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Benefits of professional coaching?
Hi Team
There's been a bit of talk here recently about training and coaching which is timely for me given some of the thoughts kicking around in my vacant head. I thought I'd throw open a discussion about the benefits of 'real' coaching as compared to self coaching and at what point would it make sense to assist in achieving your goals.
I can see that a coach could provide two main benefits to a budding rider; the technical knowledge about training programs/structure and the motivation/external discipline to keep a rider honest and on track. The value of each of these would vary depending on the riders natural disposition and motivation but where they aren't inclined to learn the theory or make the sacrifices then a coach would make a big difference. (You could argue that that kind of rider won't ever be a great athelete so why bother but we're talking about amateur rather than elite level atheletes here)
The relevance of this is that I have been wondering what advantages I would see from a real coach. I've set some goals around 24hr Solo racing, in particular to compete at the 2013 National Championships in April, but am struggling to get the momentum started to get there. I'm coming off a slump in motivation, and therefore fitness, and just starting to relight my fire. I'm relatively busy with work and family and can't devote huge amounts of time to training so having an efficient training program (i.e. more fitness per hour of effort) would be very valuable
I find personally that external motivation is quite effective so things like entering an event gives me a shot in the arm. For example something as simple as entering the Fling, and the subsequent fear of failure, will give me that bit more drive to spend an extra session on the trainer rather than copping out. As that's a motivating factor for me I can see that someone keeping me honest would be an advantage but I'm curious to hear other opinions.
Given all of that, how does one find a good MTB coach? Mark Fenner is a logical choice given his profile and specific experience with 24 hrs racing, http://www.ftptraining.com/ , but I'm sure there are others out there worth looking at as well. Does anyone have any recommendations or experience? How much would you typically pay for a coach?
thanks in advance
dan
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Best way to train for a solo 24hr is to talk/ride/train with people that race them. Also start doing 8 hour races, you will need long races to learn about fuelling your body and how your body/mind copes. I'm not sure I'll do the Nat Champs this year, might save myself for the World Champs http://www.wembo.com.au/australia/about/canberra....
Some good info here http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/24hr-sol...
I'm interested to see what coaches are recommended, I'm currently looking for one to work with for a mental edge training package I'm putting togeather.
For me and I get a really good deal with my coach, I see the benefits as the following (I train with power as well)
Structure to my training sessions
Someone to bounce ideas of
Provide Guidance on a particular training routine
Race Guidance or Reporting
As I mentioned previously, I see structure being the key instead of just going out and riding, if your time poor/limited then you can really derive some great benefits from it. I tend to write my own program depending on what I am looking to achieve and then send it to my coach for review and input, he will make changes, send it back and then I implement it. I will send him my WKO+ file to view or send him a email once a week with a breakdown of the week and what I have done etc.
I also talk tactics depending on the race as well etc.
Personally I dont see the value in paying $250 a month which some coaches charge or more for coaching, if I was paying the full amount, I would pay $75 a month. Thats as much as you need to pay imo. If you have half a brain and read a book you can construct your own plan. I have seen some big improvements, somwhere in the region of 25%+ increase in FTP, while I have lost close to 8kg's as well.
Over the course of the last few weeks, I have started, and then stopped, and then started, and then started an article about coaching for MTB riding - although the subject matter would pertain to most endurance sports.
As is probably fairly well known, I coach a few people - actually only Elite riders, and only 3 of them, I also advise a few others, and finally, I 'train' a few more - which is by way of the Jet Racing team and training group.
Although it all seems semantic initially, I actually see a clear difference in the services, and therefore the expectations, and consequently, the price.
Ironically, I dont charge anyone I coach. I've been thinking of changing that, but beleive it will change the relationship I have with my athletes. I really only coach people for Cross-Country, and Marathons. As a group, we have some great successes, but its highly intensive. To the point where other Elite athletes looking in think it is a little bit 'loony'. We do it differently and dont care that people dont 'get it'.
The training I provide for Jet and the group is just one session a week - to keep people on track - and beyond that, a few of them ask my advice on how to struture the rest of their time.
24hr racing is a whole different ball game, and I would go with tried and tested, and experienced.
To my mind - within Australia (and therefore the world) - there is probably no better coach for 24hr racing than Mark Fenner (FTP Training).
He has been there and done it. That experience is invaluable.
The other group I might look at would Donna Dalls PCS Coaching. She is highly credible, with great results and testimonials.
What I would advise you to do though, is be clear with what you would be looking for - monthly programs with a weekly phone call to tweak it. Maybe a ride or two with your coach? Advise on equipment, set-up, nutrition? Then find a coach that can meet your needs. If you dont want to ride with them - then it doesnt matter if they are based overseas!
The difference having a structured plan to follow will bring 'night and day' changes to your performance. You will be more comitted to hitting sessions, you will train with purpose - as its you that pays the bills, and you will know you are doing everything you can to maximise the time you have to train (family, work, real life etc).
It wont be cheap, but it will make so much more of a difference to your speed and enjoyment than a new pair of wheels, new frame etc etc.
Get into it. Feel free to drop me a PM if you want to talk in more detail.
Thanks for the feedback there guys. Agree with what you're saying about the benefits of both a structured program and an external motivation source. It's an interesting point you raise Ant that the geography actually doesn't matter, I hadn't thought of that. Can you outsource coaching to Mumbai? As you said though, Aussies do seem to be amongst the best in the world at 24 solos so shopping at home has it's advantages
I will reach out to Mr. Fenner and see what comes out of it. PCS also looks intresting so I will contact them. Updates to follow
cheers
dan
It's funny that in any other sport coaches are thought of as part of the furniture. Amateur sport I mean. Pro goes without saying. A coach would have to add value. Anyone had any experience with trainer type people from gyms? Reading the stuff that fenz puts out I recon it would be gold. How to train but also the fueling as mentioned above, how to deal with morale all that stuff. A multi day hike is always a good one to find out what your body and more important your noggin will do once you look like a half sucked mango.
Fenner's articles on 100km event training and nutrition were a real "aha!" piece of reading for me. Worked really well for the last 50km I did.
I just need to be disciplined and stop eatign the junk food they keep putting out at work!