coaches and trainers

Recently I've been thinking a lot about coaching, both the coaching/training I do for others, and also looking for a coach for me. I think its important to have someone to guide you and work with you towards whatever goal it is that you set. So I thought I'd do a blog on the subject as I'm sure there are lots people out there who might be interested and might actually get something out of it. Since it tis' the season for many folks out there and get on the workout wagon I decided to make this in general terms for any coach or trainer you may be looking for. A lot of it will be more triathlon or run specific, but I will try to emphasize the important points.

First and foremost you have to recognize why you are looking for a coach/trainer and why they are important. This, often times, forces us to learn an important lesson which is this; you don't know everything, and you probably know even less then you think you do about getting fit. The other thing that is hard for most is to look at ourselves objectively. Depending on the type of person we are, we do not always know what is best for ourselves. Sometimes we push too hard, and more often then not, we don't push hard enough. Its hard to get a gauge on how we are performing day in and day out, and our mind can play tricks on us. Unless you are really in tune with your body and can decipher the biofeedback you are receiving from it, which comes from years of training (and even then its not always clear), you may not know what your body is telling you. You can't see yourself and judge accurately how your exertion is affecting you, nor can you see your form.

I'll give you a case in point using my track kids. Some of these kids will run as hard as they can till they're crying and their nose starts bleeding, and some of them start crying as soon as they do anything more then get up off the couch. When we have easy days there are kids that we constantly have to reign in and slow down, who would otherwise run themselves into the ground and injury. On hard days there are other kids we really have to push and find ways to motivate to get them through the workouts. Are they tired? No. Do they think they're tired and/or can't do it? Yes. How is it we know they can do it? A good coach knows how to read his/her athletes. You know because you know the amount of work they have already done in the past and you can see what they will be capable of as they move forward.

The same thing goes for the adults I work with. Many times I have people finishing a personal training session not knowing how much they just actually did. I work them the best way possible for their capabilities, and I know how to push them without killing them. A good trainer never makes you sore to the point where it hurts to get out of bed the next day. I find out what they're capable of at the point when I get them, and I look for the best way to move them forward. I had a talk with a client the other day about where he was a couple of months ago compared to where he is now, and the difference is amazing. It made me very happy to see how far he has come, and to know he feels good about it.

With that being said, how is it that you find a good trainer or coach? Its not easy. I'm going to seperate this next section between coaches and trainers starting with trainers. Doing your research is key here. I would say your best bet is finding a private contractor trainer (or private studio) vs. a large corporate gym trainer. There are few reasons why; a private contractor runs his/her own business and usually puts more work into their profession, they're good enough to make it on their own merit and no longer need the constant influx of new gym members to retain clients, which also makes them value their clients even more.

Corporate or private, its hit or miss. Personal trainers often get a bad rap, and is often times the case, its well deserved. It can be a great way to make good money in a short amount of time, and with no government regulation, its a profession almost anyone can get in to. I certainly spent my time in a corporate gym, which was short, and for good reason. But not all places are like that, and I will say that one of best trainers I know worked in that same large corporate gym. Still, a corporate gym is motivated by sales and sales alone. Most of those trainers work on quotas and commission, and selling is hands down more important then the actual training for those types of places.

So what do you do? Put Google to use, interview some trainers, and find someone you like who knows what they're talking about. And just like any other job interview, ask for references (or testimonials) for this person you're interviewing. Have they produced results for their clients? Ask what certification they have. Look it up and verify its a good one and not some weekend course they took a couple of weeks ago (they're out there!). This person should be TEACHING you how to exercise and be healthy, not just working you out!

Coaches. This one is tough because anyone can call themself a coach. Some of the same things apply. Make sure they have produced results in the people they have coached. Find out where they got their knowledge from and what experience they have. I think there are lots of good running coaches out there. Triathlon...not so much for a couple of reasons; its a relatively new sport, and the three disciplines make it very technical, but there are a number of good coaches and teams out there.

What I'm about to say may be hipocritical (though I'm not pro), but pro-athletes and former pro-athletes do not always make the best coaches. Reason number one why, they're probably very talented and they think that every person should train the way they trained. A lot of times their knowledge is very specific to them and what they experienced personally, so that can leave them with a narrow view of how to train an athlete, and no two people are alike. Still, one of the best triathlon coaches in the world is a former world champ herself, and an athlete can relate to what it takes to realize your full potential.

If you're planning on heading into either one of these sports a coach can provide you with a great deal of knowledge and necessary help. Depending on what you are looking for you can generally go group style, or private one-on-one. Some teams/groups are better for socializing, others for competition. Either way find a place you're comfortable. If you decide to go the competitive route and/or want to see what you're made of, I think it becomes really important to find a proper coach. There is no magic one-size-fits-all program for everyone, and that applies ten fold for triathlon as compared to running. Like I said no two people are the same, we're all built differently and have different biomechanics, and we all come from different backgrounds and abilities. What works for Chrissie Wellington and Ryan Hall won't work for you and me.


The fitness world is full of gimmicks and B.S. and stupid crap. There is always someone selling something new out there that claims to make you leaner, faster, stronger or whatever. Keep an eye out for it and use your best judgement. You can find good coaches and trainers out there, and they usually have the results to prove it and a number of people around them to confirm it. Ask around and you'll find someone. One thing I've found is that word of mouth is the best advertising in this business. Everyone loves to talk about the weight they lost, or the marathon or triathlon they just finished.

Hopefully this was informative and it gives some folks out there a place to start if they're looking for a coach or trainer . Anyone with questons should feel free to contact me and I'll do my best to help you out.

Peace out homies,
ff