Benefits of Hiring an Endurance Coach
Only serious athletes hire endurance coaches, right? Well, not quite. The truth is, athletes of all levels can benefit from working with an endurance coach.
And yes, even though you could follow a pre-written training plan or ask ChatGPT to create one for you (and you’d probably finish your race), there’s also a level of personalization, experience, and empathy that those options don’t offer. And that’s just for starters.
Let’s explore the benefits of working with an endurance coach.
Personalized training for your unique schedule
One of the main jobs of an endurance coach is to use an athlete-centered approach to create a plan that fits into your life (not the other way around). Coaches consider all aspects of your life, including your work schedule, family commitments, volunteer work, hobbies outside of training, etc., to creatively craft a plan that helps you meet your goals and get the most out of your training program.
Also, unlike pre-written plans, having an endurance coach on your side means you can communicate when things like unexpected life events or severe weather come up and you need a quick adjustment to your training plan.
Time and effort savings
Like we said, you could spend hours watching YouTube videos or reading blogs and piecing together workouts for a DIY training plan. Or, you could ask AI to create a training plan for you. But, you’ll likely be spending valuable time and energy asking yourself if you’re:
Optimizing your training time?
Training in the correct zones?
Incorporating the right amount of strength training (with proper exercise selection, program progression, overload, rest/recovery time, etc.) into your routine?
Eating, drinking, and fueling yourself correctly?
Or if a robot is overtraining you because it wasn’t given exactly the right prompt and hasn’t considered things like your current health, recent injury(ies), outside stressors, current season/weather, or current strength ability levels now vs. last month/year, etc.
You could spend hours learning all you can and still feel overwhelmed. So yes, although working with an endurance coach isn’t necessary, it will help you get to that next level.
And, with the help of an endurance coach, you can take “figure out training plan” and “figure out race plan” (we chat about this with our athletes well in advance of race day) off your to-do list and focus your mental energy on nailing your training leading up to race day.
Injury prevention
Experienced coaches are trained to spot weaknesses, imbalances, and asymmetries. For example, through a running gait analysis, coaches can identify common gait dysfunctions, such as pelvic drop or overstriding, and prescribe targeted strength and mobility training (or, in some cases, professional guidance) to help you increase efficiency and reduce the risk of injury.
And, by staying in close communication with their athletes, endurance coaches can monitor whether an athlete needs to make changes to their training plan (whether that be adjusting the workout volume or skipping a workout to prioritize rest or cross-training) to avoid overtraining.
When you’re following a pre-written training plan, it may be tougher to listen to your body and eventually lead to burnout as you’re more focused on staying consistent and checking all the boxes (getting the workout in and finishing the exact distance at the exact prescribed pace).
Technique correction and skill development
It’s worth repeating that identifying weaknesses and imbalances is a key role played by an endurance coach and a significant help in reducing the risk of injury. During in-person sessions, coaches can make quick on-the-spot corrections and have athletes implement drills that may feel awkward at first (or like overcorrection), but ultimately will help them get closer to the ideal technique.
And, most virtual coaches use video and feedback to analyze an athlete’s technique in swimming, cycling, and running. Whether coaching in-person or virtually, by frequently observing technique, monitoring how an athlete handles training volume and intensity, and providing suggestions, coaches ensure their athletes stay ahead of injuries and optimize performance with proper form.
Goal setting and accountability partner
The reality is that a sport like triathlon has a lot of moving parts and goes well beyond just swimming, biking, and running. For example, mental toughness is a skill that’s fundamental to endurance racing and must be developed over time. With a coach’s guidance, you can set specific, realistic goals and create an action plan to help you achieve them.
And, although coaches are excited to celebrate your wins, they’re also there for you on your toughest days, providing support and encouragement (something a computer cannot do authentically), while also reminding athletes like you that rest is an important training tool, too.
Expert guidance and coaching experience
Experienced coaches are aware that there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy when it comes to coaching. Each athlete has their own preferred learning style, and coaches use this information to tailor their instructions in a way their athletes will understand.
Additionally, having coaches in your corner who understand periodization and program design will help you create a training program specific to your unique needs, help you peak at the right time, and achieve your goals with the least risk of injury or overtraining. Coaches are constantly learning and seeking out new knowledge to educate themselves and help their athletes maximize the benefits of their training.
You deserve a worry-free race day, knowing that every detail of your training and racing plan has been carefully considered and customized to your unique needs, fitness level, and life circumstances. All you need to do now is literally enjoy the ride and trust in the process leading up to race day.
Are you interested in working with endurance coaches who are committed to understanding you as a unique individual and creating a program that helps you reach your goals without rearranging your schedule? If so, we’d love to be part of your athletic journey. Learn more about our services here to see if we’d be a good fit.