I am thinking about trying to find a coach. I have been trying to do my own coaching but I think I have reached my knowledge limits. Does any one have any suggestions as to how to find a good one? Is online coaching the way to go? Is it more helpful to find someone local? Just wanted some input on the idea.
Check out Wes Hobson, weshobsonperformance.com. I have been using him since November 2003. Since I have not raced all that much since starting the program I cannot give you specific results, however my training volume has doubled in 6 months, with no injuries or sickness. I have a very busy work schedule and demanding family obligations, so utilizing someone other than myself has reduced the amount of stress and has helped me stay focused while meeting my other aspects of life.
My coach is Marty Gaal, www.martygaal.com, he is affordable, will give you excellent insight and will make some great schedules that work with your life and goals. Highly recommend him.
I have been using CTS since jan 03 and have been very happy. Helped get through an IM comfortably(no records set here) and win my AG in several races. Qualified for worlds and placed well there. CTS has several levels of coaching at different price levels and the higher you go the more personal attention . I am at the expert level workouts are personalized and I talk to my coach 2x/wk occ. more and if I don’t call him sometimes he will call me. If your serious about your training and you must be from your question you need the expert level or no lower than the performance level. Check out their website trainright.com
search the web for coaches, email and/or talk to several. I for one am in the same boat as you. Even though I coach about 8 others and can be realistic and objectional towards them, I find it hard to do that for myself.
Everyone will tell you that their coach is the best.
You need to take a few days/weeks and do some looking into this…do a little research…compare prices for what you get. Take into consideration the coach’s qualifications. Do you want to just get workouts week after week or do you want to be able to communicate with your caoch?
Honestly Paul, you can go on-line and get workout plans without having to pay a “coach” to forward you them every week by e-mail.
Check out Carole Sharpless. She is a very cool individual and has the race results to go along with it. 4th place overall 2003 Lake Placid, 2003 and 2004 1st place (amateur) female Gulf Coast (5th place overall female). She knows her stuff and works well with your schedules and time constraints.
Her e-mail is csharpless@athletictrainingservices.com
Have a look at the list of coaches here:
http://swimming.about.com/cs/tricoaching/
When choosing a coach think about what you want from the relationship (expectations of communication, focus of the program, what are your goals, the coaches philosophy/approach, etc). As far as online vs local - if you can find someone local who has the experience that you are looking for and fits the bill, then that’s great. Triathlon is still a relatively small sport however, and there aren’t yet coaches in every community, which makes the 'net a great way to find someone you are motivated to work with.
Good luck,
Joel
Oooops…that’s carole@athletictrainingservices.com
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I have a been just going on the web and reading to come up with my workouts and that is not working so well any more. I need a really coach. Part of the reasoning is that I just discovered a few months ago that I have Type I diabetes. This has really screwed up my training and eating. I need some help planning diet and training because my situation has gotten too complex for me to train effectively. I have started looking into CTS and they seem to be a good deal, but I am not sure if they can be specialized enough to handle my diet issues as well. Anyone use CTS and have an opinion on they diet training?
“…I just discovered a few months ago that I have Type I diabetes”
In your case it might be best to work directly with a nutritionist given the specific nature of your needs. I’m sure any coach would be happy to work with the recommendations of your nutritionist.
Joel
I’m not being coached right now, but I have a close friend that is coached by Bob Seebohar. He is also a registered dietitian. You can reac him at bob@atpcoaching.com or www.atpcoaching.com
The best coach is a guy called Mike Plumb. He is able to improve your performance in just three weeks of training. He also has many secrets. Each of which will boost your performance. He is simply the best. However, he does not like to promote his business, he will only charge you one month at a time. The good thing is that you will be able to improve your performance also due to the effects of the placebo effect – put your faith in him.
But why training? Go for the slowtwitch approach and spend lots of money on a new fork, change your position, say 2 degrees steeper and if you could afford it buy a new frame from one of the companies that advetise on this website.
All of which wil not help you of course - I will still smoke you on my Giant TCR with its 105 componenents and R540 basic wheels. I took third yesterday in a Duathlon and what a pleasure it was to pass all these Mr Tibbs types who spend their days discussing forks, steep angles and what not to wear.
How much do you charge for coaching? With the knowledge and skills you think you have, you must be good. Do you also offer lessons on philosophy & humility? We would all be better off with attitudes more like yours.
I have an online coach and I love it. I, like most people on this site, am highly motivated so I don’t necessarily need someone local to encourage me to get out of bed in the morning because I know he’s waiting for me at the pool. I just like my workouts organized smartly and cares about my success. I also like that my coach currently races and holds training camps (like last week in placid) for his athletes.
FWIW, my coach is Don Fink (www.donfink.com).
Maybe I’m the friend ;-).
I am currently working with Bob and am very happy with how it’s going. He is extremely knowledgable…from both a scientific and practical angle…and I trust that he will have me totally ready for Kona.
He is very generous with his time and spent a lot of time talking with me prior to my hiring him. Couldn’t be happier!
G
How much do you charge for coaching? With the knowledge and skills you think you have, you must be good. Do you also offer lessons on philosophy & humility? We would all be better off with attitudes more like yours.
Unfortunately I am not able to offer you any coaching at this moment in time. Although my knowledge is very impressive indeed (BSc in Computer Science, MSc in Human Factors Engineering and PhD in Psychology) and I have the skills and personality traits to motivate and inspire people to fulfil their absolute ultimate maximum growth potential I am significantly more expensive than the level of rates people will pay for any triathlon coach at any level in the sport. In addition, I mainly specialize in situations where human performance is stretched to its limits under very high cognitive loads such as one would experience when flying particular types of aircrafts. I have helped a number of companies in the design of efficient and effective work systems where biomechanics, anthropometrics and physiology are taken into account as part of the design process. Many factors that I have used in the design process are similar to those used in the design of a performance bike. However, I also have to consider mental workload, cognitive capacities, sensation and perception, memory and other psychological factors that are less important for a cyclist.In short, you cannot afford my services, and my knowledge is beyond the scope of your personal needs – go for an online coach.
So, if we actually met you in person, would that qualify as a close encounter of the third kind?
Damn…I hate to offend anyone but that is the gayest post I have ever seen out here…congratulations!
I have been with CTS for almost 11/2 yrs. Haven’t used their nutritionist but I under stand they are very knowledgable. Unless they changed since I signed up you need to go with the expert level to get good access to the coach and diet/ nutritionlist. I have several friends the started with the performance level and upgraded to expert but also have friends happy with performance level. At the performance level you talk with a coach but apparently it may not be the same one all the time and that program is not as personalized.