Today we’d like to introduce you to Kay To.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When I started running and training for triathlons, I remember feeling so out of place and, almost, alone in those communities. It seemed like everyone knew everyone else – except me. Athletes in these communities are warm and encouraging – after you make a few friends but breaking the ice can be daunting for most. In addition to being new to these sports, I needed help getting started and, more importantly, I needed help getting better at these sports.
A few years back, Austin Parker, my business partner, and I had the opportunity to create PR Endurance Sports – a coaching and racing team that focuses on personalized/custom data-driven coaching plans for running, cycling, swimming, and triathlons. We wanted to be advocates and ambassadors for our sport(s) as well as lower the barrier to entry. We had the opportunity to deliver top-notch coaching with a welcoming family feel. I never forgot how lonely my early days in these sports were, So, my career in operations & resource management, as well as having been a workflow & client experience consultant – coupled with already having been an entrepreneur made this a quick and easy decision.
PR Endurance Sports now has the opportunity to deliver our services with a family-like experience. which is very Texan, that I wish I had early on.
This is an amazing city with great people and rich diversity. There’s something for everyone in Houston and we want to be a part the tapestry of this city. We want to welcome transplants and native Texans alike into the fitness communities here in the great Houston area!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Building any company of any size comes with struggles – that’s to be expected. In ways, we knew what industry and operational pitfalls to avoid; however, in other ways, we were prime targets for MBA case studies – regardless of our best efforts!
At any time, in any space, and with anyone – I will always say that the easiest decisions that we ever made were 1. our name and 2. where we would bank. “PR” is a play on words… “Personal Record” but also, early on when we had other owners, they were letters in last initials and we chose a bank where someone already had an account. Since then – nothing else has been easy!
If I had to isolate a few challenges that were defining – I would have to say:
1. Leadership cohesion
2. Service evolution
We initially started with four business partners. With four people, immediately, you find how important it is to have all partners on the exact same page when it comes to vision, philosophy, and methodology. Any slight deviation can become a chasm if not immediately addressed/discussed and resolved. I liken it to two rails where, instead of both rails being exactly parallel, one is off by 3 degrees away from the other. While that doesn’t seem like much at the start – if you follow the rails down a bit – the gap between the two grow greater as time goes on.
In retrospect, when it comes to hammering out those types of details – those weren’t the times to be polite and “hope” that someone else will “come around”. Nevermind that “hope” isn’t a strategy.
In terms of “service evolution” – as we continue to grow in popularity, we find ourselves constantly evaluating what we do, how we do it, and whether or not it fits in with who we are. This continuous critical reflection is exhausting but necessary.
There are so many opportunities to add value for our clients; however, it takes careful evaluation/analysis, composure, and timing to determine which of those opportunities we take. Of course, there have been times when we’ve missed the boat simply by being late to the game. Other times, we’ve strategically opted for a different strategy. All of the times – we’ve learned.
There are countless other struggles we’ve met along the way. Regardless, each new chapter brings unique challenges – so, we’re learning to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
PR Endurance Sports – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
PR Endurance Sports is Houston’s premier custom multisport (triathlon) and single-sport (running, swimming, cycling) coaching and racing team. We leverage data and cutting-edge training technologies and methodologies to help our athlete achieve their very best. We’re located in central Houston and work with athletes of all skill levels and all ages.
There are so many aspects of what we do and who we are that brings me great pride. Firstly, our clients are incredible! They represent all levels of fitness, all levels of competitiveness, and, most importantly, they’re simply great people, and I couldn’t be prouder.
Another reason I’m so proud of this company is the incredible coaching quality and attention that our coaches give to our athletes. Our coaches hold a number of fitness certifications and are experienced and successful athletes in their own rights. They do a masterful job of creating a special coach/athlete relationship. One where our clients know that they are 100% supported – in all aspects of their lives. Their priority is to ensure that the client has every coaching edge to make significant gains.
We work very hard at PR to create a culture that is inviting, inclusive, and supportive. I’m a true believer that “first impressions” are important – but for us, treating our clients like family through their athletic journies, and how we say “good-bye” are equally important. We want our clients to know that they and their goals are important to us and we’ll do everything in our power to keep our athletes with us but should our paths diverge – we want them to know that they’ve always got the family here at PR Endurance Sports.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Most of the routine business markers are certainly some of the components of success for us – retention, growth, revenue; however, on a daily basis – our success markers are much more personal – are our clients meeting/exceeding their goals, do our clients feel supported, do our coaches feel supported, are we personifying the ethos of our company, etc…
Pricing:
- Custom Single Sport Coaching – $130/mo – *No Contract
- Custom Multisport Coaching – $175/mo – *No Contract
- Group Workout Pass – $65 / mo – *No Contract
Contact Info:
- Website: www.prendurancesports.com
- Phone: 713-927-9613
- Email: info@prendurancesports.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prendurancesports/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/prendurancesports/
Image Credit:
Photos by Aaron
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