Multisports.com Ironman Training Camps

Never did one.

Have you hired a coach yet? If I had a choice I'd rather hire a coach than go to a training camp.

Just my $0.02

A number of folks have given me the same advice to hire a coach, which seems a good investment, given the complexity of preparing for an ironman.

I run 3-4 marathons a year and am a strong swimmer, but I have only been working on my cycling for a few months. So that's the discipline in which I need the most work.

You have any advice about how to go about finding and hiring a coach?

I'm quite partial to my coach (as everyone on this site knows).

(For you guys who have heard this already...I apologize for the repeat...)

After 6 years of triathlon racing I finally hired a coach this past season and I guess I gotta say the results speak for themselves. During this year's racing season:

1. resting heart rate dropped from 56 to 45bpm

2. 1/2 Ironman PR dropped by over 1 hour and 10 minutes to 5hrs 10min.

3. although I didn't train all year for a marathon but rather just added one to the end of my season, my marathon PR time dropped by 40 minutes to 3:35.

I could continue, but I won't because I've preached this before on this site and don't want to be "flamed" by the group. But I have been so happy with my coach I can't talk enough about him.

I know others who have "coaches" but honestly none of them have had such incredible results.

My coach doesn't have a web site because he doesn't need one. All his clients rave about him so much (like I do) that he gets plenty of referral business...which is a double edged sword because his capacity for clients is quickly reaching it's max as he writes weekly training plans for them...adjusting them based on how you're feeling and how much of the last week's workout you've completed.

Additionally, he is the first and only coach I know that is very scientific with his training approach as well as the althletic accomplishments and academic training to back it up.

Who else do you know that preaches Lactate Threshold as the basis for determining training zones? All the sites and coaches I read about use max heart rate. I think using LT as a basis for determining by training zones was probably one of the most important factors in getting me to PR by such a large margin.

(exit soapbox)

So to determine which coach to pick I would consider:

1. athletic accomplishments yes . . . but more so what are the accomplishments/improvements of their clients. one can be a gifted athlete but that doesn't mean they know how to coach. A good coach can read signals from their clients and be able to adjust the training to continue their progress to their goals.

2. their availability based on what you want/need. will they give you the attention you require? are the easily accessible?

3. and of course, can you afford their services?

I personally would never go on the carmichael training system because you pay a boat load and don't really get the attention that I get from the coach I have (e-mails, phone calls, trng programs per week, etc.)

That's my $1.27

Like Steve-
I am partial to my coach.
www.tripower.org
Mike Plumb is the coach and I get individual workouts, not some template. He takes into account the amount of time you can workout and schedules your workouts around when you can train. He is registered here at BT and he checks my training logs and gives me feedback based on what I put in my logs. Now, he lives here in SD so I talk to him personally, but I know he coaches a lot of people from all over and based on their race reports they have improved a lot because of his coaching. I haven't been with him for that long but since I have, my running and cycling have improved. I PR'd my last sprint race by 7 min from last year. Which is a lot (for me).
I have complete faith and trust in Mike. I put IM in his hands!
my $1.28
Tom

One more "coach picking" suggestion...

Beware of the coach if someone talking about them is not "partial" to them.

And honestly, although I don't know anyone who has been to the training camps you mention, if you have a good coach there is nothing at those camps you won't get/learn from your coach...unless you just have extra $$$ to throw away.

(no offense multisports.com)

Steve and Mancow,

Thanks for the advice. I am convinced that I need a coach.

I THINK I am on the right track with the training program I have set up from advice gleaned from this and other web sites, as well as the several books I have read. We also have some excellent triathletes here at ISU who are always willing to offer ad hoc advice. But given the time, expense, effort, and commitment involved in training for an ironman, working without a coach seems unwise.

I'll do a search to find out what you had to say about your coach, Steve. But I do hope do no one flames you, because I appreciate that you took the time to send me such a detailed reply.

Kim

iowaguy:

what IM are you doing agin?

How does it work with a coach when s/he never sees you swim/bike/run? You could have crappy form that the coach would see and help you with immediately in person. But how do you get that feedback if they never see you?

(Just curious -- not trying to pick a fight)
Deb

I can't answer to that because my coach lives in my city and is part of my tri club. He has seen me run (if that's what you want to call it). I do know that he is always asking how I feel or how things were going. Now, if I lived elsewhere and was doing something wrong I guess he wouldn't be able to help much.

also, I'm not sure about shorter races and/or beginners, but I would think that by the time you decide to take on an IM that have most of your problems ironed out (forgive the pun)

Edited by madcow 2004-11-10 1:19 PM

First and foremost your "online" coach or triathlon coach should be relied on for everything. He/she should be relied on to structure your training in a way so that you don't (1) overtrain, (2) have realistic goals, (3) adjusts your trng throughout the year according to what you've been able to accomplish the week prior and your other committments, and (4) help you with nutrition plans.

I don't feel that a coach needs to see you bike. A proper bike fit at your LBS and some peddling drills should work any kinks out.

Running gait can be worked out locally too or by simply reading up on proper running form...or even going to a local running club and asking the "coach" there.

Now, swimming, that's a different story and to me, that's what masters is for. A good masters program will have a masters coach that helps you with form specifically in swimming but may not know or be an experienced triathlon coach that can put all there events together in a coherent/effective training schedule to meet your race/peaking needs and "everyday life" commitments.

How would one use an "on-line" coach that can't see you swim/bike/run? I admit, the best scenario is if your coach came to your house every day and trained with you...but let's not dream too much.

Your on-line "coach" is who puts your training plans together, has the BIG picture in mind, strategizes with you about your racing schedule and your goals, listens to your feedback from the workouts and adjusts future workouts accordingly.

I know that my coach would charge me extra if he would come to my pool and work with me on my swimming technique...that's why I go to masters (for example).

Makes sense. Thanks guys.
Deb

Iowa Guy

Here is my list of what to look for in a coach:
http://www.d3multisport.com/articles/hiringacoach.html

Great question Deb. Typically, what I do with my athletes is have them send me video of them swimming/biking/ running. The other option is that I offer training camps and I am available to visit my athletes or vice versa. I run a technique only camp in the Spring and then again in the Fall. We video tape in all 3 sports so you can see yourself. Until you 'see' what you are doing, you really don't know what you look like. What looks like good pedaling technique really isn't b/c your pedal stroke has a hitch or you are bouncing in your saddle (for example).

So - your coach should see what you look like, no matter how far or near he/she is. :-)

That makes sense Mike. It sounds like you have come up with some great options!
Deb

Thanks Deb.

In high school, I was on the swim team. We have Master's swimming for those of us that haven't gotten it out of our system.

In high school, I was on the cross country and track teams. We have nothing that I know of to fill the gap for us adults. I don't need personalization as much as I want the community, comraderie, and motivation.

How do I fill the gap?

Join a local tri club.

That's a great suggestion but I find it hard for me to train with others because they are scheduled for the same training as I am and if they are their training zones (and subsequent speeds) are different.

Whenever I train with a group, I always end up running or biking either faster or slower than what has been perscribed.

Training for IM Moo next year will be a lonely existence...oh well.

The good thing about triclubs is that if you're not following a perscribed plan with set zones for set amount of times, they are excellent for motivation!

I am in a small tri club. It is great for getting to know other folks that particpate in the sport.

We will typically communicate via e-mail. You can send a message saying that this weekend I'm planning to bike x miles at roughly y pace, and you can typically pick up a few folks that want to do roughly the same thing. This is particularly good for setting up open water swims (it is not safe to do these alone!)Pool workouts, track workouts and bike/trainer workouts also work well as everyone can adjust to their own needs, yet we are all still "together".

In the end, however, you still need to do many workouts alone. After all, you race alone.

Deb

Steve

I hear ya - and precisely the reason I train alone most of the time. BUT, usually in a tri club you end falling into pace with someone and that person can become your training partner if your goals match up. Just an idea....

Ditto that Steve...

I do most of my running solo, biking w/ my training partner who is the same level on the bike (luckily!!), and swim in a group class outdoors...
I find the solo stuff is good for me mentally. Plus, no matter how you look at it, getting dropped sucks you out mentally (at least me!

39 weeks to Imoo...