R U Coachable

Don't use a coach.

So, I think there should be a distinction here.  In my view there are workout planners and there are coaches.  If the person never sees you swim, bike or run, I do not consider them a coach. 

Nothing wrong with a workout planner.  I used one for a season, and while it turned out not to be a great match, I was happy with the service.  Even got to speak with this person about strategy, etc.  I do not, however, consider this person to be a coach.

If you want to improve technique in a particular sport, you need a coach.  If you just want someone to email you what to do each week, then you need a workout planner.  Or, you could build your own program.

The workout planners seem to all be about $100 per month.  I believe Gordo Byrn at endurance corner has his coaching engine set at about $25 per week, and Mark Allen online I believe is similarly priced.  Having an actual coach is generally far more expensive as they would have to devote substantial time to you personally.  I think you could do this with Gordon Byrn at about $475 per month if you live in Boulder.

YMMV.  While my first name is the same as Gordo's, I am not him, and am not associated with him.  I do not use his services, although I am considering the workout planning engine.

Gordon

Edited by kesslergk 2009-09-22 10:14 AM

Mike Plumb
tripower.org

All information is on his website but he charges $85/month. 

I am very happy with the results I have seen under Mike.


Now, to the original question:
I started training in Dec 2006.  After an OK 1st season, I picked up a coach in Sept 07.  I switched coaches in May 08 since Mike is 1/2 of what I was paying.  I tried to go without a coach from Nov to Jan.  I was a wreck.  Constantly changing my training plan, second guessing myself, etc. 

Having a coach for me is vital.

Coaching--best decision I made.  JorgeM coached me for IMLP.  He is in Boston, I am in PA.  All his prices are right on his page.  I did his one-on-one coaching that was $250/month.  I'd say we pretty much talked daily (usually via email, BT PMs or online chat), or at a minimum several times per week.  We are now working on some nutrition stuff too. 

We don't have much in person time together, but consistent communication, i don't think we're missing much.  I went to his training camp in LP and we got to work a little bit on my running, stuff like that.  If we get the chance to spend a weekend together at some point in the future, i'd love to get his tips on my swimming, cycling as well, whether it's b/c i am coached by him or he is friend.  But i also have access to other local people who are better than me who i get tips from.  For instance, PennState took me on a ride a few weeks ago and taught me some stuff to work on for riding on rollers.  There is another pro-triathlete who lives in my town who i swim with every once in awhile.  The high school swim coach is at the pool a lot when i'm there and tells me when i'm dropping my elbows, etc.  So, i think if you seek out some of that stuff, you can find help in ways you want to.  Triathletes are some of the nicest people around and always seem open to helping/giving pointers/etc.   While it would be nice to have Jorge himself to go on a ride with or go to the pool with, the reality is i have someone planning & managing a training load specific to me, who I think is great at what he does.   And him not being local is absolutey not a deal breaker; I'm super grateful for the couple times we have had in person.

This user's post has been ignored.

Well, I'm partly coached and I have seen a WORLD of improvement!

SWIM
I joined Masters Swim, which has about a dozen folks at my establishment, and saw my average swims go from 1000-1500yrds to 3500-4200yrds within just a few short months. My time per 100yrds came down. My overall stamina came up. My form was heavily corrected. I pay $35/mo for masters. We have a coach on deck 4x per week providing tips, pointers, and workouts. Also, he generally makes it to the local races for encouragement.

BIKE
I just ride with the local cycling shops. The mantra "Ride More" has helped here. No fee to this.

RUN
I joined a local run training group in preperation for a 10k (Nov) and a Half Marathon (Feb). He charged $50 to get us to the half marathon. He provides workouts for the week, which consist of 5 runs. He requests we complete a minimum of 4 to be effective. He schedules and shows up on 3x per week. During these runs, he offers form advice too. Not bad. He does not go in full depth. His goal is distance & quality. He does not care about speed.

So, yes, I guess I have a series of coaches. Not bad. I've merged their plans together to help get me to the starting line in this years races, and plan to do the same for next year. So far, I see no problem, and I feel that I'm coming out on the good end of the deal.

Hopefully that answers some of your questions...

I'm coached during the triathlon season.  $180 per month, which includes daily workouts and unlimited email/phone contact. 

He also meets weekly with me and some of his other athletes on the track (no charge) and ocasionally coaches me on the swim as part of the deal - usually when I have a race coming up and need him to look at my stroke.  I pay extra if he is going to video me in the pool for later analysis as well as for things like VO2/LT testing.

Its been well worth it for me.  Triathletes spend a lot of time thinking about their equipment and money buying that equipment and I think they would be better off spending some of the $$ on a coaching relationship.

I disagree with someones distinction between workout planner and coach.

The way you explain workout planner is not at all how either of my coaches worked and we did it by email mostly. There are programs/systems that do what you suggest but that isn't what my coaches have done for me.

I've worked with a coach since '06....really like having someone else figure out my training, advise me, review my workouts, help me with race plan, race nutrition and more. I was with my first coach 4 seasons and switched to a new coach last December.

One other difference between a "workout planner" and a "coach", is that the coach will change the workouts in real time based on changes that can, and will, arise.  For example, a good coach should account for the following:

Unplanned races (races that you add in after the initial consultation).

Vacations (workouts I should do when I don't have my bike or pool as well as include workouts that take advantage of things like the ocean or mountains, which I don't generally have access to).  I also fish in the summer (you mean he admits to doing something other than triathlon?  Heretic!).  My coach recognizes that and doesn't give me a four-hour bike ride on the Saturday he knows I can't do it.

Injuries.

And most important to me, a good coach adjusts workouts according to your CURRENT level of fitness and relative strengths and weaknesses. 

You've got to account for the variables in life and sport. Your coach should too.

I have a swim coach.  She charges $20 per hour lesson, and I go twice a week.  That's about $160 a month.  If I don't have a scheduled workout she will prescribe one, and she swims the whole workout with me.  She yells when I'm to slow, and reminds me about elbows, breathing, rotation, ect.....    Her main benefit, is it gets me to the pool.  This is my least favorite, and my first to skip.

I did the markallenonline.com for my last HIM.  I really like it.  I had just finished a HIM before starting his plan, and was surprised by the volume of training.  I didn't know I wasn't getting enough bike and swim in.   However, that's about all I got.  I will look for something more personal next time.

 

I don't have a coach; right now its due to financial issues.  I think its a good investment, and I still may get one closer to IMSG.

Well, I have a running coach, but he's more of a team coach.

If I ever did, I'd get a local coach; I've shopped around but really haven't found one in my price range.  I also think there's a huge difference between coaches, and often times its hard to find a match.

I'm not sure I've ever got the whole online coaching industry.  It just seems like certain things like form work, coached sessions, and in person motivation are just too big of factors that online coaching can't do.  I understand the business model of reaching out to customers but I just don't think its practical for the average triathlete.

***I'm going to assume the thread title is meant to mean "Are you coachable" and not the initials Robert Ulysses Coachable. ***

One question is asked in the title, another in the body of the first post.

I am coachable. I do not have a coach. I do have a strength trainer I work with once a week. I am considering using a swim coach.

I would love a coach but I don't think I would be very coachable.  I don't listen very well.  But I guess if I was paying for it I would try to listen better.

No coach because I am poor!

I tried to hire a coach in the past.. I can't be coached.. I don't listen well and I tend to do things my own way. the coach wanted me to stick to a plan for a my A race, can you believe it? I started Ultras before and running a 50 miles a month before an Ironman did not go well with the coach... He fired me.. Now I am doing things my own way, and enjoying the freedom..

oopss... double post...

Edited by velasqu7 2009-09-22 4:23 PM

I am coached....I pay $230/every 4 weeks..
I rarely see my coach ,but she is local in case i want to meet up with her, but we have daily talks nad email daily as well.  Shenot only plans according to my schedule (which is very hectic), but she has kept me injury free sicne January (had 2 herniated disks) and also helped me train well enough to have  PR at my lat race.  She also owrks iwth me on my nutrition...I don't think that seeing your coach has anything to do with how good they are and would never consider my coach a "workout planner"  even though she rarely sees me swim/bike/run

This completely!!!

I have swim coaches who plans my swim practices for 3x per week, then we meet up with the group for OWS on 1 day per week. They watch me swim and make suggestions and adjust the plans according to my fitness level.

I have a running coach who plans my running program and I meet up with the group for the Long Run once per week. This group also provides educational speakers after the long runs.

The only coaching I'm lacking in is the cycling, and I just keep pedaling on my own...

I thought about getting a hands-on coach, but it's WAY more expensive than splitting it up the way I do... I pretty much make my own schedules (mashing my coaches suggested schedules) and tweak them as I see necessary.