We’ve been doing this a while now, and have loved every minute of it. But it is always a challenge to educate people on exactly what we do as endurance ( slash fitness, slash sport performance) coaches. If I had a dime for every time I heard “I didn’t know you guys did that” I could stop coaching now and head to the lake tomorrow. We take full responsibility for this confusion so we aim to clear it up!
There are a lot of misconceptions as to what we do, who we work with, and how we can benefit people of all walks of life. So here are our top 5 things we (and every other coach out there) want you to know:
- Yes, we can help with that. That’s not just a textbook sales pitch. If your goals fall in the realm of athletic (see point 2) improvement, a good coach can put together a training system for you. We call it a training system, because a training program alone does not always do the trick. And your training may or may not be the thing standing in your way. A good coach will look at every angle while formulating the plan that takes you from A to B. And that plan may change along the way. But a coach will be there every step of your journey. We have a number of athletes who only train for the sole purpose of increasing their quality of life and “aging gracefully”. Some train competitively within themselves, and then some are highly competitive individuals. So wherever you fall in, a good coach can help.
- Yes, you are an athlete. A lot of people think they can’t benefit from a coach because they don’t consider themselves an athlete. If you do any activity (in this case, swim, bike, run, or multisport) more than occasionally, you are an athlete. You don’t have to be competitive to have a coach. You just have to have the desire to be the best version of yourself you can be.
- Yes, you are good enough. We often hear “I didn’t think I was [good, fast, strong, etc.] enough to work with a coach”. I’m floored ever time I hear this! The fact is, the less experience you have, the FASTER you will improve with the help of a coach. You’ve had less overall training, less time to develop bad habits, and you generally have an open and realistic mindset when it comes to long term and short term goals. I say bring on the greenhorns!
- No, you are not too far gone. If you are reading this from the couch, because that’s where you’ve been for a while, there is no time like the present! A good coach isn’t going to throw you right into an incredibly demanding training program. Everything will be progressed based on realistic goals and your improvement along the way. A coach puts their reputation on the line with every person they take on so you can be sure they will do everything in their power to help you succeed! Our kids gotta eat!
- Yes, you CAN do that. A lot of people avoid setting big goals not because they are scared to fail, but because the thought of preparing for something like an ironman, a century ride, or a marathon is so overwhelming. No idea where to start? How long to prepare? What gear you need? A coach will save you the hassle, the time, and the anxiety of the whole process. We are there to guide you and answer any and all questions along the way. So you can stop wasting training and family time searching the web for plans and answers that other so-called coaches have posted.
- BONUS: No, you are not too busy. A lot of folks think they can’t benefit from a coach because they are “too busy” for a structured training plan. I’ve got news for you, we work with a ton of extremely busy people with wild schedules (nutty hours, international travel, kids games, oh my!) and have yet to find one we couldn’t work the training around. That is 80% of the benefit of a coach! Working quality training around your busy life. All it takes is extra communication between you and your coach and it will be smooth sailing.
If you have ever considered hiring a coach, or are wondering if a coach can really benefit you, by all means don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be more than happy to answer any and all questions.
As Always,
TRUST YOUR TRAINING