You shouldn't get a coach if...
My long-time running coach, Jim Spivey, Photo by Lee Crumbaugh.
THURSDAY, MARCH 02, 2017
Why would you need a coach for running or triathlon?
I can answer that question! I have been personally coached for 37 years, for a number of years even by multiple coaches. And, these days, I am a running and triathlon coach myself.
But since many more runners and triathletes don't have a personal coach than do, it may be more helpful to answer the question, "When shouldn't I get a coach?"
So, here are 10 reasons not to get a coach. Don't get a coach if you...
Don't want to pursue a periodized training program tailored for your fitness and goals. If you are happy with random workouts, or what you think might be right, or what your friends are doing, or what you get from the web or a book, that's great.
Aren't interested in getting faster (at least relative to your age group). If you don't care about better results or think you are doing what you need to do to get faster, more power to you.
Don't want to get more satisfaction out of training and racing. If you don't care about attaining the greater enjoyment that comes from following a personalized training plan and seeing better results, with knowledgeable oversight guiding you, that's your choice.
Aren't looking to improve your form and mechanics. If you aren't interested in exploring how form improvements can lead to better training and race times, so be it.
Don't care about achieving maximum results while reducing the chance of injury. If you know when not to go hard as well as when to push it, and how to balance your training in terms of frequency, volume, pace and change of pace, cadence, active and passive rest, and cross training for best results and in a way the reduces your chances of becoming injured, then maybe you should be a coach.
Aren't interested in having a knowledgeable guide with great insight into you who can help you see what to expect and how to respond. If you are confident you know how to cope with more miles and more hours, understand how to adapt to the stresses of hard training and racing, understand how to peak and taper, know how to lay out and execute a race plan, and have insight into what might go wrong and how to respond, then, by all means, do it yourself.
Don't need greater insight into what you can really achieve. If you have a keen understanding of your real limits as opposed to what are perceived and self-imposed, and don't see the benefit of getting guidance in setting challenging goals that with proper preparation are within your reach, then you don't need a coach to help you realize and attain what's really possible.
Won't be accountable. If you aren't interested in harnessing the power of accountability to get the results you want, than a coach is not right for you.
Can't commit. If you are not able to commit even to a flexible training program tailored for your life and other commitments, then don't hire a coach.
Can't part with the money. If you have little funds to engage a coach, even with the understanding that many coaches will work with their athletes to make their services as affordable as possible, and that the cost of coaching can be less per month than a sports massage or a few exercise classes, then getting a coach is not the right thing for you to do.
See the benefits that you may gain from getting a coach? If so, give me a shout so we can explore how a coach can help you improve your results, expand your limits and get greater satisfaction and enjoyment from training and racing.
