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Running Races
Choosing the Right Coach
Now that the season is in full swing you might already be thinking of 2005. One question many athletes ask themselves when planning a goal is do they need a coach? A good coach will enhance your performance, increase your knowledge, and keep training safe and fun. So how do you go about finding the right coach? I have been on both sides of the athlete/coach relationship, and wanted to share some ideas on how to find and get the most out of your coach.
Recommendations and Track Record
You should check the coach's credentials, experience and background.
Ask for references and speak to current clients. Look at whether
athletes training with a specific coach from the previous year
reached their goals.
Coaches are not all the same
In the last few years here in Canada we have seen an increase in
the number of coaches triathlon and duathlon, and just as many
training philosophies. Different strategies work for different
athletes and you should make sure that a coach's training style
matches your needs. Particular things to watch for are the approach
to intensity, volume, and recovery.
Plans
Make sure you know what you want from a coach before you start
looking. Many coaches have different plans with differing degrees
of communication and specificity. Make sure that you choose the
plan that best fits your needs and budget.
It’s not just a program
When you hire a coach you are buying your coach's advice, experience
and support. A coach should be able to help you better understand
your body and what it is capable of in training and in racing.
Find out what other options a coach offers, like testing, training
days, one on one sessions, and camps.
Don’t try to impress the coach
You need to be totally honest with a coach. In your training be
totally open and clear with what is happening. If your coach
is on-line and you don’t see each other in person it is
very important to be up front about how you are feeling on a
daily bases. A good coach should have you keep a log that they
review.
Partnership
The athlete and the coach should work together to create a successful
plan. It should never feel like it is one way or the highway.
Athletes should be open to talking to a coach about what they
feel works for them. The greater the relationship between athlete
and coach, the greater the success.
I wish you all the best with the rest of the summer and I hope to see you all out at the races.
Richard Pady
Head Coach of HRT
www.healthyresults.ca