All photography provided by Cliff Endsley
Only through perseverance, dedication and determination has Scott Endsley turned a lifetime of successive injuries into a lifetime of opportunities for unique rehabilitation, competitive success and holistic health. Scott, a born teacher and coach, shares a contagiously positive attitude and superior knowledge of “whole-person health” with multisport athletes at home and abroad. Forums include USAT races, Tri Club San Diego, Challenged Athletes Foundation, and TriBestHealth.org. Scott is pursuing USAT Coaching Certification, in part to support his emerging Citizen Sports & Health Ambassador program among countries around the world.
Cross training in Yosemite
Early Years
Scott permanently injured his leg as a sprinter early in his athletic career, which forced him to pick a new sport, which was tennis. However, another permanent injury to Scott’s right knee forced an early end to his professional tennis career, which had already taken him to international competitions in Europe.
“Scott has a fiercely determined and positive approach to sport, seeking to optimize his full potential whether recovering from an injury, training or racing. He raises new standards for all of us always as he seeks to push the envelope and think outside the box to recover faster, train stronger and compete at his best. You won’t find Scott taking shortcuts or the easy route and he’s eager to do the hard work and whatever it takes to achieve his goals. While I find all of that inspiring, what sets Scott apart, is that he is all about camaraderie and community first-guiding, teaching, inspiring and including others. Scott looks for opportunities to give back to the sport. He arranges group workouts and encourages all skill levels to participate, making sure no one is left behind, often adapting his workouts to accommodate others. He is a patient training partner and shares his vast knowledge and years of experience...Scott is a great friend an asset to our sport!”
Scouting for his next athletic career, Scott discovered triathlon in 1978, and realized the sport’s cross-training approach of swimming, biking and running would enable him to strengthen, and heal his legs and knees. His first triathlon race, in Newport Beach had him hooked, and since 1978 Scott has competed in over 500 multisport races, and has won a total of four National Championships. These include two National Tri Sprint championships (Oceanside, CA and St. Charles, LO), the USAT Winter Triathlon Nationals, held in Boise, ID, and the Aquabike Nationals in Sandusky, OH.
Scott has competed for Team USA in nine World Championships and has received All American honors from USAT. However, 2016 proved to be the most challenging, and rewarding year in Scott’s athletic life. Not only did he craft a new and progressive rehabilitation protocol following knee replacements, within four months of surgery, Scott went on to podium at USAT races, serve as a Sports & Health Ambassador to aspiring multisport athletes in the Bahamas, and share his proven practices through his holistic health website, TriBestHealth.com
“To recover from a knee replacement and be able to race only a few months later, I had to push the envelope beyond what other health professionals were able to share with me,” said Endsley. “It was an opportunity to recover and succeed through the “whole-person health” approach. Competition is my motivator to stay healthy, and I want to share as many sources of inspiration and motivation as possible.”
2016: From Surgery to Podium
In March, 2016 Scott received a medically advanced, robotically performed left knee replacement at the Stone Clinic in San Francisco. Pre-surgery prognosis estimated a 12-month rehab period, and potentially an end to running or multi-sport participation.
For two months post-surgery, rehabilitation became a full-time focus to achieve life-time results. Building upon the Stone Clinic protocols with his own rehab protocols, Scott devised a pilot rehab regime that included four hours daily of specialized rehab procedures, and two hours daily of controlled exercising.
Scott’s progressive rehab practice, approved by Dr. Stone and his physical therapy team was hugely effective. Stone Clinic tracked Scott’s specialized rehab activities closely, and has featured Scott in promotional videos. (video link in resume) A month-by-month chronical of Scott’s rehabilitation and successes provides for engaging reading for any athlete!
- One day post-surgery: March 10, 2016, cardio and muscle exercise 1 hour on stationary bike with healthy leg only (non-use on surgical knee), and ice cream!
- One week post-surgery: No pain medications, walking unaided, daily PT and exercise.
- One month post-surgery: Begin cycling with surgical leg on stationary bike; running with the Alter G-machine, swimming.
- Two months post-surgery: Scott competes and podiums in back-to-back races at Wildflower Triathlon (April 30 & May 1). 1st place Xterra triathlon on Saturday (beating the 2nd place competitor by 26 minutes) and 2nd place win in the Sprint Triathlon the following day. Scott’s back in the game and decides to reinstate all canceled multisport races for 2016.!
- Three months post-surgery: Putting ego aside, and gently testing his new running legs, Scott re-enters the World Duathlon Sprint Draft Legal Championships (“its all about the run”) in Aviles, Spain on June 5. (“Holds form on first run stage, egged on by the ever-inspiring, and omni-present Tim Yount, but never got any bike draft after completing first run in last place.) Smiles as he crosses finish line, 3rd from last, now knowing he is on the mend!
- Four months post-surgery: As ego shrinks further, Scott participates in National Duathlon Championships in Bend, Oregon and continues to reduce his mile splits due to the further, race-present cheerleading of Tim Yount! Clocks fastest bike split in his age group. Post-race, feels good, so competes in Pacific Crest 5k next day!
- Five months post-surgery: 2nd place at the USAT-sanctioned Aquabike, Solana Beach. Passed by the first-place finisher by less than one second - .01 sec. - in wild run sprint to finish line! All smiles!
- Six months post-surgery: World Triathlon Sprint Championship top 10 swim and bike splits, and voted the most enthusiastic cheerleader on the run course!
- Earned 3rd place at a SD Bike Time Trial Race with average speed just under 25mph.
- Seven months post-surgery: Scott places 2nd in the grueling Alcatraz Tri, clocking fastest swim and bike split, but forced to walk some of the steep beach stairs. Still smiling during a race-site NBC interview about his about knee replacements with Dr. Stone, of Stone Clinic!
- Eight months post-surgery: Scott places 5th place in Miami Man Aquabike Nationals, makes Team USA for World Championships, Penticton 2017! That week, Scott creates and coaches the first annual Bahama Triathlon Assoc. multisport clinic, with plans to further aid triathletes in need, worldwide, in conjunction with other multisport races!
- Nine months post-surgery: Scott places 2nd in the USAT-sanctioned Hits Triathlon in Palm Desert!
This year, Scott is training to place in the Top 10 at the ITU age- group Aquabike World Championships in Penticton this August. In the years to come, Scott plans to compete with you at Multisport Worlds in 2054 for his 100th birthday! Read more to learn why Scott will make this happen!
“Thanks for another great experience with you, and for your generosity and thinking about me, which is truly taking my triathloning to another level. Thanks for keeping me motivated!””
(Ken Foster)Began triathlon coaching with Scott as beginner in 2014 2014 finished 7th at National Tri Age group Championships 2015 Team USA Member 2017 finished 10th at the ITU World Age Group Championships