Destination Unknown Endurance Coaching - Who we are

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#theonlycompetitionisyourself

Destination Unknown is a group of professionals dedicated to training and development focusing mainly on endurance sports.

We work with individual athletes, but also with clubs and sport groups, and our goal is to provide our athletes with the highest level of service. The keyword for us is building: through the relationship with the client and the customisation of the programme and loads, we try to create a system that is functional over time. We believe that the growth path of an athlete is also what makes the coach grow.

Who we are

Continuing education, attention to detail and the know-how of years of practice as athletes and coaches are the luggage we carry with us on our journey: the destination is unknown, but the route is plotted.

Coaching The classic formula is one-on-one coaching. The athlete is followed step-by-step by a dedicated coach with personalised planning, workout analysis and continuous contact: the athlete is put in the best condition to make every single run and training session successful and to prepare for competitions or big projects.

For special events like LUT/UTMB or other big races, or as an introductory form of coaching, the interactive training plan offers a simplified version of the 1-on-1 where there is still contact with the coach and customisation of the plan and loads, but with less frequent feedback and individualisation.

The consultancy is for those who want to discuss with a coach how to set up the season or review a plan they have created for themselves.

It consists of a meeting on ZOOM or live where all topics the athlete wants to be clarified on are addressed.

Endurance Camps The camp is one of the key moments around which we have built the Destination Unknown system.

It's the time when we can see the athletes in person and delve into certain topics that we can't deal with from remote.

We organise camps for all levels, in accordance with the basic concept behind our system: adapt to the athlete and not vice versa. At our camps we try to make sure that both the advanced athlete and the beginner can find something stimulating and that there are moments and spaces to enjoy together.

We never overlook the fact that camps should primarily be a good excuse to visit a new and exciting place, but the focus is always on performance.

Seminars Our seminars, also known as DU on Tour, are a great way of reaching people who are not familiar with Destination Unknown, or who cannot follow a training plan but still want to understand how we approach training for trails or road races.

They are opportunities to meet and interact that we often organise with clubs, associations, companies or shops, and are first and foremost a good excuse to run together, but also an introduction to our methodologies and an informal way of passing on informations and tips to help athletes who are just starting out as well as those who are more experienced.

Project X Project X is the branch of Destination Unknown dedicated to Athletic Development.

Strength & Conditioning has always been important in our vision of the athlete as a 'system'. The importance of building up certain components is essential in the toolbox of a well-rounded coach. To the extent that at some point we started to work with athletes from other disciplines such as football, tennis, climbing or with military or mountain specialists to create training programmes for them focused on the development of strength, speed and agility.

Project X is the virtual 'place' where we have put all the information we have gathered over the years and where we can continue to grow outside. Project X offer monthly training plans combined with our running plans, the possibility of personal training in our lab or dedicated seminars with FIPE and NSCA certified instructors.

DESTINATION UNKNOWN MOUNTAIN HUB #performancedriven

DESTINATION UNKNOWN MOUNTAIN HUB #performancedriven

Destination Unknown Mountain Hub is the project that finally got us a physical base where we can welcome athletes and have a place where we can work in an ideal set up.

Located in Traversella, Valchiusella, at an altitude of 1000 metres and with a wide choice of trails of all types in a superbe mountain environment in the Alps, in our vision is the place where athletes can get the highest level of support from Destination Unknown. The Mountain Hub project is operational since the 2023 season, but its development and growth is one of the main goals we have in the medium and long term: the creation of a Laboratory, a space dedicated to Athletic Development, a facility where professionals who are part of our network can operate, and a Test Centre in collaboration with our partner companies are at the heart of our dreams. And we are committed to turning them into reality.

Where we come from 2017 Destination Unknown was officially born when Davide decided to quit his day job and dedicate himself full-time to coaching, expanding the field of athletes he was already working with. The first handful of veterans began to carry the colours and spirit of DU on trails and tarmac.

2018 It is the year of the first camp and also the year in which the athlete roster expands: we are present at both LUT and UTMB, inaugurating a tradition that continues over time of being present at all events that see a large group of our runners at the start.

2019 Davide runs out of space for new athletes and Paco comes in to help him out. The DU on Tour 'missions' around Italy begin and the Camps proliferate. The site's blog is enriched with a few guest pens and requests from new athletes are growing: we start training a new coach.

2020 The first international Camp, but also the year COVID struck: to stay close to our athletes, we create TRUE COMMITMENT, our YouTube hangout, and the newsletter version that from then on accompanies DU athletes and supporters through the difficult months of the lockdown. Despite the situation, requests grow and Tommy joins the group of coaches on a permanent basis, followed in September by Mari, who, in addition to the Camps, takes over a project targeted to beginners.

Where we come from 2021 Destination Unknown begins to take shape: the need to create a structure and a system that is shared pushes the four coaches to continuously confront each other. It's a critical time, but the help that the newcomers bring to Davide allows DU's influence to expand further. Two new coaches are identified and 2022 promises to be a busy year full of new things. Unfortunately, at the end of October, Paco passes away in a climbing accident, leaving a void in our private and professional lives that will never be filled. It is tough to move ahead, but slowly and with the help of the whole group, we are on our way again.

2022 A year lived at breakneck speed: two new coaches, our first Interactive Training Plan is launched at the LUT races, and by the end of June we have 50 athletes to Cortina. Adam becomes our first foreign coach, and the group of athletes becomes increasingly diverse. With six active coaches and around 250 athletes, it's not easy to manage everything, but the machine is running and we look ahead and try to develop Destination Unknown further. Project X is born to give even more importance to S & C and the network of professionals linked to DU expands. New partnerships are created with companies that have always supported us, and new ones are added. Last but not least, Francesco joins the group of coaches and officially takes up his position with the new year.

2023

Our athletes are competing and running everywhere: we have 70 starters at LUT, more than 30 at UTMB and many others at different races around the world. Our camps are growing and we finally have a physical place where we can meet our athletes at the Valchiusella Mountain Hub: it’s the beginning of a new era. A new coach starts in November and we finally have a Registered Dietitian as an official member of the staff, eager to help our athletes to face the challenge of nutrition/integration in races and daily life.

Davide Grazielli

Maria Carla Ferrero

Tommaso Bassa

Andrea Guglielmetti

Head Coach/Founder

Coach/Camp Coordinator/Founder

Senior Coach/Head of Performance

Senior Coach

Davide Ambrosini

Adam Lucas-Lucas

Coach

Coach

Francesco Piovesan Francesco Gentilucci Coach 1987/2021 Senior Coach/Founder

The Network We have always tried to use the best tools available on the market, convinced that nothing should be overlooked if it can raise the quality of our work. This, we believe, is our ultimate calling card.

Similarly, we have created a network of professionals with whom we share a vision, who help us to develop our athletes' potential to the highest degree.

Moving forward together.

Communication The world of running, and endurance sports, ihas always a passion, even before it became a job.

That is why we still try to make informations, advices, suggestions and thoughts available to everyone: it is our way of giving something back to the environment that allows us to live our passion full-time.

Through social media, but especially with the tools that allow us to go deeper such as the newsletter, the YouTube channel and the website blog, we manage to convey what we do and how we do it.

Over time, we have managed to create a group of engaged and participating people who gravitate towards Destination Unknown even though they are not necessarily our athletes: Destination Unknown is not a methodology, it is not a club, it is no longer something abstract: it has become a community, and this is one of the achievements we are most proud of.

Communication INSTRUMENTS The TRUE COMMITMENT newsletter comes out monthly and is mainly the medium where we put personal reflections on the world of running, technical advices on training, recovery and prevention and where we convey the offers of our partner brands and those related to Camps or Seminars.

TRUE COMMITMENT Live Show on YouTube is usually focused on a specific topic that we discuss with an expert: it can be materials, nutrition, psychology, but also less technical topics with the involvement of athletes. It is usually open to everyone, while the TECH version is often aimed only at our athletes as an in-depth look at more specific topics.

The Blog on the website has a wider and less specific openness: there are reflections and stories, also from our athletes or guests, in-depth articles on materials and technique, but also Aid Station Foodie, our sports recipe column.

Communication I SOCIAL

@ducoaching @destinationunknowncoaching @DestinationUnknownCoaching

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