Should I Get a Coach? (Part 1 of 3)
Training effectively in any endurance sport can be a complicated process. Just because you are an accomplished person in your life, career, and family, as well as a solid athlete doesn’t mean that you should know how best to fit your sport into your life in the most efficient manner. Some people will read books to garnish information to put together a program. But most will start that process with good intentions and then walk away due to decreased time or interest in the process.
If you are passionate about your sport but you are not passionate about figuring out how to do your sport—you’re in good company. No one said you had to be an expert at creating the perfect training program. But what you do owe yourself is a means of generating the best program for you. If a haphazard program is causing you to be over- or undertrained, injured, or underperforming, and you don’t have the time or interest in gaining the knowledge to create that optimal program, enlist a coach.
Many people who come to me for coaching already train in some manner, but they may not train properly for their ability level and time constraints. They may be reinforcing bad habits, training at ineffective intensity levels, or most likely they are the on-again, off-again athlete who has difficulty remaining consistent. These are very human issues and ones that can be easily rectified with a bit of guidance.
Next week I’ll discuss how to select the perfect coach for you. Stay tuned!
