Coaching.. what gives?
Newbie triathletes today are very lucky.. because back in the day, there were hardly any triathlon coaches. Want to start getting into the sport? The internet is and was your only resource (for me at least).. but what if you go 10+ years back? What did those old timers use as reference?
Sure there were coaches… the usual suspects like Coach Ani, Ige, Jomac, Peter, etc.. but compared to the number of triathlon coaches that we have now.. its like comparing the EDSA Peoples Power Rally to a local welga done at various government agencies.
Which leads us to this topic.. in choosing a triathlon coach, whats your basis? what do you look for?
1. Track record / ITU Certification .. does it matter? Do you prefer to be under a coach who wins a lot in races? Does he/she have to place top 3 overall? does being an ITU certified coach mean he/she is better than the non-ITU certified ones?
2. With all the resources available online and locally.. do you still really need a coach?
3. What makes a coach.. a good coach?
4. What factors do you look for in choosing a triathlon coach?
6. Price – how much are you willing to shell out for a good coach?
For me, when I was training for the Ironman I once had a coach who has never done the distance.. and I must admit.. sometimes it really did bother me.. though I still listened to him and went on with the program. The result? I finished all of ‘em. Not blazing fast to qualify or win.. but just enough to get me thru the finish line. But it sure did cost me a lot.
Nowadays, the business of triathlon coaching is almost completely unregulated and anyone can call themselves a triathlon coach. While they usually have the best of intentions, there is so much more to being a professional coach than being an experienced athlete.
What are your thoughts about triathlon coaching? To everyone who’s under a coach right now.. what can you say about your coach? How has he/she helped you?
Hit the comments below and let us know what you think.
