Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Coaches are People Too

There's an unwritten rule for coaches that if anyone asks how your training is going the answer is always great. "How did that race go?"  Exactly according to plan.

Well, I'm here to tell you that it's not true.  At least not for this coach.  I face the same struggles you, as an age grouper triathlete, face.

After completing two Ironmans (or is that Ironmen?) in two years, I took the off in off-season seriously this year.  I'm still paying for it.  Combine that with the crazy wet cold spring we had and I'm behind where I would like to be.

I get it when an athlete writes me that they just didn't have "it" for the prescribed workout.  It happens.  Hopefully not too often.  When that happens we look at what's going on in their life and training and see what we can do to help them get "it" back.  Sometimes it's a change of scenery, change of pace, signing up for a race or just revisiting their goals and motivation for their multisport pursuits.

The way I look at it, I'd rather be honest with my athletes about my own training struggles.  As an athlete would I want a coach who's been in my shoes?   I would.  Would you?

I'll be racing New Bri this weekend.  Looking forward to seeing you out there!

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