V-CLUB TRAINING CORNER
We’ve teamed up with Marilyn Trout, certified USA Cycling Elite Coach to answer V-Club members’ training questions. You can view her coach profile at: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mountainpedalscoaching80903
Send your cycling inquiries to Marilyn, and for a limited time, if yours is selected to be answered in our V-Club column, VeloWear will send you a $20 gift certificate that can be used towards any purchase on VeloWear.com. To submit your inquiry, e-mail her at trout_mic@msn.com, and type “V-Club Training Question” in the subject line of the e-mail.
The Dynamic Duo: Chemistry and Communication
by Marilyn Trout
Almost sounds like a low budget ad for finding a spouse. Well no worries, I won’t go in that direction but I do want to take a look at some things that may help you in finding a coach*.
Before jumping in, I would like to mention a few things, firstly, the need for a coach. There is one basic question to ask, will a coach make a difference in my performance? Depends. I don’t believe that it is imperative for all cyclists to have a personal coach in order to meet their goals. HOWEVER, every successful cyclist, one that meets or exceeds their personal goals, needs to be motivated, has someone in their life that believes in them, can get trustworthy advice when the “road” is smooth and when it’s rough, has some resource that provides a scientifically-sound training program and has a good dose of common sense to adapt their training to the rigors of life and health. If you have all of the above in some healthy measure, then no need to spend your time reading. Go out and train. If not, there’s a good chance that adding another dimension to your cycling endeavors in the form of a coach, would be beneficial. Read on.
Secondly, assuming that a scientifically-sound training program is in place, I believe that success, meeting or exceeding one’s personal goals, will come to those who reach beyond their grasp. It starts with a dream. Henry David Thoreau said, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” Bingo! Now put foundations under them. A scientifically-sound training program is the mortar of the foundation but the building blocks, how you adapt training to deal with time constraints, family obligations, school, fatigue, health issues, shiftwork, weight control, race preparation/anxiety/tactics, nutrition, travel…life, will determine how big your castle will be.
OK you have found a few potential coaches that show a bit of promise. They appear sound in their training plans, they have experience and a number of their athletes have been “successful”. What then? I believe that at times, athletes are blinded by the “sell”, the “secret training”**, the glitz of a bio. Indeed, good athletes MAY make good coaches. Certainly, they know the training aspect and even the psychology of dealing with pain, winning, losing… BUT can they relate to you.
Chemistry
The chemistry between coach/athlete is very much like any other relationship, whether friendship or business. It's how the individuals relate to one another. Is there an ease and understanding? Is there friction, lack of confidence or trust? Chemistry has to do with personality type, as well as, the athlete's coachability, (ie. the ability to accept direction and discuss things without being defensive…that can go both ways depending on ego size), and, most importantly, being able to trust the coach even when the advice seems contrary or is outside the athlete's paradigm. We are motivated by some individuals and discouraged by others. Certainly, we want the former when looking for a coach. This will come from an athlete’s intuition after “meeting” the potential coach.
Communication
“The last coach I had just plopped a training plan on my lap and expected me to do it rather than TALKING to me and getting feedback.”
Whatever form the communication takes, telephone, in-person, email, training log…, it HAS to take place. (There is absolutely no compromise in this area with long distance coaching and for this reason alone, some athletes will only be able to function with a local coach.) As far as I’m concern, I’d rather deal with too much information than not enough. I can always discard what I don’t need but I can’t manufacture something out of nothing. It is extremely important to provide and receive feedback (Stats + Subjective)...both ways: coach to athlete AND athlete to coach. Reviewing my athlete’s feedback regularly to stay current with the fitness build, is critical. The way I see it, the training plan is a living thing. It is a dynamic situation and must be evaluated/adapted regularly to accommodate changing health, work, fatigue and a host of other issues. Cookie-cutters are good for cookies not for training programs and certainly not for life.
Vince Lombardi. One of the most inspiring and respected coaches, was known for his ability to change lives both on and off the field. Sure, he had to know his stuff professionally, otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to survive in the professional world of football. Ahhh…but there are coaches and then there are coaches. When you go looking for a coach, look for the coach that has the ability to understand and not sell, the ability to relate and not dictate and the desire to serve the athlete instead of serving self.
* If you are interested in having a coach come alongside you in your cycling journey, I highly recommend you visit www.bicyclecoach.com.
** The secret of “secret training” is that a coach discovers your “training fingerprint.” It belongs only to you.
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