We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jason Lentzke. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jason below.
Jason , thanks for taking the time to share your lessons with our community today. So, let’s jump right in – one of the most essential skills for unlocking our potential is self-discipline. Where does your self-discipline come from?
My self-discipline was likely shaped in the quiet moments, when no one was watching.
It probably started when I was 12 and noticed a lot of my friends dropping out of Boy Scouts. Around that time, life started pulling in other directions: sports, social life, girls. But I made a promise to myself and to my dad: I was going to earn my Eagle Scout Rank. It took four more years of steady effort, but I followed through. Later, I didn’t make varsity soccer as a junior—a moment that stung deeply. That could’ve been the end of it. Instead, it became fuel. I trained harder, showed up earlier, stayed later and committed to my own process. Not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove to myself that I was willing to do the work when no one else was watching.
The deeper foundation, though, came from my mom. She’s lived her entire life with Type 1 diabetes. She’s never used it as an excuse. She stayed active, trained before work every day, lived with joy, and inspired everyone around her by showing that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be full. You just need purpose.
So when people ask me where my self-discipline comes from, I tell them it’s equal parts scar tissue and legacy. It was built through setbacks, and refined by watching someone I love choose resilience every single day.
It’s not about hype. It’s not about motivation. It’s about purpose.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Toro Performance is a coaching business rooted in endurance sport but grounded in a much deeper philosophy: we don’t just build athletes, we build people.
After stepping away from professional racing, I found even more fulfillment in coaching. I launched Toro Performance to serve a diverse community of driven athletes from first-time triathletes to elite athletes to busy professionals chasing big goals with limited time. We specialize in deeply personalized coaching that blends science, empathy, and relentless accountability. I like to say we coach the whole person because racing is never just about fitness.
What excites me most is the process. The daily choices. The tough conversations requiring honest, self-reflection. The moments no one sees. That’s where the breakthroughs happen. Coaching allows me to help others find their edge, build resilience, and align their training with their life, not at the cost of it.
Toro is growing fast, but we refuse to compromise our core beliefs. We’ve recently expanded our strength and mobility offerings with Streamline Performance Physical Therapy and partnered with brands like Jakroo, Neversecond, Cyclologic, BambuWerx to better support our athletes with gear and nutrition that actually performs. We’re also excited to host more training camps and clinics, which have become an essential way for us to connect beyond the data.
At our core, Toro is about intentionality and connection. There’s a real human behind every training file. And while we take our work seriously, we also know how to have fun along the way.
Whether you’re chasing a PR, coming back from injury, or simply tying to emerge from mediocrity, this community will meet you where you are and help take you where you want to go. That’s what makes this work special.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three qualities have had the most profound impact on my journey: consistency, emotional intelligence, and curiosity.
1. Consistency:
Consistency is the backbone of progress both in sport and in life. I wasn’t the most naturally gifted athlete or coach starting out, but I showed up every single day. I learned that talent gets the spotlight, but consistency builds the legacy. For someone early in their journey, this means prioritizing the work even when motivation fades. Build routines that outlast mood. Don’t chase perfect days, stack good ones.
2. Emotional Intelligence:
Understanding people, what drives them, what discourages them, how they respond to failure, has been essential to growing Toro Performance. Coaching is human work, and without emotional awareness, you’ll miss what matters most. If you’re starting out, listen more than you speak. Get curious about people’s lives beyond their goals. Relationships built on empathy and trust always go further. Writing training is the easy part. But, connectivity and building trust is what makes the training count.
3. Curiosity:
Early in my career, I was obsessed with learning everything—training theory, physiology, biomechanics, getting certifications… But I never wanted to share my knowledge. I was my own sort of gatekeeper. But, that is not a way to grow! The more you know, the more you realize how much more there is to explore. That mindset has kept me sharp. My advice? Be a student, always. Read, ask questions, share and challenge your assumptions. The best coaches and athletes I know are still learning and always sharing.
Ultimately, success isn’t about being the smartest or fastest. It’s about being committed, connected, and always evolving.
How would you describe your ideal client?
The athletes who thrive with us are curious, coachable, and committed. They’re people who understand that excellence isn’t linear and that setbacks are part of the process. They ask questions, not because they doubt the plan, but because they want to learn and evolve. They care deeply about doing the work with intention, whether they’re chasing a world championship slot or trying to finish their first event.
What makes someone a great fit for Toro is the willingness to be honest, to stay engaged even when life gets messy, and to keep showing up, even when it’s difficult.
We work best with athletes who understand that performance is deeply human. They value the data, but they also value the process, the relationships, and the self-discovery that endurance sport offers.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://toroperformance.net
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toro.performance/
Image Credits
All images taken by Arbor Drive Media @jrojasmedia
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