tri-coaching

I can vouch for Matt and the Sportfactory. Location is not an issue since most of your interaction is over the phone and computer. I have been working with Brett Daniels for about 5 months and I highly reccomend him. I went into the actual facility one time for a bike fitting and thats it. I talk to Brett several times a week and it is perfect.

Brett is very active on BT.com - he goes by Rocketman. I'm sure he will respond.

The Sportfactory is a quality outfit ... and Brett is an excellent coach. He understands what it takes to get more out of an athlete than they think possible.

Coaching is completely different than a personal trainer or even a swim coach as a tri-coach will build your schedule (and, by definition, your fitness) while answering training and technique questions along the way.  This is the person who puts the whole package together to ensure you are ready on race day.  Follow what they say and you will do well ... strike out to your own drumbeat and you might as well save your money and their time.

A swim coach (especially Masters) always has a place in training as they focus more on technique and not on overall fitness.  In my experience, a personal trainer can play a bit role but there is only so much weight training involved in triathlon training.  Their expertise and training does not lend itself well to understanding endurance training like that of a certified triathlon (or even cycling) coach.

Regardless of who you use, location does not matter as most of your interaction will be either through e-mail or telephone.

The key to coaching is selecting one that "fits" you.  There are some coaches that are more aggressive and narrowly focused on squeezing fitness out of you ... there are others who have a better understanding of the balance it takes for some to train, work, be a parent and stay married ... there are others who focus on different things.  

Interview a number of coaches, talk to them about their contact methods, interaction, training philospohy and experience.  It is even better to talk to athletes who use/have used them in the past. 

Dan Arnett, on BT "Marvarnett", is also an Atlanta based coach who races for the All3Sports Team (and is freakishly fast, humble and fun).  I use Carole Sharpless, an Atlanta based pro-triathlete and would recommend you to consider her as well (www.carole-sharpless.com).

Getting a coach is one of the better investments I have made in this sport.

Dan is my coach and has been for about three months.  I have seen great improvement in my race times and overall fitness since I began using him.  Endurance Concepts is his company and their philosophy is that family/life comes first and traininging/racing is a compliment to that.  Communication with my coach is for me one of the most important parts of having a tri-coach and Dan is always available by phone and or email.  Check out their website: www.enduranceconcepts.com.

Brian pretty much summed up the why/how a coaching helps. 

I am also coached by Dan Arnett (Marvarnett ) of Endurance Concepts .  I would also recommend James Rudd of EC. 

 Feel free to PM me and I can provide whatever details you will need

hI pHATkNOT

I think I met you this weekend at GA Veteran's..You have a pick up truck right?  We were the folks in the blue SUV that followed you into the park friday night. 

A friend of ours has a coach and he saw results almost immediately.  He really had problems with the swim and was dead last at one race but then got a medal at his next race so I would guess he feels the expense was worth it...He also spenk like 5k on a new bike so that might have had something to do with it as well....

yeah , thats me. the perennial "in a rush but lost" guy. cool to see you online too!

 i wonder how he had any cash left over for a coach after that bike purchase... Making a commitment to a coach is difficult for some reason. I am not sure if its financial, interpersonal (another relationshp to work on), or, psychological (this means there's no turning back). probably some combination....

I wanted to tell you all that after reviewing the coaching firms websites and talking/emailing to a few of them I went with www.enduranceconcepts.com.

They all seemed strong but some personal and private references made them the ones for me now.  I should also note that have done real well with me in the start up phase, at times going out of their way and spending more time than I would have anticipated.

There are some great older threads on the value of coaches on BT too if you search. Thanks to those of you who provided input either privately or on the thread.