Melissa Velarde

Coach & Office Manager

Melissa has been an integral part of Bolton Endurance Sports Training since its inception. Originally brought on as Office Manager and Bookkeeper, her deep passion for athletics and background in endurance sports quickly led her to expand her role into coaching.

Melissa’s athletic experience centers around running and cycling. She has completed multiple marathons, numerous half marathons and 10Ks, and was an active competitor in the New Mexico cycling circuit for several years. Although swimming wasn’t part of her athletic background, she was encouraged by friends to try triathlon. With the guidance and coaching of Ryan Bolton, she competed in her first sprint triathlon in 2015. That year marked the start of two successful seasons racing sprint and Olympic distances, during which she also achieved significant improvement in her half marathon performance.

Melissa firmly believes in the power of coaching and understands firsthand how the right guidance can help athletes unlock their full potential.

Her coaching journey began in 2005 as the assistant varsity girls’ basketball coach at a local high school in Santa Fe. After two seasons, she transitioned to coaching volleyball, serving for six years and gaining valuable experience in preparing athletes both physically and mentally for competition.

Under the mentorship of Ryan Bolton, Melissa began coaching endurance athletes in 2016. She now works with triathletes, duathletes, cyclists, and runners of all levels. Her greatest reward as a coach is helping athletes set goals, build confidence, and cross the finish line feeling strong and successful.

To learn more about coaching with Melissa, contact her at [email protected].