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Why
Have a Coach?
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a coach? Hmmm, I thought I didn’t need a coach. I grew
up with swimming and running coaches all my life through
college. I coached summer league swimming where I was honored
with the “Coach of the Year” award and I coached
my alma mater high school swim squad to a state championship.
I know how to coach myself. I began triathlons in 1983 and
in the off-season of 1997; I decided to try something new
to tweak my training in hopes of improving my racing performance.
For seven weeks, from mid- January through March, I trained
30 hours a week where 16-18 hours were training at my lactate
threshold (high intensity). To make a long story short,
I achieved great fitness in the short term only to begin
a downward spiral into a state of chronic fatigue that lasted
for a year, and even now, I still feel some residual fatigue
when I train too much.
Triathlon was
my career and sole source of income. Beginning in 1991,
my wise father kept telling me to hire a coach, but I was
stubborn and I didn’t want to “waste” the
money. In hindsight, I would have made more money through
prize money and sponsorship had I a coach earlier in my
career. In the middle of my fatigue state, when I was barely
able to train four hours a week, I knew I had to change
my training regiment.
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I scoured for a coach that I felt
would benefit me. In 1998, I called Joe Friel, owner of
Ultrafit, and asked him if he would coach me. Although we
had never met, I felt his knowledge, research and demeanor
fit well with my characteristics.
I had some successful
seasons and victories with the three years that Joe coached
me. I only wish I could have met him before my fatigue state
as I felt I never could reach the same energy level for
training that I had before my fatigue state. I have recently
retired from triathlons and aligned my company with Joe’s
Ultrafit Association. I believe Joe’s methodology and
philosophy on training athletes is a great way to help an
athlete achieve performance goals. Now, notice that I didn’t
say the best way for an athlete to achieve performance goals.
Athlete coaching is part science and part intuition. Each
athlete responds differently to mental and physical stimuli.
Although some coaches claim they have the perfect coaching
method, I don’t know how that statement can be proven.
If you are considering a coach, here are a few benefits
and factors you should look for in a high-quality coach
that will help you excel.
What
makes a high quality coach?
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