While writing a recent post thanking my coach, it got me thinking about customized coaching and why I highly recommend it for any athlete.
There are a variety of training plans available for people to use or refer to while training for races of many different distances. When I first started training, I used a variety of these training plans, pulling bits and pieces from each, to help me reach my goals. After doing this for about 6 years, I felt like my training and racing had plateaued. I decided it was time to take my training and racing to the next level…so I hired Coach Julie with Zoom Performance Endurance Coaching to help me.
I have found many advantages to have a customized coach:
- My customized training plan is designed for my physiology, my goals, my schedule and where I am at mentally. If changes need to be made due to schedule conflicts or injuries (on those rare occasions), it happens seamlessly.
- My workouts are designed with a purpose in mind…I’m not just doing a workout for the sake of completing it. Instead, I am trying to achieve a certain goal/purpose to help better prepare me for my race day.
- I am held accountable to someone instead of to a training plan that has been designed for the average athlete. Without someone holding me accountable, it is much easier to skip a workout with little guilt.
- I am paying Coach Julie. Some people would see this as a disadvantage, but for me it is a definite advantage…by paying for her coaching services and knowledge, I am often reminded of the need to complete my workouts to the best of my abilities so that I truly get what I am paying for.
- It requires me to be dedicated and complete my workouts as prescribed.
- My training zones have been established for me to use during my training workouts. Power output can also easily be established (now if I just had some extra money laying around for a power meter on my bike…hmmm).
- Coach Julie has helped me develop my strengths…swimming and running
- She has also helped me improve my weaknesses…cycling and mental toughness
- She has helped me find my limits and push past them to become a stronger, faster athlete. As a result, I have passed through that plateau and I am seeing improvements in my training and racing 🙂
- Having a customized coach is the right thing to do. When it comes to race day execution, the customized coaching has never let me down.
There are probably many other reasons that I have forgotten to mention, but the most important point…EVERY ATHLETE should hire a knowledgable and reputable coach to customize their training plan and help them meet their goals!!
PushMyLimits 
I tried hiring a personal trainer for my biking/running goals this year. Alas, it did not work out for me. Maybe I don’t have the necessary dedication, but I just felt so uncomfortable and out of place around the grunty lifters at the gym that I couldn’t make myself go. I miss the little gym in Ames.
Katie, were you hiring the personal trainer to get strength training tips/support to enhance your biking/running, or were you hoping for more of a coaching perspective to help you improve your biking/running? Having Julie as my coach has given me a plan, but I still have to implement it. I don’t see her in person much (unless I need/want to) and she sets up my workouts online one week at a time, changing them as needed. The coach may be the way to go for you!!
I was hoping to get some training on what I was doing wrong that got me injured all the time, which has really hampered my running. I was hoping for some encouragement, too, but I felt more like I was being judged for how weak and flabby I am. I’m now seeing a chiropractor who is a runner, and that has helped. But he has given me exercises to do, too, and I just have a really hard time forcing myself to do any kind of strength training. It’s just not fulfilling the way completing a run is, and it’s hard with my busy schedule to force myself to find the time. I know – excuses, excuses.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with your former trainer!! I’ve found that having a “workout partner” helps me to get to the gym for strength training, even if I might not want to go. I hope you can find someone to be your “workout partner” and help motivate you 🙂
I wish I could afford a coach but at the moment I cannot, the entry fees for Shep 70.3 and IMOZ, and the subsequent accomodation tapped out my tri budget. Hopefully one day when I am working I’ll be able to, as I would really like to see how far I can go in this sport. At the moment however I am content to just finish my races as best I can following a plan. It sounds like you are definitely getting great benefits from customized coaching, good for you! 🙂
Thanks Simone!! I completely understand. When I first started training, I didn’t have a coach that would customize my workouts, but after 6 years of the “Do-It-Yourself” method, I decided it was best for me. You have a great support system (especially those of us following your blog:) ) to help hold you accountable to your training and push you to do your best on race days!!
I couldn’t agree more! Hiring a coach has been so beneficial and helped get me out of my comfort zone. However, I wish I would have researched coaches a bit more in depth than I did. Eight weeks out from ironman, and I don’t feel my training is ramping up to where it should be (which is why I’m switching it up this last push).
So glad you have a coach working with you!! Just be careful not to switch it up too much…you don’t want injuries showing up this close to race day. I can’t believe you are only 8 weeks away…my how time flies!!