Our Staff | newracelab

COACHING STAFF

racelab is a family-owned business that has been the leading coaching company in the Phoenix area since 2000. Our passion for endurance sports as a way to a healthier and happier lifestyle is based on the positive impact we've seen it have on the lives of our athletes. We strive to help every one of our athletes reach and surpass their goals.

Bettina Warnholtz
- Team USA Coach
- USA Olympic Coach - Rio 2016 - GOLD Paratriathlon
- USAT Level II - ITU
- USAT Level II - Endurance
- US Masters Swim Coach

With more than 20 years experience, Bettina is the premier Running and Triathlon Coach in Arizona. She is the heart and soul of Racelab and takes pride in each and every one of her athletes and their performance. The task of developing customized training programs for all levels of athletes and to apply the most appropriate coaching techniques to each individual has significantly added to her experience and knowledge. Her passion for the sport and the promotion of fitness at all levels has driven her to not only keep on top of the latest training methods, but also continuously study and learn from sports physiologists, physical therapists, elite athletes, renowned coaches (like Mark Allen & Rodolfo Gomez) and most importantly from each athlete she has coached.

Born in Mexico City, she moved to Germany in 1990 with her family. In 1994 she came to Phoenix where she started her coaching career. By May 2000 she and her husband, Gus, became the owners of Racelab. Around this time she also earned a second degree Black Belt in traditional Japanese Karate.

Her multi-cultural mindset, disciplined approach, and ability to speak three languages fluently has helped her to develop a sensitive and open way of communicating with a diverse group of people, giving her a significant advantage in her coaching career.

She has individually coached thousands of athletes of all levels of experience and ability... First-timers to Professionals and Olympians. Bettina has finished many marathons and triathlons, including Ironman Arizona in 2006 and 2012.

She is a certified USA Triathlon Coach and one of only coaches in the the US who has earned the ITU Level II AND Endurance Level II Certification.

Patrick Warnholtz

Bachelors Degree in Sport Science (ASU)
Post Graduate Athletic Training Internship (NAU)
USAT Level 1 Coach

Having been introduced to endurance sports in his early teens Patrick went on to study Sports Science at Arizona State University while actively training and competing in triathlon, biking, and running races. Competing his first Ironman at age 20.

He has had the privilege of working with some of the top coaches in the world including USA Triathlon Team coach Bobby Magee.

Patrick has been coaching since 2009 and is passionate about helping athletes succeed in achieving their goals.

His holistic coaching approach drives his athletes’ physical, emotional and mental fitness. His trained and experienced eye for technique analysis in swimming, running and cycling allows him to provide valuable guidance for athletes not only to get more efficient and faster, but also to decrease the risk of injury.

Patrick lives in Phoenix with his wife Eva and their two kids Alec (born 2018) and Alena (born 2023). During is free time he likes to enjoy the outdoors with his family and you can frequently find him mountain biking on the South Mountain trails.

Ashley Robota

Bachelor's degree in Biology; Associates in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene.
USAT level 1 coach

Ashley is a beacon of enthusiasm and expertise in t triathlon and endurance training. With a tenure spanning back to 2007, Ashley has been an integral part of our training organization, aligning with the philosophies set forth by our head coach, Bettina. Drawing from her extensive experience, Ashley's coaching mantra revolves around the core values of fun, hard work, and consistency. Her infectious energy, coupled with a friendly demeanor, creates an environment where athletes thrive and reach their fullest potential.

Ashley's competitive spirit knows no bounds, having competed in 7 World Championship events across various disciplines, including Ironman, Half-Ironman, and Xterra triathlons. Her adventurous spirit extends beyond conventional triathlon races, delving into off-road challenges such as 12 and 24-hour solo mountain bike events, trail running, and off-road triathlons. With several 1st place finishes in a variety of events, and 14 Ironman competitions under her belt, she knows what it takes to succeed in the most grueling of endurance events.

Outside of her coaching, racing, and training endeavors, Ashley finds joy in spending quality time with her husband and exploring the wonders of the world through travel. With Ashley Robota as your coach, you're not just embarking on a journey to athletic greatness—you're embracing a lifestyle of passion, dedication, and adventure.

Gustavo Warnholtz

Gus is an Aerospace Engineer and Coach with a passion for endurance sports performance. He is married to Bettina, and they have co-owned Racelab since 2000.

Gus has been coaching athletes since 1999. Utilizing his engineering / analytical perspective, he has been able to thoroughly study and simplify the complexities of human athletic performance. He has developed several new protocols and concepts, including a user-friendly heart rate-based training method that has proven to help optimize the time devoted to training.

Since 2000, the experience and data gathered from thousands of endurance athletes trained by Racelab, as well as its analysis by Gus, has allowed Racelab to constantly update and improve the training programs offered. His deep knowledge in Aero- and Fluid- Dynamics have helped him optimize swimming and biking evaluation. His fascination for the modern but very simple invention, the bicycle, and his engineering background have made him an expert in the field.

He is a marathoner and triathlete and was a competitive swimmer in college. In 2015, shortly after his 60th birthday, he completed his first Ironman distance triathlon in Cozumel, Mexico, and plans to do several more.

Dave Marks

Dave joined Racelab as one of the nation's top adventure racers. He is a CAT1/Pro level Mountain Biker whose resume includes an impressive number of podium finishes in events ranging from just over two hours to just under two days. He was featured exclusively in the Outdoor Life Network's televised coverage of the Balance Bar Adventure Sprints Series and has worn the CalEco yellow leader's jersey as a member of the Epinephrine adventure racing team. When not racing, Dave works as a personal fitness trainer, adventure racing coach, mountain bike coach and freelance writer. In 1995, he spent five months running and biking through Eastern Africa.

In addition to more than 600 hours of personal, on-the-course race experience, Dave has spent years coaching both elite and amateur athletes to the podium. He is a fantastic coach who brings out the very best in his athletes.