Coach's are an integral part of any winning team. As I tackle my quest to be called an Ironman I know I need help. I am getting help. I am part of a team and I have a coach. My coach is named Mike Winn. He is USTA cerftified coach and aquaintance from past competitions and teams. I am really part of a couple teams as well. With Mike as my coach, I am part of Vanguard Endurance. Locally, we are a small group(10-12) of triathletes who are doing a variety of races including several that will do Louisville with me. I am also still part of our local tri club T3. So, it's kind of like you have your family and then all of your relatives.
So what does a coach and teams do in an individual sport?..... A lot. Mike does a myriad of things. Probably most importantly, he sets my training schedule every week. This is based on his plan and my results and with a few adjustments to help allow for family life and work. This is quite a juggling act at times but one we have done successfully for about 3 months now. As part of this process and for each of my workouts , I load all my data from my triathlon specific watch to a website called trainingpeaks. It documents things like; heart rate, pace, changes in elevation during the activity, duration of the activity, duration of a certain exercise within the session, and the location and time of day of the workout. I also personally input daily metrics there such as my weight, resting HR, hours slept, general feel, and then comments on the workouts. What this all does is it gives Mike a set of metrics he can then analyze and compare to benchmarks and standards to assure my health, my progress, and ultimately and hopefully my success. The other little sneaky part is that it is like a lie detector you can not cheat, cut short, or skip a workout when there is data to show. Mike also does several other things. He coaches you on the physical forms to the sport. This can include running form, bike position, and swim stroke. Lastly, he is that voice. That one that is not family or friend that gives you that push, asks, answers, critiques and gives reinforcement. These are all so critical to getting yourself to and above your limits that alone would be beyond measure.
Being part of a team is great too. As a person who has always been a part and enjoyed teams, I have a great fondness for my team Vanguard and T3. These are individuals with similar aspirations and mindsets yet with differences to our reasons. They fill so many roles in this process. They are people to push you during a group workout. They are that person that you know if you don't show up for a workout will ask where you were and how you are doing. They are people to get insight from and to engage in discussion and planning. They are that familiar face on a race day that gives you a lift through reassuring conversation or explanation, a gesture or calling out "you got this" when you cross paths on the course, and they help bring you home as you approach the finish line. They are also those people that give relief to your family and friends who are not triathletes who are tired of hearing about triathlon form you.
For me, comfort comes in numbers. This is not numerals but numbers. For a sport that is quite often spent alone with constant thoughts bouncing between your ears. Its good to have those numbers with you. To break that mind numbing cycle of thoughts while alone. As I move towards and will participate in Louisville, I will not be alone and it will be awesome to do this with others I call teammates. It just makes it more sweeter.
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