Training Plan, Online Coah or Personal Coach

Self-coached...follow basic periodization concepts that have worked for me for years.  No set plan other than the calendar for my long weekend sessions.  Those are set pretty much in stone (barring injury).

I would have like to have done it self coached, but as much reading and research as I was doing, it wasn't giving me any clarity on how I needed to build my training plan.

I hired a coach and was initially skeptical.  However, it didn't take long for me to realize how smart it was.  Having an objective and educated perspective on your training is very beneficial. It was well worth the money.

A generic training plan does not meet your individual needs; and we all have very different training needs.  A personal coach is always nice, but not always possible.  For some, coming up with their own plan works, but for me, I liked being able to train without having to spend a lot of time stressing on the details. 

I will continue with a coach as long as possible and will always recommend it to others. 

• 1st IM in 2008 was using a BT Plan (came in at 16:00:51) IMKY
• 2nd IM in 2009 was using a plan from Be Iron Fit by Don Finks (came in at 13:00:43) IMCDA
• 3rd IM in 2010 I am using a coach.  I will be interested to see how I do.  If I hold the same pattern I should be 10:00:35 IMWI

going with a personal in person coach.  I paid $600 CDN to register for the race.  the training will cost between 700 and 900 depending on what I go with over the summer, so for me, it was a no brainer.  If I don't make it to the start line, I would have wasted $600. 

Also, with my work schedule (which can be crazy at times), I need help prioritizing my workouts and seeing the big picture otherwise I would stress out too much.

For $90/month I get 1) training plan, 2) 4 group coached workouts a week (not necessarily with my coach), 3) one on one coaching with my coach for 1 hour a week - either on a computrainer or in an endless pool.

I was going to do it via a BT plan, but my travel schedule is so crazy with work that I think that I need a coach to help me see through the crazy and help me get the most from my training.

It is nice seeing how everyone trains so differently!

Good luck on your races this year - I am in for 2011 IM FL.

Since I can't multi-select -

My first IM was training on my own, reading a couple of books, getting answers from BT, and training a few times with some Team Turbo Donkai members.

My second IM was using the assistance of a coach, who was a friend and had competed twice at Kona, and training a few times with some Team Turbo Donkai members and a couple of BT'ers.

Well you can look at my sig line and figure out where I stand on this issue. That being said you have to define what your goals are for the given race or race season and let that dictate whether you have a coach, follow a set plan, or just train how and when you want to (the last of which I wouldn't recommend for someone doing an IM).

If your goal is to qualify for Kona (or at the 70.3 distance Clearwater) or if you have the goal to simply get everything you can out of your body whether that be a 10 hour or 16 hour IM, then you really should think about investing in a coach (and it is an investment that with a good coach you will realize the return on race day).

If your goal is just to finish and your finishing time is not important then a generic plan can be a less expensive alternative, however you won't get feedback or modifications for  your specific limiters from a "plan in a can".

If you are just out to enjoy the social aspects of triathlon and would rather train with a group or train to just stay in shape then the less restrictive option of not having a coach or following a plan might be the best option.

bryancd - 2010-01-28 7:18 PM

ChrisM - 2010-01-28 6:28 PM

bryancd - 2010-01-28 4:21 PM Yeah, I think to have a successful relationship with a coach, you need to be able to let go of control of your training 100% and just follow the plan. I am very task oriented. Give me a weeks worth of training and I WILL COMPLETE IT. I'm very OCD that way, my coach loves me.

Oh, I followed the plan 100%. It just wasn't fun anymore. If training has social aspects for someone (especially on the bike), a coached plan may not be the way to go. If I had your talent and a Kona slot was on the line, I might think differently. But I may place in teh odd Clydesdale AG now and again, big whoop. Trade off just isn't there for me

You skipped over the OCD part, Chris. I'm like a dog on a T-Bone, if you give me a task I MUST complete it.

I'm giving you a task right now - you must get to 5000 posts before January ends. ROWF!