Kenj - triathletes in training CLOSED (Page 52)

I can't add a lot as I have never been coached, but am considering it for my return to triathlons next year.  I struggle a little bit since being self coached I can change my plan if I get bored or find it isn't working out.  On the other hand I think if I had a good coach maybe I could get to the next level since I feel I am (or was) getting close. 

Just reading your post thought Carla, and remembering that you seemed to like your coach, maybe sitting down with her and expressing what you are looking for would open up the communications some?  Or at least allow her to tell you what she is willing to offer and if it isn't what you are looking for, you can move on. 

Great pic Carla!

Nice job Ice!! you killed it! 

Way to keep performing in the heat. And smoking fast on that new bike!

Wow you are really starting to pile up the AG medals! Nice job.

Sweet - you have earned every bit of it!

Are you going to register for 2013 Bill? 

Lately I've been amazed at the hassle athletes and others will go through to do anything in/near the borough of Manhattan when there are so many lovely places nearby that were just made to explore and race. Plus, it is in August, for goodness sake. We moved back upstate (not your upstate, but upstate nonetheless) from Brooklyn about 6 yrs ago when we opened t.he baby factory for business, but i still commute in like a chump each day. And sometimes i have to wonder about my friends who stay on purpose, but to each their own.

The positives include that it would be the cheapest IM branded race i could do. Even with an outrageous race fee, no bike shipping, hotels, yadda yadda. And I'd probably have some friends show up to cheerlead (or just make fun of me).

I hate having to commit a year out and if i do sign up, I'll probably just kick myself for not signing up for Lake Placid. In a perfect world Rev3 would just announce a full distance that I could drive to, but that will never happen before decision time. I guess i could always race the HITS Hunter Mountain if i thought that doing 140.6 practically alone sounded like a good idea. I just realized that I'm rambling and will stop now. I'll probably. Decide that Saturday night.

Carla, I agree with Ken.  Communicate your feelings - if you like your coach - and try to fix it.  If not move on.  Mine is retiring this year so I'm still trying to figure out my next move.  The ITCA coaching classes were to help with that process.  I understand the coaching process better now.  I want to sign up for 2013 IM Moo so do I try to go it alone with the experience of last year and what I've learned?  Do I buy a IM Moo specific plan from somewhere like Vision Quest or Endurance nation and get some periodic feedback from them?  Or do I stick with Vision Quest fulltime, which is costly over time.  The next coach would be very long distance.  He is a really good IM triathlete but he lives in Switzerland.  Communication would be solely by email and text and through Training Peaks.  Hard to know...

I know I love having my coach who is knowledgeable and as much a friend and mentor as a coach. He was with Kathy and his wife all day at IM Moo last year. I chatted with him before the race.  He even got a flat fixed we found on my bike that morning.  Then I was able to talk to him at various times during the race along the courses.  The results have been great.  So... Good luck.  IM me through Face Book if you want to chat about it.  Maybe we can help each other figure it out.  But if it is a coach you like, it's worth having a frank chat to encourage more feedback.  

Regarding the whole coaching experience.

I agree, everyone's expectation and need is different however there are some coaches that enjoy/love to coach and others who are just doing it for the $.  Finding the right coach is tough.  I had a "coach" last year and the experience was more then dissapointing. It was obvious that he wasn't investing much, if any time in me and I basically went into IMAZ on my own having gained most of my knowledge about IM racing through forums and all of you on BT.  I now have a new coach and it is amazing!  So far she is everything I want in a coach and more. She loves what she does, she is so affordable I can't believe it and the investment of time she has put into me in only a week is more then I had in a whole year with the former "coach" (don't even like to call him that).  We communicate via Training Peaks and e-mail. She met me at a track on Saturday to work on some run stuff.  She thanked me for "allowing her to be your coach".  She texted me after my race to ask how it went. It has been great. It has rekindled the drive in me.  I was looking for someone to encourage and support me.  She does that.  Some people don't need that but I do.  So really, it is about really knowing what you want from a person/coach and then finding the match. Not always easy but so worth it. 

[Coaching Relationships]  Kenj - IceMan - Renshaw

I am listening and learning from all of your experiences... I'm left speechless and somewhat uncertain.  I talked with my coach tonight on the phone for a long time.  Some of our conversation was general chat and other aspects of our conversation had a warm intention of supporting me through successfully through next August 2013. 

While my coach does, on occasion, call, text and/or email it's not with the consistency, warmth and "finesse" as I hear in your descriptions of your positive coaching experiences. There are times when I *KNOW* without a doubt that she cares... and other times when I sense her disconnect.  ...We are all human... and we all will connect and disconnect with the people in our lives... granted, this is a "Paid" relationship and she is commissioned to provide a service to me.

If I sat down to talk with her, I think her intention would be to do what ever it takes to keep me... but my sense is that her efforts would feel mechanical because I don't think she is naturally the person that my heart ultimately seeks.  While I love and enjoy many things about her, she and I communicate different... we have different communication needs and we interact differently with people.

KenJ - I honor and respect you as a Self Coached Athlete, yet I also think that if you were able to make an amazing connection with a coach you could keep that dynamic nature of changing your program depending on how it fits in the moment along with adding that extra "oomph" that takes an athlete from Good to Great!  I see you being amazing on your own and reaching un-precidented heights with a great coach by your side. 

ICE - I'll Private Message you on Facebook... I want to dialog about this a bit... I feel for your situation losing a long time coach and friend... yet I see you moving from Glory to Greater Glory trusting the Universe to provide and guide in perfect Divine Timing!

Ren' - I am so very happy for you... I live vicariously through your experiences.  The love and nurturing that your coach has demonstrated is literally amazing.  My sense is that she will be by your side for as long as you welcome her presence in your life.  It is a beautiful beginning, to a beautiful season... all the best my friend!

As for me - There is something in my spirit that is drawn to my current coach... I love her... and love to please her... and we have done great things.  I don't know what lessons we are brought together to teach each other... I want to honor our paths as well as move in the direction of getting my own needs met.  For now I just have to trust that I will "Lovingly and Gently" figure out a way for this to unfold gently.  If she and I could stay together and accomplish great things I would welcome it... and if we have to part I do hope that I have the strength and courage to move on.

~C~

Good morning Triathletes!!

Spent some quality time with my bike and the trainer this morning.  Doing a new 5K race after work tonight, it benefits the Red Cross and it sounds like they are putting together a pretty fun event for both runners and non-runners alike.  I am looking forward to it!

What are the rest of you doing?  Anyone racing this weekend?

After having a "Life-getting-in-the-way" somewhat on Monday, and definitely on Tuesday, got me back on track. Started just a tad bit freaking out because I WANT to get the workouts in, but for one reason or another it didn't.   Talked to Scott (IceMan), and I was reassured, so I'm feeling good now. 

Today, I have a run, bike intervals (yay!!), and a Doggie Social with my dog. This is the first time that I've done it, and hopefully the dogs there will be a LOT nicer than the dogs at the dog park. I want to socialize Stardust more often and get her out of the house with all the crazy cats I've got.

On top of that, we need to get our water heater replaced (luckily Home Warranty takes care of that for free), and I need to get the smog check for my car (no Inspections like it is in NJ!!), renew my registration, clean my car, get oil changed blah blah blah, AND work on the registry for my wedding.  Hard to find stuff that we need/want, when we've already pretty much have everything. 

Crazy this week. :-) 

Not racing, but I'm seriously considering of doing a mini-Sprint, 400m/10mi/2mi. But I'm not sure because it's such a low key, and I have to pay for it, unlike the club triathlon that I missed. It's next weekend. I'm 80% sure that I won't do it. If I don't do it, I most likely will volunteer. ;-)

I totally bailed this morning.  I've got a nagging ear ache hurting sleep time and I'm being a bit of a baby about it.

I'm doing a giant sprint on Saturday.  NJ State Tri, something like 1,400 people on a short course.  But I'm not really racing it for time, going to do it with a friend who is new to tris.  I like the camaraderie but I probably wont make a habit of things like this do to the cost/hassle of racing and needing to rearrange long training days.  I'll go as hard as I can on the swim, then spend 25+ minutes in T1, since I was unable to switch waves, then do the bike and run together (subject to drafting rules of course).

Tri fever is sweeping the Denehy house!  My 6 year old is constantly challenging me to running races.  He also talked me into building him an indoor "trainer" for inside riding a while back.  Plywood and blocks propping up his training wheels.  I haven't figured out how to add resistance yet :-)  Also, my wife is planning a couch-to-5k drive for a September/October fun run.  She's always struggled with weight and never been to big dry-land exercise, so I'm super psyched.

That's great.  Really cool about your 6 year old.  I think there are some USAT sanctioned events for 7  year olds - like 100m swim, 2K bike, and 1K run - maybe even shorter.

Really cool about  your wife as well.  My wife actually got me back into running when she picked it up after struggling with weight for most of her life.  It's really fun to run together whenever we can.  I'm trying to get her into S/B/R, but she's not really keen on biking.  I think she might do one next spring though.

Enjoy the race whether you participate or volunteer!  Sounds like you have your hands full with a lot of other activities.  How did the Doggie Social  go?

Thats great Bill!! Getting family and friends involved makes this all a lot more fun!!  I never knew that there were so many races every week in the NY metro area!  Good luck to your friend and you as well, have fun!

Good luck to your wife this weekend, I hope she has a great race. 

Hopefully your shoulder issue gets figured out!

Brian - Way to go!

PS - I'll be away for a few days - good luck to everyone racing!

Really good analysis.  I know I've been lucky.  I guess the key questions are: 1. is the relationship giving me what I am paying for?  That is, am I getting stronger and more race ready?  Am I learning what I need to know to get the job done, too, such as nutrition, injury prevention and the like?  And 2. do I enjoy the relationship.  Yes you are paying, but coaches and atheltes are more than paid services.  We go through a lot together.  A coach should be a supportive friend too.  In fact, I think that is what is most key with Stan and I.  I don't even consider the cash.  We are friends.  The money keeps it on a pro level, but I know this guy really cares about my success.  I see the same in my swim coach, who is also a triathlon coach. I pay him $25 a session but I know that this guy really cares about more than money.  He is really delighted with the progress I've shown in the pool.  He's helped with my run too. I think this is all about team building.  We need to feel good about our team.  I want to be a coach like the ones I've had.  The athlete's goals are most important. 

gator22 - 2012-07-20 10:15 AM Hey everyone. Sorry I missed the mussel man. I was looking forward to it. I have still been doing crosffit workouts and some running and swimming. I can't find time to be consistent though . This summer with the heat and violence has made my job dominating my life. I have not made the start line in the last three races I have registered for. Maybe things will change, but probably not. I am envious of you all!Kirk

Hang in there Kirk, maybe an impromptu 5K at the last minute would help get you to a race?  There seems to be one about every weekend.

Sounds like a good weekend of training Ice.  For at least a couple days, our heat has broken and we even got a little rain.  I hope you get a break soon!