Why the animosity toward Coaching and Coaches? (Page 4)

Maybe "need" is the wrong word. As another poster pointed out, there are just a few "needs" in life--shelter and food pretty much encompassing them. Past that, , the desire to have a coach them becomes based on a person's wants--they want to be as fast as possible, or they want to have someone hold their hand. That pretty much sums it up, I think.

Nancy--it sounds like you fall into that second group, and that's absolutely fine. There's nothing at all wrong with it, and probably a whole lot right with it.

nm

In many ways, I guess I've had a coach (or coaches) for the last three years - here on BT. It's been stated before, the credentials of any "coach" are questionable and open to interpretation, as amiine stated, "anyone can be a coach" but I would maintain that I've gained a plethora of training advice from the both experienced and often novice members here on BT.

Without this website and forum I would be nowhere near as knowledgeable about tri training and the sport in general; what I can learn (by occasionally having to decipher and decide for myself and weed through general consensus and opinions) in a few weeks may have taken me many seasons to learn on my own or by reading books written by so-called experts.

So BT is my coach. Members such as the ones that have responded to this post like amiine and the bear and many, many others here on the BT forums who are always quick to chime in when a beginner begins to be fed false or misleading responses to their posts or have no problem calling out so-called experts, are my coaches. 

And FWIW, the top pros and elite triathletes have the best coaches money can buy, and they still melt down on occasion.

You got personally attacked and insulted and the moderators didn’t do anything about it? weird cuz they are good at that and they would have even issued a warning… who knows maybe you did or maybe it wasn’t like that, after all there are always two sides for every story.

Stop huffing formaldehyde.  Problem solved. 

I KNEW there had to be some trick...... 

Anyway what you mentioned on the 1st paragraph, that would be the best case scenario, but you also have to consider that when you are coaching you are dealing with different people from different backgrounds, personalities and with different specific needs. I have athletes willing to learn and understand as much as possible  why we managed the periodization in a certain way or why we choose to do x or y session. One of my guys even trains a few of his friends on the side and I told him know I would be happy to help/mentor him in anyway possible.

Other athletes challenge my knowledge on a regular basis by asking questions from other training approaches they read/hear somewhere and I enjoy that very much because it forces me to continue educating myself plus I’ve learned new cool stuff from other coaches that way. Yet I have other athletes with hectic jobs, families, etc and they have no time and/or desire to get into the details of training. They just want someone to set a plan for them (so they don’t have to spend time doing it) and help them accomplish their athletic goals. As a coach you have to adjust and fulfill those needs, and that is a big part of your service as a coach. You are not only prescribing a plan and that’s it, you try to help your guys cope with training while they can take care of their priorities.

I agree that endurance training for 90% of the athletes (in particular in this site) isn’t rocket science and by the mere fact that if they do any training and do it consistently they will improve. I’ve said it many times before: coaching a beginner or BOP is not that difficult and anyone can do it, unfortunately these athletes are the ones who sometimes get taken advantage by some ‘coaches’  as they prescribed cookie cutter plans or spout bad advice.

In the end any product or service will only be as valuable for you depending on your specific needs or perception of it and your current situation.

I don't get it.  For me its accountability, and constant measurement.  I pay a coach to point me in the right direction, and to keep me going that direction when I veer off the course.  I respect what she says because I know she has my best interest in mind, and is not making emotional decisions about my training....I would be at this point of my IM training.  You also have to look at the fact that a coach who is active in your training is more likely to get you to your highest potential faster than a book based program.  Not that you can't get there on a prebaked plan, but just like a financial advisor who is good at what they do, you pay them to know what to do, just as much as you pay them to do it. 

I think the problems between people who don't have coaches, or people who have coaches with different plans are because not all coachs have cookie cutter programs. They aren't supposed to.

One person's take on coaching

Malmo is tremendous. 

If you want animosity, try being a lawyer.

It's the dirty secret that 95% of this is all pretty simple.

Yeah.  I should stop spreading that around.

Maybe then I could start a website selling miracle solutions to people.  www.ChiaRunning.com

I'm gonna be rich. 

My feeling exactly, so it comes down to what is the other 5% worth to me? Marginal cost vs. marginal benefit.