OK, I am trying to understand what makes people use a coach or a personal trainer and I thought it would be a good idea to pose this question to a large diverse group like this one.
So here is where I am coming from – I have been doing the sport for ~ 6 years now and after settling into is a good program I pretty much train by myself. I see a lot of folks from beginners to very experienced athletes use a coach or personal trainer.
So, what motivates you to hire a coach/personal trainer? …
I used a coach for a little more than a year and a half with great results.
I work crazy, long hours and I just didn’t have the time or knowledge to develop a quality training regiment. I entered the sport in my mid 40s and had little knowledge of what it takes to compete…not just finish.
It was cost effective for me to just log on every day/week and look at my upcoming training plan. Plus, having a coach meant I had somebody to answer to, being a bit of a slacker, this helped motivate me to get out the door and get my workouts done. I didn’t want to be fired by my coach.
I had to give up my coach over the winter due to additional projects.
After 4 months with just light running, I have tried to self start and have found that I am having trouble achieving the results I was hoping for.
Now, I am going back to my ex-coach’s training logs and starting from day 01.
I’m sure others have no problem without a coach, but for whatever reason, I just don’t seem to “get it”.
My coach removes me from having to make any training decisons in regards to not only the what and how hard, but also the periodization as I build into races. I don’t need the accountability, but he can get that extra 5% out of me because if he puts it on the schedule, I will be VERY motivated to do it right. For example, today he had me ride 70 miles with the last 30 at Half IM effort followed by an 8 mile run at Half IM effort (I have a half in 2 weeks I want to do well at). I NEVER would have done that without him telling me to. I would have done a long bike and maybe a short run, but he made me push myself in a way I never would have thought of.
Accountability and expertise. I have the knowledge to design my training, but don’t have the time to do so and it lends itself to 2nd guessing and overtraining. Have someone to report to is also well worth the investment.
I use a coach for the swimming portion of my training. I have a fair amount of training with running and biking and wanted to bring the swimming up to a higher level. I’m very happy with that choice because my swimming has drastically improved, and it is difficult to get good feedback on technique in swimming without another person.
So, what motivates you to hire a coach/personal trainer?
Too much disposable income and I don’t like to read books and things.
I don’t use a coach. I do the sport because I enjoy it. A coach will only tell me what to do. I get enough of that from my wife/kids/boss.
I didn’t want to suck anymore so I got a coach, my half-IM PB went from 5:27 to 4:22 on the same course in the span of ayear. I clearly didn’t know what I was doing before
I didn’t want to suck anymore so I got a coach, my half-IM PB went from 5:27 to 4:22 on the same course in the span of ayear. I clearly didn’t know what I was doing before
Nice.
I want your coach. I wants to take 1hr off my HIM from last November.
Did tris for 20 years. Includes 18 IMs(3x Hawaii) and I never used a coach. Just read alot and designed my own training programs. I don’t like anyone telling me what to do. Put up with that for 20 years in the Army 
The main reason to use a coach is to have an opinion that is looking from the outside in. As a runner for 41 years and a triathlete for 28 years I have had great success with using both. I think everyone should use a coach for their swimming to provide proper technical skills. This also applies to running and cycling. I currently coach triathletes, runners, and swimmers but use a coach to help administer my program and keep my volumes true to the plan. People who are succesful in this sport are TYPE A personalities which is both a blessing and curse. A coach also can alter the plan. Just because the plan for Tuesday is 10x400 does not mean you are ready for this set. As a former high school croos country coach I was able to monitor my athletes daily and adjust and just because one pace was good for 2 or 3 guys does mean it is good for whole team. A pre packaged plan provides the template but not the guidance needed for long term growth or support. It is funny people don’t usually teach themselves a musical instrument but take lessons. That is what coaching provides for triathletes. In my opinion a good program and a bad program look exactly the same on paper. Each athlete responds differently
Coaches are too expensive, I suck too bad to justify a 200 a month fee (that seems to be the average), and half of them want to everything online. So you are basically paying for a schedule, and a few emails. Not very helpful for a person who’s weakness is swimming.
While I do send e-mails to my athletes. I try to work with athletes one on one.Each one of my programs offer one on one sessions with the athlete. I see a lot of athletes who have worked with other coaches who don’t even swim I do a full swim stroke analysis and make the communication with the athlete a priority and use this data to move forward with the plan. Just like anything else there are good coaches and bad coaches. You need to research and try to use a coach who can see you a few times per month to work on technique.
You should give “newbz” here on ST a try. With his help I went from a 5:57 (my first HIM and third triathlon) to a 4:57 (2nd HIM) in one year. He’s good.
I want very much to go to Kona “old school” i.e., no lottery or special favors. My coach has been there 16 times and she is older than me. Having somebody who anticipates age-related aches from training pain is why I hired her as well. She’s 67 and I’m over 50, so that’s a lot of life’s mileage between the two of us.
I work with a coach because while I’m pretty aware of my body, especially in the short term, he’s very good at knowing where my body will be a month or two from now, which is a big deal when it comes to targeting events. Plus it motivates me to have someone tell me ‘Do this, it will make you stronger’