Who needs a coach?

Exercising is simple, right? You head out the door and just do it…. But what does it take to start an exercise program?  To get faster?  How do you overcome an injury? What really goes into your ability to run, bike, swim? What makes one training schedule more effective than another? What type of schedule should you follow to lose weight effectively? How do you get faster? These are just a few of the questions that inevitably arise when training for endurance sports.  Research on the subject of performance training, biomechanics, technique, sports physiology, physical fitness, etc. is plentiful, but who has time to wade through all that?

Few athletes who have been successful have been self-coached. Many people opt to buy a book with a training plan in it. That can be done, however, the particular training plan used from the book will not be able to take into account your uniqueness in terms of fitness background, current abilities, time restraints, illness, injury, or other disruptions. If you want to get ready for a specific event or type of event, a coach is necessary in developing a plan to meet those needs. The coach offers adjustments to the training plan as an athlete progresses or has set backs which allows them to keep the athlete on track and to a plan. Sticking to a plan, will lead to improvement, but people are often too willing to abandon one plan for the most recent plan they see in a magazine or book. Coaching is much more than merely writing a training plan. Coaching involves developing technical and race skills and strategies. A book can describe how to improve or develop a skill, but having an observer critique the skill and provide feedback is far easier than trying to do it yourself. A coach helps the athlete set goals and select events for which she / he is prepared. The coach also challenges the athlete to push the envelope a bit and works with the athlete to hold back in order to avoid over-training and injuries. Athletes can often be overzealous. Sometimes the 40 year old weekend warrior tries to train like he did when he was 21 despite the extra years of inactivity; a coach can help ease the athlete back into fitness and training. Sometimes just having someone who will hold you accountable serves a prime motivator in sticking to the training plan.

A coach serves other roles including teaching the athlete the nuances and history of the sport as well as linking the athlete into the local sports scene. It takes a lot of work on the coach’s part to put together the correct training plan, constantly reviewing the athlete’s data in order to make sure their body is responding appropriately to the physiological stresses being put on them.

racelab coaches have the experience, have done the research, stay  constantly informed about the latest research, and consistently consult with institutions, experts, and professionals such as Triathlon Legend Mark Allen, USAT, UST&F, physiologists, educators, therapists, strength-trainers, nutritionists, etc. The coaches then have the time to apply all that to the athletes training program, taking into consideration specific goals, experience, and abilities, and adjusting it to the response of the athlete’s body and spirit to the training stress. 

Contact any of the racelab coaches to chat about your plans or to get questions answered. You can also meet with them at our various training sessions.

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Official Training for

Honolulu Marathon