Currently thinking of getting a coach because I tend to overreach, build up too fast and get injured and/or fatigued. Beginning of the year I was in a complete overtrained state for basically 2 months and couldn’t train anymore (trainerroad plan).
Currently I’m planning my training myself, I learned about training since I started and trying to incorporate it in my weekly plan. I keep thinking nobody knows better how I feel than myself and I can be flexible and plan very instinctively on how I feel and slow down when fatigue hits. In reality I still get fatigued a lot and then find myself having a hard time holding back instead of taking some rest.
With a coach I’d be afraid that I keep getting fatigued and still want to check all my planned workouts (the trainerroad overtraining all over again basically). Or maybe with a coach I’m not even getting this close to overreaching that often.
As objectively as I can judge I think I have some potential but consistency is the hard part with injuries, overtraining and things.
I’ve done some running and actually just done 2 triathlons. 1 olympic distance where I basically did what I knew from running, didn’t think a lot about my training and instinctively backed off when I was fatigued and felt fresh most of the time during training (didn’t do a lot of volume though, maybe 6-8h) and had a way better race than I though I’d have.
Did 1 70.3 last year and was totally nervous, trained a lot more than ever before, felt constantly fatigued basically 3 months up to the race and fell short on my expectations despite all the training.
So classic showcase of an underperforming beginner I guess.
Do you guys think I’d profit from having a coach or does it make me inflexible to react on fatigue and I should just learn to rest when needed instead of pushing through and go from there?
one of the biggest benefit of a coach is become injury free. Also turning your brain off and following a program and having some accountability. if you get overtrain or permanently tired under a coaching program… you have a very bad coach to start with.
So if you have the budget for it…you will learn and great deal and improve your quality of life (injury front) but it s not necessary to have a coach to improve in this sport. some people are just better then others at coaching themself.
I like self coaching, but I got a coach again for the following reasons:
I’ve done very well self coached when things go smoothly and I can have the perfect build up to a race, but I’m finding that things going smoothly are rare
When self coaching, I become even more obsessed, letting a coach handle my plan allows me to better prioritize my life. I give him the constraints and he works around that.
When left up to my own devices, I end up just doing more more more because I’m not confident in knowing what I’m doing to do less.
Main reason is kinda a mash up of all the previous ones. I got really bad bronchitis earlier this year and couldn’t train for basically a month. I got so much done in the rest of my life during that time, especially on the weekends. I want to just set the constraints of training around the rest of my life and have confidence that I’ll still be able to race at a high level.
one of the biggest benefit of a coach is become injury free. Also turning your brain off and following a program and having some accountability. if you get overtrain or permanently tired under a coaching program… you have a very bad coach to start with.
So if you have the budget for it…you will learn and great deal and improve your quality of life (injury front) but it s not necessary to have a coach to improve in this sport. some people are just better then others at coaching themself.
I’d like to think that I’m quite capable to do my own coaching since I’m very interested in the science behind it and love to learn about it constantly.
That being said, I don’t know how successful I am with it. Since I tried to train more and try get better I actually didn’t improve that much and was in some regards even better when I didn’t know about vo2max and threshold intervals, 80/20 and so on. What I did know back then was Jack Daniels running training and keeping easy really easy. I think what made the difference though is I took a step back when I was fatigued without feeling guilty. I welcomed it because that meant it was time to rest up and come back improved.
That all being said, isn’t it hard to always keep in touch with someone how you feel when you actually know it yourself and you could just re-plan your week accordingly? Or is it really that hard for us to stay objective with self coaching?
If you are going to listen to your coach and follow the plan that they set out, then yes.
If you are going to second guess their plan and do whatever you want anyways, then no.
BOOM spot on
And I would add that not having a coach is okay but having one will quickly show you your blind spots you have in your life and training.
At least you dont have any excuse not to try for 6 months and see if it works for you and then decide whether you want someone to coach you, should you keep the same coach, or do you want to be self coached again because you might be convinced that you know enough to take care of your training yourself.
I like self coaching, but I got a coach again for the following reasons:
I’ve done very well self coached when things go smoothly and I can have the perfect build up to a race, but I’m finding that things going smoothly are rare
When self coaching, I become even more obsessed, letting a coach handle my plan allows me to better prioritize my life. I give him the constraints and he works around that.
When left up to my own devices, I end up just doing more more more because I’m not confident in knowing what I’m doing to do less.
Main reason is kinda a mash up of all the previous ones. I got really bad bronchitis earlier this year and couldn’t train for basically a month. I got so much done in the rest of my life during that time, especially on the weekends. I want to just set the constraints of training around the rest of my life and have confidence that I’ll still be able to race at a high level.
So you improve more by having a coach? How do you handle situations where something pops up during the week and you can’t make it to a workout or you just feel too tired and think it’s not a good idea to go through with it? Do you communicate with your coach and he re-plans your week? Having to do this is also something I’m afraid would get annoying after a while.
But since I’m quite competitive and I love the sport and want to get better at it I’d totally do anything to improve (any legal means anyways )
If you are going to listen to your coach and follow the plan that they set out, then yes.
If you are going to second guess their plan and do whatever you want anyways, then no.
BOOM spot on
And I would add that not having a coach is okay but having one will quickly show you your blind spots you have in your life and training.
At least you dont have any excuse not to try for 6 months and see if it works for you and then decide whether you want someone to coach you, should you keep the same coach, or do you want to be self coached again because you might be convinced that you know enough to take care of your training yourself.
Yeah good point. In an ideal case it’s temporarily I guess when I’ve figured out how I can handle it on my own.
And yes, I’d totally listen to a coach from what I can say now. I do have some in mind who I think I can trust. If it makes me better and faster while not feeling wasted most of the time I’d be totally up for anything a coach tells me to do
I like self coaching, but I got a coach again for the following reasons:
I’ve done very well self coached when things go smoothly and I can have the perfect build up to a race, but I’m finding that things going smoothly are rare
When self coaching, I become even more obsessed, letting a coach handle my plan allows me to better prioritize my life. I give him the constraints and he works around that.
When left up to my own devices, I end up just doing more more more because I’m not confident in knowing what I’m doing to do less.
Main reason is kinda a mash up of all the previous ones. I got really bad bronchitis earlier this year and couldn’t train for basically a month. I got so much done in the rest of my life during that time, especially on the weekends. I want to just set the constraints of training around the rest of my life and have confidence that I’ll still be able to race at a high level.
So you improve more by having a coach? How do you handle situations where something pops up during the week and you can’t make it to a workout or you just feel too tired and think it’s not a good idea to go through with it? Do you communicate with your coach and he re-plans your week? Having to do this is also something I’m afraid would get annoying after a while.
But since I’m quite competitive and I love the sport and want to get better at it I’d totally do anything to improve (any legal means anyways )
I never really thought of it as improving more or less with a coach. I haven’t been doing triathlon that long, so it seems like as long as I’m consistently doing something, I’m getting better. Before I had a coach it didn’t seem to make much sense to get one since I was improving so rapidly. I hadn’t had an injury or illness derail me for any races at that point though.
Yes, there is communication several times a week, whether that’s just letting him know how a key workout went or letting him know that I’m tired and we need to adjust or if we need to reschedule the entire weekend because I just got invited to take my kids fishing on a friends boat (that actually happened today).
But if you want to be all in and don’t have any other competing priorities, just start ramping your volume up methodically and guaranteed you’ll improve with or without a coach.
From some of the coaches I have recently looked into, changing the plans depends on the “level” of coaching you pay for. The more you’re willing to pay the more changes they will make to your plan after the workouts are scheduled.
From some of the coaches I have recently looked into, changing the plans depends on the “level” of coaching you pay for. The more you’re willing to pay the more changes they will make to your plan after the workouts are scheduled.
Exactly. I’d go with a constant rescheduling possibility. For everything else I have the feeling I could just pick any training plan out there
Win your AG in local races?
Qualify for 70.3 Worlds? Kona?
Just to finish?
Finish and feel good at the end?
Don’t have time to develop your own plan?
Before you think about a coach, you need to figure out why.
Then you can start searching for coaches that are in the game you want to be in.
No need to get the coach that’s focused on pros if that’s not your end game.
You don’t want a coach focused on getting someone across the line and not after fitness gains if that’s what you want.
Win your AG in local races?
Qualify for 70.3 Worlds? Kona?
Just to finish?
Finish and feel good at the end?
Don’t have time to develop your own plan?
Before you think about a coach, you need to figure out why.
Then you can start searching for coaches that are in the game you want to be in.
No need to get the coach that’s focused on pros if that’s not your end game.
You don’t want a coach focused on getting someone across the line and not after fitness gains if that’s what you want.
My goal is reaching my maximum whatever that is.
If I can win my AG at some point, that would be incredible. Even top 10 would be. Going to 70.3 worlds would be a dream come true but it will remain a dream. No interest in LD for now.
I do have time to develop my own plan but I seem to be failing when I look at my fatigue levels and injuries.
There is only one kind of coach. Any coach with levels or plans is a business person, not a Capital C coach. IMO, you need a coach based on what you’re saying and how you’re saying it.
A coach does not give you training plans, a coach does not meter out email communication… there is so much a coach doesn’t do. The only thing a coach does is help you achieve your goals. That’s why you’re paying him or her. That’s the deliverable.
If I’m not talking to you every other day I’d be worried about losing touch with what’s going on with you. You can’t help someone achieve their goals if you don’t talk to them frequently and know what’s going on with their bodies and their fitness.
Aerobic training is just repetition… the rest is just communication, or bullshit, depending on the “coach”.
Eric
My athletes are never tired.
My coach right now hasn’t made me tired ever either.
There’s a time and a place for that though, and it’s coming soon perhaps.
How do we know? What magic and sorcery do we use to ensure our athletes aren’t over trained?
So tell me! I think the sorcery is called experience which I don’t have.
If you have the resources (money) to hire a coach, that sounds like a sensible reason.
Quality coaches can see things that athletes may not notice and help avoid chronic fatigue, injuries, and be able to tell you when you need to suck it up.
It’s hard to see the big picture as an athlete when you are in the weeds dealing with life and trying to max your potential. Some athletes can do that on their own, and some need that help.
There is only one kind of coach. Any coach with levels or plans is a business person, not a Capital C coach. IMO, you need a coach based on what you’re saying and how you’re saying it.
A coach does not give you training plans, a coach does not meter out email communication… there is so much a coach doesn’t do. The only thing a coach does is help you achieve your goals. That’s why you’re paying him or her. That’s the deliverable.
If I’m not talking to you every other day I’d be worried about losing touch with what’s going on with you. You can’t help someone achieve their goals if you don’t talk to them frequently and know what’s going on with their bodies and their fitness.
Aerobic training is just repetition… the rest is just communication, or bullshit, depending on the “coach”.
Eric
Thanks, I will keep this in mind when searching for a coach!
This is interesting, because high tss periods always feel like hot garbage to me. I think that’s probably true for most people under high load. It’s a fine line, because as you know, just piling more TSS/ hours in a week doesn’t help if you cant absorb it.
That is where a quality coach you communicate well with can help, in navigating that line.
Curious what made you decide you were overtrained vs. just under load? Did the easy weeks not bring you back to some kind of energy baseline? were you missing workouts or sick constantly? etc etc.
The Trainerroad plans are very good plans and produce great results. Probably as good or better than most cookie-cutter group plans or zone-based plans you might get from a coach who manages too many athletes to give you personal attention.
But the TR are very bike-heavy and have a lot of bike quality. Depending on your age, training history, etc and other life stressors, you definitely aren’t the first person (there are lots of threads on here) who found the TR plans to be too much.
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