explain the need for a coach for the run-of-the-mill age grouper... (Page 2)

Don't back down now!

^^^  This.

Everyone has different drivers in what makes them tick.  Obviously, a coach is not the right direction for you.  That doesn't diminish the need or want for others to have one.  We all weigh Price vs. Value differently.  Obviously you don't view having a coach worth the value of paying one, but IMO you really are coming across as insulting to those that have one.  

FWIW, I don't have a coach.  I would actually benefit from having someone to hold me accountable for doing some more training than I am.  It's just how I tick.  Unfortunately for me, I cannot justify the cost either for ME, so I have not hired one.  But, I respect those who do, and realize that it's a matter of "to each their own."

It's the same reason adults who want to learn woodworking, or play a musical instrument, or draw take lessons rather than try to teach themselves. 

I get asked regularly to teach the bass guitar to adults.  How much sense would it make if I were to answer "Sorry, I only teach people who are planning on becoming pros."?

www.beginnerbassguitarplayer.com

...while riding your bike in a pool.  I lol'ed.

This is a good analogy.  I admit that my random sample of coached athletes may be a bit skewed.  The impression I came away with was athletes that were trying very hard to "play the part" of the pro athlete by proudly proclaiming they have a coach.  The impression that was given off was "I'm so pro I need a coach" rather than "I really need help with this stuff, so I hired a coach".

It seems as though the majority of people on this thread are in favor of gettign a coach for several different reasons.  Hiring an expert to assist you with the various needs you have in life is something we ALL do our entire lives.  I'm thinking of Attorneys, Accountants, Financial Advisors, Contractors, Teachers, etc.  Some will say you can do your own taxes, represent yourself in the courtroom, or even teach your kids at home.  However, utilizing someone for their skills to improove your own life (or the lives of your family) is just something we all do.  It's really no different than hiring a triathlon coach.

I certainly don't agree that is is a way to brag or boast about needing a coach. 

I know that if I was in the market for a coach, which someday I probably will be, I would come here first and get BT's opinions on who I should contact. 

Gulf of Mexico, but close...   

. . . as Shane sheds a tear.

I thought marma's avatar looked familiar

I just hired a coach last month.  FYI, it was because I feel I stopped improving on my own.  Even with coached computrainer classes, masters swim, etc.  I felt the need to try some custom coaching instead of cookie cutter training.  So far, I'm happy I made the plunge.

Wow!! even better!

I'm partially convinced that Shane is a robot.  No human could possibly have that amount of patience, and that amount of ability to produce correct information.

Therefore...no tear shedded.

After reading the thread as it exists so far, I may have completely reversed my thoughts on coaching, for me. I didn't consider it pretentious to have a coach, for anyone else, but I was convinced it really would be for me. Dead last, BOP, runs at most others' walking pace, still obese, etc etc.... I mean really, a coach? I'm the LAST guy who should bother with a coach. 

Now I'm thinking I am EXACTLY the guy who needs a coach. 

Maybe 2013. 

My wife and I are your typical run-of-the-mill age groupers.  We have a local tri coaching company here and we both work with them regularly, they flat out know their stuff and are great guys.  I work with them sporadically, but my wife is on their entry level coaching program, at around $100/mo. because frankly she doesn't want to think about it, she just wants to be told what to do with this stuff........we are relatively new to this, have a 5 yr. old and a 2 yr. old and she definitely isn't going to do a bunch of research to figure out what to do, but also just enjoys the comfort level of knowing that she is doing the right thing.  She's been completely injury free and has shown steady improvements over the past two years, plus her coaches provide some accountability, and reliable advice on all kinds of stuff like info. on different races, gear, etc. 

We don't make a bunch of $, we've talked about nixing it, but we don't do alot of out of town races, don't get crazy on the gear, etc.  I'm sure there are plenty of people who would talk about having a coach because they want you to think they are cool or something, but that's gotta be the minority, I suspect most people are more like my wife and I.   

Exactly

A coach is usually (but not always) a very helpful addition. 

Even if you're expert at designing and modifying your own training, and outside perspective offers huge dividends, even for the expert athlete.

This is true in many sports as well as dancers, musicians, and other artists. A coach can be one of the most valuable things you can have, even if you're very capable at training yourself. A different perspective as well as unbiased eyes with expertise, is a huge asset.

At the MOP or BOP AG level, the impact of a coach may be significantly more than that of an elite coach, as that same MOP or BOP athlete may not even get to race day if left to themselves for training planning. It's very hard to truly design or select a training program that will take you to the next level, even if you know what it's going to take. I'm a pretty serious athlete, and I balk when I see the big training hours needed for me to REALLY improve. A coach could provide both the motivation and expert advice about how to really get this done. 

I don't use a coach now myself, but I'm not lying when I say that if I REALLY wanted to make biggest bang for the buck for training right now, I'd spend my money on a coach. Not wheels, not PT, not new shoes, not race fees. Coaching. And then listen and DO everything they say, which is harder than it seems.

Nothing against coaching, but from personal finance perspective $1200/yr seems serious $ to most couples who "don't make a bunch of $" & have 2 small kids.  But then I know cyclists who drop $6k on new carbon DA bikes who claim they have trouble paying next month's rent on their apartment.  To each their own.

Personally I feel comfortable doing my own plans & motivation for run/bike training and have yet to meet local coaches who seem worth their fees.  OTOH, after 3 seasons I have grown weary of my swims being so much behind my relative bikes/runs.  My swim still sucks after wasting much time & $$ on group lessons which all seem geared for sprint swims. Finally decided I need to get decent local swim coach to avoid becoming a duathlete (not that there's anything wrong with that!).

For anyone whose an age grouper and just wants to finish, I think a coach is a waste of money.  For someone who wants to be competitive enough to get to Kona or the 70.3 World Champs, a coach makes sense.  For someone who needs to learn to swim, a coach is arguably beneficial.

However, if you have the money, hey, why not.

Is it that difficult to do a little research, get a training plan, and tailor it to your life's challenges?  Isn't that half the fun of this world of endurance sports?  There's alot of crazy stuff in triathlon training, but this one escapes me for some reason.

I agree with the above 100%.