Who's your (Coaching) Daddy?

The picture above is when I met Crowie in Kona and in now way is he my Dad (had to add this comment because I know Bryan, http://www.trainingpayne.blogspot.com/ will have something to say about it. haha).



I only uploaded this picture with my question in mind: Do you need a coach (even if you are world champion)

Since IMSA I've been thinking about coaches and who's being coached by who.

Talking to so many Triathletes and reading blog posts and websites I see something of everything. Some people coach themselves, others get by using generic programs from the Internet and others have coaches. And then you get different type of coaches and different type of packages depending on the experience and knowledge of the coach.

Looking at all of this it can be very confusing and hard to decide which way to go. At what time in your Triathlon career/lifestyle do you start making use of a coaching service and at what time do you stop making use of a coach, which I don't think is a wise idea!

I basically started out by just reading up on websites and using generic triathlon training plans off the Internet. Just to get the feel for what to do, how much and when. But with our wonderful www. out there you can get confused so easily.

After a while I joined Triangle Sport (organizers of Ironman South Africa), which training department was back then run by James Cunnama, a professional triathlete with some awesome results lately. This was the first time I had the experience of being "coached"

After completing my first IM, I decided to look for something else and after browsing the web I came across Mark Allen Online, http://www.markallenonline.com/ I joined them and it's been always two years that I train on the Mark Allen Online principles. It works for me.

The method they use is awesome and after getting used to the "new" way of training I found it very helpful. With their guidance I went from a 11h55 Ironman to a 10h10 Ironman. To best describe the way they coach, I would suggest go their website.

After Ironman South Africa this year I asked myself the question, will a coach make a difference, in my case to get to a sub 10 hour Ironman or get on the podium from where I am now, or am I just as good as my genes, and no matter how hard I train or whoever is my coach, I will only improve to a certain level and then I won't improve any further. Is it possible to, if I can call it "Waste your money on a coach" as you don't have the potential or ability to improve any more.

I think a coach is there to help you perform at your best but at the end the result will depend on your ability no matter who's your coach

And I refer again to my personal situation. Will a coach take me from a 10h10 Ironman to a 9h30 Ironman ( which is the time to do to get onto the podium in our age group) or is it just not possible for my body to get there, due to lack of talent ?

Now my question: Who's your coach?

Today's Training:
Run: 25min, 5.5km, did not wear heart rate monitor, just went for an easy relaxed run.