Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name:
How long have you had them:
Communication limits:
How much did you improve in all 3 sports:
Price:
and everything else you want to brag about them.
PM Sent
.
Name: François
How long have you had them: 2.5 years
Communication limits: No limit that I know of. He pretty much answers within hours (sometimes minutes) 24/7.
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: A lot. He took me from an 11:22 to a 10:15 at IMTX within a year.
He’s got a no-nonsense approach to training, adapting quickly to new constraints (travel, fatigue, etc.). Overall, I’m very happy with how things are going.
I’ve worked primarily with two coaches.
Jorge Martinez @ E3TS: I worked with Jorge from 2008-2013 and have nothing but great things to say about him. I made huge gains through that 5 year period; from a 6hr to a 4:40 70.3, and over a dozen podiums at local races. More importantly, I learned an enormous amount about training, physiology and coaching. My communication level with him was always outstandings and I never noticed a limit. He’s extremely detailed in his approach to training and in preparing for races. He also has a sound basis for his methods, leveraging the most current research and evidence based approaches.
**Mark Van Akkeren: **I’ve only been working with Mark for a couple of months now, but I’ve been very impressed with his approach. My interaction with him seems to be much more of an ongoing dialogue. It’s informal and fun, but it’s also been informative and has allowed a lot of training flexibility around a busy life. Definitely no communciation limits. I can’t speak to improvements yet due to the limited time that we’ve been working together, but I’ve already seen the benefits of how he approaches some things. Time will tell, but I’m feeling really optimistic about a strong 2015 season.
Been working with HD Coaching, Heath Dotson for two seasons now. Podium bunch of local races and basically dominated my AG (35-39) this year. Placed 3rd at my last Rev3 half on a bad day. Took over 1.5 hr off my full IM time and over 45min off my HIM.
He has a sound approach to training and reasons behind each workout. Communication is good and don’t know if there is a limit.
Also, he was one of the founders of the Aerocamp that was covered here on ST and they are holding it again next year.
I work with Francois too:
Name: Francois
How long have you had them: Around 3 years
Communication limits: There is no limit I talk to him several times a week and he always replies fast.
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: Overall I saved 45 minutes in a half. Around 30 minutes in the bike, 5 min swimming and 10 min running.
I tend to like to know what is going on, Why are we doing this? why did you change this? etc. He always replies with good explanations and why is going to help me.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions.
Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name:
How long have you had them:
Communication limits:
How much did you improve in all 3 sports:
Price:
and everything else you want to brag about them.
If I were to go back to being coached, my short list would be (* = I’ve worked with them before)
Brian Stover (desertdude)*
Francois Modave (Francois)*
Mark Van Akkeren (MarkyV)*
Jonnyo
John
Kevin Coady
3 years
1h20 improvement in IM PR
14 min improvement in half marathon PR
2 x KQ
not sure what you mean by communication limits. You can email him as much as you want to.
I’d say the thing that stands out about Kevin is that he has a vast spectrum of athlete types, from overzealous kona aspirers through to people with 80 hour week high stress jobs, with young families, who also want to race well
The answers are desert dude (accelerate 3) and trukweaz (personal best multisport coaching).
All of their athletes have had a lot of success.
x2 on all those that have been mentioned already. I spoke to a few of them when searching for a coach last season then went on board with Jonnyo in May.
Name: Jonnyo
How long have you been with him: less than a year
Communication limits: None. Always responds very quickly and gives alternate workouts if needed
Improvement: Well I have steadily improved on all my sports but he was able to get me to a sub 1 hour IM swim on about 9000 yards per week because of his specific workouts that focused on my weaknesses. Running is my strength so he was able to continue to grow using smart training and the bike got much better but we are going to make that a big focus this winter.
I would say pick him since he’s the best but I don’t want anyone else with him because I want more of his attention!
Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name:
How long have you had them:
Communication limits:
How much did you improve in all 3 sports:
Price:
and everything else you want to brag about them.
Name: Brian Stover (desertdude)
How long have you had them: Since January 2011
Communication limits: none
How much did you improve in all 3 sports:
I am curious as to what you expect to gain from this particular point. My swim pace dropped, my mmp’s on the bike across all time frames went up quite noticeably, my run pace dropped across all distances. I went from a MOP in my AG to a BOP pro.
Price: depends; what’s it worth?
The real question is whether you’re really willing to invest in yourself enough to make hiring a coach worth it. The partnership between coach and athlete is dependent on several things. Trust being a big one. Will you trust your coach enough? Will you let him/her trust you and that you are really willing to invest in yourself and your performance?
Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name:
How long have you had them:
Communication limits:
How much did you improve in all 3 sports:
Price:
and everything else you want to brag about them.
Name: YouTube
How long have you had them: 5 years
Communication limits: Depends on publishers
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: 6 hr HIM to 4:20 HIM
Price: Free
Name: Daniel Bretscher
How long have you had them: 5 years
Communication limits: none
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: Alot. AG National Champion 2x’s. WTC 70.3WC Podium 2x’s.
Price: that’s between you and Daniel.
He knows is stuff.
And his stuff works!
I’m new to coaching but here’s my experience.
Name Francois
Communication limits: emails are none existence. We pretty much chat!
How long have you had them: over a month
how much did you improve in all 3 sports : I got back to training after doing nothing for 3 months. Back in Sept I’d get IT bands from running 5k and just this past weekend he had me racing 10k and PB 11mins. In the bike I got more watts now than when we started. His work outs are hard but I love the way they are. he’s very approachable when you ask him the why’s of the work out. Hes very knowledgeable too.
Hit me a PM if you want more info I’d be happy to share more experience.
Stover, pretty much echoing what everyone else has said. Going into year 3 with him. Went from solidly MOP AG to consistently podium AG/in contention for OA at smaller races. Let me know any further questions!
Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name: Steve Johnson (DarkHorse Tri)
How long have you had them: Since Early 2011
Communication limits: None
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: Small improvements in swim pace but I am much fitter and can come out of the water feeling good for the rest of the race. / Big improvements on bike. / Went from open HM of 1:32 to 1:22:xx. 10 + minute improvement in IM run (and think I will be faster yet in the next one). Overall, have gone from 5:10ish HIM to 4:39 HIM (over a much harder course) and 11:07 IM to 10:18 and hoping to go sub 10 in future.
Price: You will have to talk to him. I’m still paying 2011 rates (I think)
and everything else you want to brag about them. Guy rocks and really knows his stuff. He is one of those guys that races at a very high level but is also able to translate it in to coaching at a high level too. I think he deserves to be mentioned right up there with all of the other big names in this thread. His website is in my sig. Give him a look.
If I were to go back to being coached, my short list would be (* = I’ve worked with them before)
Brian Stover (desertdude)*
Francois Modave (Francois)*
Mark Van Akkeren (MarkyV)*
Jonnyo
John
This is the exact list I had when I decided to start working with a coach again.
I’m new to this hobby and have been extremely pleased with Steve Johnson.
Name: Steve Johnson, Darkhorse Tri
How long have you had them: 9 months
Communication limits: none
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: 1st season
Price:discuss with Steve
Ive decided to hire a coach for next season, so Id like to hear about your coach.
Name: Ally Stacher (pro cyclist)
How long have you had them: Just over a year.
Communication limits: None.
How much did you improve in all 3 sports: She’s a cycling coach, and this year I’ve been just racing bikes. I’m happy with my progress and results. She’s been good about keeping running in my plan as cross-training because I like to run, and has been helpful in planning my upcoming assault on my 10k PR. Next year will follow the same course of bike racing until road season is done, then run a couple of races.
Price: Reasonable
Check out Innovative Endurance in South Bend, Indiana.
http://innovativeendurance.com/