Choosing a coach

Hi Athletes!

I've been doing a lot of shopping lately for a new coach, a new plan and new locations for training since I moved to Louisville, KY.  Some of you may find this helpful.  As always, I've done some research and included links in the titles for you to read beyond my opinions. :)

What to look for in a coach; 10 things I look for

1. Do I like the person I'm talking to?  I like to chat and find out about the coach, understand their style, etc, but first and foremost, do I like this person?  Why is this important?  Well, trust is a significant part of the coaching process.  I doubt you will completely trust someone you don't really like.  I find I sometimes don't know why I don't like a person, it could be their sense of humor hits me wrong, or their attitude is counter to my basic values...just about a thousand reasons could be there.  However, if I really like my coach, I'm more likely to appreciate their holding me accountable and accept their advice.

2. What is the background of this coach?  There are a lot of triathlon coaches.  You can hire someone who has a lot of experience from a broad perspective or someone who is very focused.  You can hire someone who focuses on elite and talented athletes or someone who works with beginners.  I prefer to ask if the coach has had experience in triathlon first, the learn who they have coached.  I want to now that the coach knows what it's like on the race course.  I also want to know if the coach understands me as an athlete.  If I'm the first over 60 female athlete they have ever coached, I know I'll be a guinea pig and possibly be asked to do training intensity that I cannot keep up with.  Here's my criteria in order:  A. (Agreeable) Likeable B Triathlon experience C Certifications D Understands over 50 athlete E Available

3. What distance are you wanting coaching for?  As a USAT and IM coach, I can tell you that coaching for the various distances (if you are really wanting to excel) is very different.  Shorter races require more short distance workouts with higher intensity, more interval training and probably more anaerobic training.  Longer distances will require some interval training and anaerobic training but far less since the focus is on getting your body ready for the extended demands of a long race.  Even if you really like the coach and they have great experience with your specific needs, if they specialize in long-distance and you're training for OLY or Sprint, you may want to consider a different coach.

4. Do you have a specific leg you need help with?  I can tell you that all coaches have a leg they enjoy and excel predominately in.  You can ask but a better way to see how they perform is to check out their racing record in www.Athlinks.com.  Click on the little caret at the top left and select "Athletes" and type in your coaches name.  You'll be able to see what races they've done, how they have performed, and specifically what leg they did the best in using the ranking.   Look at several races to see if that's consistent for them.  You may what to hire a coach who specifically coaches only one leg since that will give you some specific and focused training in an area where you want to improve.

5. What systems and methods does your coach use?  There are a lot of ways to collect data and work with an athlete.  Training Peaks, Strava, Zwift, Mapmyride, Garmin, etc all provide ways to share your data with someone.  Your coach may have a specific system they prefer and are most familiar with.  If you like riding with Zwift, but your coach uses Garmin or Training Peaks, you may have to use your tech skills to get those things linked.  If that's too hard, you may have to cut and paste your workouts into and email daily for your coach.  Using systems that work for you both can be an advantage in the ease of review and advice for your coach and for you to send your outcomes to your coach because if you're both using the same system, sharing is automatic and easy.

6. How much of a hardass do you want?  Do you want someone who will push you no matter what?  Do you want someone who will work with you and not get upset when you miss a workout occasionally?  Do you want someone who will help you revise a workout to figure in travel and other events that will affect your ability to complete the training?  Some coaches want your dedication and absolute adherence to their plan.  Some have too many other athlete accounts to spend a lot of time working through your specific issues.  Some coaches are very happy to help you adjust your training.  If you know you have a lot of issues with completing a regular training schedule because of an irregular work life, you might want to address this upfront.

7. What certifications does your coach have?  USAT Level 1-3 and Ironman certifications as well as USATF (running), USMS (Swimming) and a myriad of other types of certifications are possible.  Ask for the credentials then check them out.  Make sure your coach is current in these certifications (many require annual, biannual or other recertification tests) and make sure you understand what that certification indicates your coach is educated to do.

8. Local or Remote?  Coaching these days is being done remotely via some of the systems mentioned in #5 above.  That's great because you can hire just about anybody you like for the various reasons mentioned above.  BUT, the advantages of a local coach can be significant.  A local coach can actually see what you are doing, conduct regular testing while making sure you are doing the test correctly and generally create a better bond and understanding of your needs.

 9. Where does your coach normally want to meet?  Is this coach at your favorite gym?  Do they meet you outside for rides or runs?  Do you need to join a new place to get access to this coach's venues for training?  You may find yourself traveling all over the city to get your training done if you don't ask about this one.

10. How much does this coach cost?  A good coach should charge you about $100 per month with a one hour one on one included.  This is for low-level involvement, remote and little interaction.  The costs go up from there.  Some coaches have packages for training for a specific race.  You could be asked for $1500-$2000 for a 4-5 month training package.  This will be more intense and probably you should expect more interaction with your coach.  The real question is, what is your budget?  After paying for an Ironman Race ($700) and equipment ($500-$5000) and gym memberships ($1200), how much more can you pay to get that advice you need to make all those expenses worthwhile?  While some people think of all the other stuff first and try to fit the coach in last, you should probably consider your coaching with a greater priority than everything else.