Dilemma with a friend

Triathlon Forum
22

As an IP lawyer, I’d say the copyright issue is probably a non-issue. Technically, I suppose there may be copyrightable material in a workout, but I doubt your coach would make a federal case (pun intended) out of it, because 1) in order to get any meaningful damages, he’d have to register each workout in the US Copyright Office (that can get expensive, if you’re registering EVERY signle workout), and 2) he’d spend more in legal fees than it would be worth just to get an injunction.

That being said, I think it’s at least a breach of coach/client etiquette to share these workouts with your non-paying friend. However, considering that the workouts are (or should be) tailored to your specifica ability, I’m wonding how effective they’ll really be for your friend, anyway.

23

Marisol,

Who knows what is in her head. Just pity her, be glad you’re not that screwed up and share the plans.
Then go to LP and kick her ass.

24

Marisol, give her the plan for free. No big deal. Lots of relationships are one way. Its part of life. Better to have one way friendships then none at all. As for coaches and plans, most are overrated. You can download a zillioin plans from the net. All of them work, but really what counts is what goes on between your ears on race day. Everyone is fit and ready on race day, but few execute !

If you follow the principles below, you got the Ironman plan.

Start slow

build mileage gradually, 10% per week at most

every third week, take a down week

every week, take a rest day

build gradually to a long run of 3 hours, by running long every other week

build gradually to a long bike of 6 hours by biking long every other week

every week for the final 8 weeks, swim at least once per week in open water for an hour or more at close to planned race intensity

try and do one brick workout at week (typically short, like 60 min bike 30 min run)

try to average 4K of swimming, 180K of biking and 42.2K running per week (average, so some weeks will be double, some will be less).

Take a good solid three week taper.

When in doubt, rest

Be consistent, don’t bail on workouts due to bad weather. You can’t bail on races due to bad weather

Practice you race day nutrition

Visualize your “perfect race” and your “nightmare” race over and over and over and over. Plan for perfection, but be ready for mishaps. They will happen. The best athletes overcome them.

Most of all, plan most of your training around the rest of your life, don’t plan too much of your life around training.

Feel free to forward this “free plan” to your friend.

25

Oh yeah, and if your coach is smart, he/she will be OK with you “giving the plan” away for free. If this person is a real coach, he/she will recognize that the value that you are paying for is not the “plan” on some excel spreadsheet, but the real coaching you get, with respect to things like lactate testing, technique, race strategy, nutritional strategy, mental prep, day to day feedback, and finally emotional support. This is the true value of a coach. Plans are downloadable. The plan is like cocaine. Good coaches give them out for free, knowing that people will get hooked on the coach and pay big $$$ for the really valuable stuff. Any coach that does not realize this is already out to lunch.

26

As a self-coached athlete, I find I do very closely to what you just outlined, but, not at those distances! It would be nice to have that time. I don’t plan to do the three weeks heavy, one week lighter thing, but, it does tend to be what my body dictates. Sometimes it’s only one week big, one week easy…just depends. It’s nice to see it written out like that, though. Especially the long run every other week…just seems like a 10-12 mile run every week is too much for me…but, I haven’t made it to the three hour run, yet! Come to think of it, I haven’t made the 6 hour bike, either…better slide that into the mix soon, I’ve only got a few more months of training before I’ll need that ability!

27

I assume your coach writes your schedule based on your goals, ability and background. In this case, I don’t really view the schedule as being all that helpful to your friend. I would also assume your friend doesn’t have access to your coach with questions and or concerns regarding the schedule. However, I understand how this can be annoying since you’re the one putting out the $$! I would just be upfront, especially since it sounds like she/he isn’t being the greatest of friends right now anyway! :smiley: I think you made a great suggestion, in the future offer to pass on your coaches e-mail and or phone number and maybe let her know that your schedule is really intended for you and you would hate to see her being held back if your schedule isn’t enough for her!! LOL! Reverse psychology! :smiley:

Good Luck!

28

Hey Tom- you allowed her to take advantage of you!!

“If it makes you feel anmy better I had a girlfriend take advantage of me for years- free stuff, bike service, free bikes, she even had the nerve to complain about it sometimes (collors of tires, work not done fast enough for her taste even though it was, like, done instantaneoously). She still rides the bike I gave her, wears all the clothes I gave her, goes on the rides I introduced her to.”

29

I actually e-mailed her the plans… I told her how I feel already, I just don’t want bad karma… You guys are right about the plans, I hardly swim because I am not a swimmer, she is not a swimmer… I tell my coach, he said he’d leave that up to me… So I covered all my bases, and I can go to bed with a good conscience tonight:)

30

An expensive class in the school of hard knocks. Live and learn.

I learned a lot form her. None of it good.