Coach's Biography
Jeff Cuddeback is an Exercise Physiologist at the Watson Chiropractic Center and the Wekiva Wellness Center in Longwood, Florida. Both centers specialize in the treatment of athletic and soft tissue injuries. He is also President of Triple Fitness Training, Inc., a personalized coaching company for the endurance athlete. He received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Gettysburg College, a Masters of Science in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Central Florida, and a Masters of Arts in Exercise Physiology from the University of Central Florida.
Jeff has competed in over 250 triathlons since his first race in 1983. He is a 6ive-time finisher of Hawaiian Ironman World Championships. In the 1989 Ironman, Jeff finished 2nd in the 30-34 year old age group. Jeff raced again in Hawaii in the 1993 Ironman and won in a time of 8:49:57 setting a new World Record in the 35-39 age group. At the 2000 Hawaiian Ironman Jeff won his age group again with a winning margin of 38 minutes and set a new World Record in the 40-44 age group.
At the 2003 Hawaiian Ironman Jeff won again and set yet another new World Record this time in the 45-49 age group. Jeff beat a stacked field including Olympian and former Nice Triathlon Long Distance Champion Rob Barel. At that time Jeff was the only person in the history of Ironman to simultaneously own three separate age group World Records at the Hawaiian Ironman. Subsequently, two of his Ironman world records were beaten in 2005.
In April 2008 Jeff raced the Arizona Ironman. He won his agr group by dozens of minutes and finished as th 2nd age group finisher overall and quailified for the Hawaiin Irnoman World Championships. I n Hawaii that year Jeff finished 2nd in at the 50-54 age group.
In addition to Ironman distance triathlons, Jeff successfully competes at the shorter Olympic distance (1500 meter swim, 40K bike and 10K run) races. He is a multi national and world champion at the Olympic distance triathlon. In 1991 he was named by Triathlon Magazine the #1 triathlete in his age group in the United States. He has won the US National Championships in his age group in 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1998.
Jeff made triathlon history in 1993 as the first and only athlete (at that time), either professional or amateur, to win the National Championships, World Championships, and the Ironman in the same year. In addition to being the sport’s only “Triple Crown” winner, Jeff was awarded Tri-Fed/USA’s Overall Amateur Triathlete of the Year. He was also named by Inside Triathlon Magazine the Overall 35-39 age group All American of the Year.
In 1994, at the National Championships, Jeff won his age group for the third year in a row. As National Champion, Jeff earned the first spot to represent the U.S. at the World Championships.
In 1998, Jeff returned to competitive triathlons after a three-year break from the sport. Jeff won the National Championships for his age group and placed 5th overall. Due to his victory at the Nationals, Jeff qualified for and represented the United States at the World Championships in Lausanne, Switzerland.
In 1999, Jeff finished third at the US National Championships and finished fourth in the World Championship held in Montreal.
In 2000, Jeff was undefeated in his age group except for one 2nd place finish at the U.S. National Triathlon Championships. Some of the races he won in 2000 include the St Anthony’s Triathlon, Gulf Coast Half Ironman, and Hawaiian Ironman. USAT, the governing board of triathlon in the United States, voted Jeff as the second most decorated age group triathlete of the year.
Jeff won his age group at the 2002 Florida Ironman. His time of 9:11:59 set a new course record in the 40-44 age group and qualified him for the 2003 Hawaiian Ironman. Jeff was 18th overall and first amateur.
Jeff was undefeated in 2003 except for a 3rd place at the USAT Nationals in Shreveport, LA. Jeff won his division at the Gulf Coast Half Ironman (3rd overall), National Long Course Championships (half ironman) at Muncie, IN (1st overall) and the Hawaiian Ironman (1st overall, and world age group record). At Hawaii Jeff was the first non-professional American to finish and 5th American overall, and the fastest finisher over 40 years old.
In 2008, at the age of 50, Jeff raced the Hawiian Ironman World championships for the 6th time in his carreer. On a tough day for Jeff, marred by bike mechanicals and other issues, Jeff finished 2nd in the 50-54. Eleven other of Jeff's athletes raced at Kona with one athlete placing 2nd in her age group.
2009 was a mixed bag for Jeff. He qualified for Kona at St Croix, winning by a large margin. Then just 3 weeks later he had a severe bike wreck where he suffered a compression fracture of the L5 vertebrae and a broken thumb. Jeff was unable to race the remainder of the season. However, his athletes did awesome and 17 qualified for Kona. Three of Jeff's athletes finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th in their respective age groups.
In addition to his triathlon expertise Jeff is a veteran of over one dozen marathons and has 26 years of road racing experience. He has raced the Boston Marathon 3 times and at age 37 has a PR of 2:38 for the course.
Jeff has coached hundreds of endurance athletes in running, cycling, swimming and triathlons. His athletes have competed successfully at the local, National and Olympic levels. Jeff believes that most athletes don’t know how good they could be. His coaching goal is to transform the athlete’s desire to excel, into superior race day performance. Jeff works with his athlete to eliminate barriers, both real and artificial, that inhibit their true potential, and incorporates a comprehensive training plan based specifically on the unique characteristics of the athlete. Jeff is a firm believer in the athlete’s innate ability to perform at high levels. No goal is unachievable with a firm commitment from the athlete and the proper guidance and plan from the coach.
Jeff was the Head Running and Triathlon Coach for the Central Florida Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for twelve fundraising cycles. His coaching philosophy was based on training in moderation and consistency.
His TNT teammates had a 100% completion record at all LLS events Jeff has coached.
Jeff has been married to his college sweetheart, Dr. Kimberly Watson, for twenty three years. They have two beautiful girls; Maris 18, and Corinne 14.