So, where does the true value of a coach lie? What makes a good coach can not easily be defined. Technical knowledge, availability, personality and price all come into the picture. But beyond that, there is the art of coaching. Not to sound all mysterious or mystic, but there is more than just understanding periodization, memorizing some terminology and setting up a website.

Dan O'Connor racing hard at the 5430 Sprint.

The best way I can describe the art of coaching, and the justification for the cost is something I heard while I was watching a TV show called “Build or Bust” on the Speed Channel. In the program they take a relatively mechanically inclined person, give them all the parts needed to build a motorcycle and 30 days to build it. If they get it done, it’s theirs, if not, they go home empty handed. The builder does get some help and advice from the shop owner, but it is limited. During one episode that went bust, the owner made a comment that I think really applies to triathlon coaching as well. What he said was, “People ask me how I can charge $75,000 dollars for a custom bike. I tell them that the value of the bike is not just in it’s parts, but in the builders ability to put it all together. The knowledge it takes to build one of these takes years to learn, and that is what customers pay for. The average guy, even one with good mechanical skills, can’t just walk in and build one of these machines.”

When I heard that, I immediately thought of triathlon. Most athletes understand the concepts of base work, build phases, speed work, strength, tapering, racing and recovery. But how many triathletes can take all of those separate parts and put it together to make a complete, effective plan? On top of that add in the objective opinion a coach gives you. It’s like giving someone all the parts and saying “put it together, and do it right”. When you hire a coach, you are hiring someone who knows how all the parts fit together. Unlike building a motorcycle, a coach has to also be flexible and be able to build the bike several ways. Not all athletes have the same physiology, goals, or time, so each athlete is like building a custom bike. Sure, all the parts are the same, but how they come together will differ greatly. In addition, bikes don’t get injured, or have sudden travel plans that throw a wrench in the plan (pun intended).

This is why reputable one on one coaching is costlier than if you were to purchase a generic one size fits all plan. When you hire a personal coach, you get someone who can modify your plan when something disrupts your plan. You also get a sounding board, and someone who knows when to tell you to back off some and when to push yourself. Yes, the costs may be greater in a monetary sense, but the rewards of racing to your best is priceless.

Coach AJ Johnson is a USAT Certified Coach and can be reached for personal coaching at AJ@D3multisport.com

From the Mailbag
Follow up to Training with Power (cont. from last month)
with Coach Mike Ricci & Coach AJ Johnson

Question: Ryan
      Reading through the D3 newsletter that recaps the info Mike had previously sent on his athlete's improved performance following training with a power meter, I have a couple questions. First, I agree with the benefits but am curious as to how much weight to put on the improvement resulting from the PM vs just continuing to do the work. I assume that the athlete wasn't training or racing with a PM in his first IM and that in general, he's a typical AG athlete.

Answer: Mike
      David WAS using a PT before we worked together.

Q: Ryan
      Taking it to the next level, do you have any similar numbers from top level athletes (AJ or the like?) that were no doubt putting in all the time doing everything right before, and how that compares with any times savings following the use of training with a PM? Basically, I'm trying to separate out how much of it is just doing the work, and how much of it is doing the work via a PM (or doing the right work). Make sense at all?

A: Mike
      I think its more about doing the RIGHT Work, like AJ said. Knowing you have to do a 200 TSS ride or a 30 point ride makes a big difference. Knowing your weekly TSS should X on 3-4 rides helps tons. Knowing your CAP on easy rides, how hard to push hills - things your HR will NEVER tell you.

Kathleen Steffe, 2nd AG in 40-44 at the 5430 Sprint.

A: AJ
      Good questions. What I would say is that the PM allows for doing the right work at the right time. For instance I know I need to keep my watts down on an easy day. The PM keeps me from going too hard, so that I can then go HARD on the hard day. Plus, as we talked about on the phone, it keeps you honest in the sense that you have less of a chance of "losing focus". To some degree just putting the work in will get an athlete better. However you do reach a point where you work harder for smaller gains. This is where the timing and precision the PM has come into play. With the PM you can dial in exact efforts, and if those efforts are done correctly, within the proper timing framework, you will get the most from your training.
      Last, is that I think a PM is most effective for AGer's since they don't have time to waste. The PM makes sure you do what you is prescribed with no wasted time or efforts. Personally, I don't think I would have broken 5 at IMH without my PM. The numbers I had going into the race gave me the confidence I needed to make that last push. Add into it the fact that the numbers I saw on race day were consistent with training so I knew I could hold on. I didn't go with any other athlete when I saw it would take me out of where I should be. Your assumption that I was doing things right before the PM aren't quite true. I didn't go as hard as I needed and I realized that my easy days were too hard. Looking back on my bike training I made plenty of mistakes. On the run and swim too. I still make mistakes, as it's a constant learning process. Mike Pigg told me once that if you're not trying something new, you won't improve. To a degree I agree with that. I have workouts that I know work for me, but I like to try new ones to see what kind of stimulous and effect they will have on my training. Right now I am doing more threshold work than ever.
      I am looking for new training ideas, workouts, methods all the time. Too many athletes fall into a routine, hit a plateau and wonder why they aren't improving. Now with Cycling Peaks, the PM is even more effective. I can see what kind of effect the training had. Whether it was long, intense, easy, etc. I can notice patterns and trends and decide what type of workouts are working for me.

Q Ryan
      I think in general, an avg AG athlete could make improvements by continuing to just do the work regardless of whether or not s/he has a PM to train with, whereas for a pro, doing the right kind of work is what's going to make the improvement noticeable; and therefore make the case for the PM's effectiveness. I know AJ went under 5 hours on the bike at Kona last year for the first time so there was a definite improvement there. Just curious what the effects were in the first year at Kona from having gone without a PM to racing/training with a PM. Any thoughts there?

A: Mike
      I think this is the opposite. Most AGers train TOO hard, and don't know how to go easy - just like AJ mentioned. I see it ALL the time. My theory is either you are going very hard, or you are going EASY, and the in between isn't necessary for time constrained athletes. For people will all day to train - and I mean 30 hours per week, then it’s a bit different in my opinion.

I hope this helps. In general, doing the work is easy, but doing the CORRECT work at the CORRECT intensity is what's KEY about the PM.

Thanks for the question Ryan and if any of other readers have a question regarding training send an email to us at: Mike@D3Multisport.com – would love to hear from you!