If you have ever talked to, or been around a triathlete, you will find out very quickly; A: they are not shy about telling stories of their conquers, & B: never at a loss for giving advice. A, is really not a problem. You can just shrug and acknowledge that the person is full of themselves and go about your day, but B – B is where we run into trouble. I have had the unfortunate experience of seeing this first hand and watched the irreversible effects it has had on some very close friends.
Let’s first take a look at coaching and what that encompasses. USAT puts on coaching clinics to certify people (doesn’t matter what your background or education) as triathlon coaches. There are different levels and as the denomination climbs, the more training the coach has had from USAT. HOWEVER – please be advised, there are no pre-requisites to start the training. So what does that mean? Basically, someone with no education or background in subjects like Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Human Biology and yes throw in some Chemistry and Physics too, can still have a designation that says he or she is a certified triathlon coach.
Ok, so now you are prefaced and I can get into the real reason why I am writing, my friends. No, Im not naming people and fyi, this could be anywhere in or out of the country so don’t give me shit. Read unbiased, open minded and try not to think about you for a minute…!
Over the last few weeks there have been numerous races. Some large, some not so large, but none the less, very important to many… in fact “A” races. Whether it be a sprint, Oly, HIM or Full, these “A” races are what the season is all about for that athlete and the goals are set high. These athletes put full faith and trust in their coaches and training, to ensure they are well prepared and up for the challenge. But what happens when that coach or coaches are wrong? Out of their league? Or just not educated enough to help some levels of certain athletes? What happens?? Those athletes fail. Their races fall apart and their goals and dreams for the season are over.
I can already here the criticism, so I will put it to rest: a good coach makes sure their athletes set realistic goals, achievable goals, and attainable results.
So what happened? Simple, arrogance. Just because you are a triathlete, does not qualify you to coach. Just because USAT says you are a level 1 certified coach, does not mean you have the tools that are necessary to coach effectively. Can you see where this is going? Im mad, upset and literally feel terrible for my friends as they have been mislead and ill advised!! What makes things harder is to see it continue.
The sport of triathlon is rarely taken lightly. Even for the novice and beginner, large commitments are made both with time and money, two commodities that for most are limited. So what can I do? I can try to educate from what I have learned, what my coach teaches me and what other coaches I respect in the industry lead with. Let me also point out, the above can be completely opposite as well. I know some level 1 coaches who are very qualified to lead all types of athletes, they just don’t choose to further that denomination. So please be advised, this is not a one size fits all discussion.
Ill end this with a few suggestions.
- Don’t be afraid to question your coach. They should have no problem justifying your workouts and why you are doing something.
- Make sure you trust your coach. You can question things and still have full confidence in he/she. Communication is key with anything and this should not differ when it comes to having a coach.
- Check their credentials. They should be able to interpret data and build periodized schedules that include keys like recovery, proper tapering and attention to injury and limiters.
- Educate yourself. The more educated you are, the better you can converse with your coach and speak intelligently about your training and race plan. Two heads are better than one and a coach should not feel intimidated or be anything but receptive to new ideas and training methods. There are advances made daily in research of endurance sports, this is an ongoing learning process, be informed and have an active roll.
Good training to all!! I want nothing but the best for all of my friends. And if you are looking for a top notch coach, check out Suzanne Atkinson. She is my coach, I trust her fully and respect her immense knowledge, experience and commitment to the sport.
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