When I have an initial consultation with an athlete, I listen for the reasons why the athlete is looking to hire a coach. The reasons are varied and reflect the wide range in personalities, motivations, and backgrounds of athletes I’ve coached in the last 16 years. Here are the top 5 reasons athletes hire a coach:
The athlete is looking for accountability.
This athlete tends to need some extra motivation and accountability to get their training done. In the past, they may have completed races without adequate training. They sometimes leave training to the last minute. They know that investing in a coach and training plan will motivate them to do their training. They like that there is a coach who is checking on their training each day and will help hold them accountable to their training and racing goals.
The athlete does not have time and/or energy to plan their own training.
This athlete has a demanding career and/or a family to care for and spend time with. They love training and racing as it provides them with energy for their other demands, but they lack the time to research how to properly train for their goals. Having to spend energy planning their own training leads to decision fatigue. They like that a coach uploads their week of training, and they wake up knowing what they should do that day. They take comfort in knowing the coach took more time than they would have in analyzing their training and planning their upcoming week. They feel a weight has been lifted off their shoulders with trusting their training to a coach.
The athlete is looking for expertise in customizing their training.
This athlete may be new to running or they have years of experience but are looking to take the next step in their training and/or racing. They would like to eliminate the guesswork in their training and have a coach who has expertise in training load management, periodization, and workout design. They look for coaches who have a lengthy track record of coaching athletes to their goal events. They like that the coach designs training that is specific to their individual needs and goals.
The athlete signed up for a new distance or really big challenge.
This athlete has experience training and racing, but has now signed up for their first marathon, ultramarathon, or multisport event. They know this will be a great challenge for them and will require different training preparation. They felt comfortable planning their training for the shorter distances but now want a coach to help guide them to this new goal. They like that as a team of athlete and coach they will be more likely to finish the new distance and reach their goals.
The athlete wants to learn more about topics that support their performance such as nutrition, recovery, and strength training.
This athlete is looking for a coach that provides more than a training plan. They are interested in learning more about topics that support their performance such as sports nutrition, recovery techniques, and strength training. They may be frustrated with training hard in preparation for events only to fall short of their goal due to a lack of nutrition, muscular fatigue, cramps, or injury. They like that a coach would be able to provide education and guidance in areas related to sports performance.