete is, and how what motivates someone can vary substantially, so just learning what makes different people tick has been very cool and very eye opening!
What if your go-to training fuel? Pre and post-race meal? My go-to training and racing fuel is Maurten 320 and Maurten or Powerbar gels. My go-to pre-race meal is pasta or Chipotle, and my ideal post-race meal involves a burger, fries and always a beer!
What is one thing you cannot live without when it comes to training and racing? A defined challenge. I find that having a concrete goal and objective that is meaningful is the key to staying consistent and continuing to try to improve!