Question for triathletes using coaches

As a beginner I chose to use a coach so that I would remain injury free, use my time more effectively and have someone with experience guiding me.

I think your last statement - being injury prone - suggests that you would benefit from expert guidance.  

But I am only a beginner - have only completed one triathlon (last weekend) so my opinion does not hold much weight. Having qualified my statements I will say:

With coaching I stayed injury free, DID use my time effectively, won my age group, came in 4th overall in the first time women (missed 3rd by 4 seconds to a woman less than half my age) and 7th overall in men and women, beat all the other first timers I knew racing and had a great race.  I am meeting up with my coach this weekend to review and go forward to hopefully have a fantastic kick azz season.

I am a believer in expert opinions - having a coach whose opinion I respect and trust has been quite helpful to me.  I have also sought opinions here (and all the first time tips people gave me were GREAT - and made a HUGE difference). 

Good discussion on coaching:

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=105023&start=1

Coaching has nothing to do with accountability or motivation -- at least for me. I'd still be just as motivated and just as dedicated to sticking to my training plan if I didn't have a coach.

I saw my times improve because of the quality of the plan; it had nothing to do with a change of mentality brought on by having a coach.

I don't understand why people get a coach for accountability. I hear people say it all the time. You get your butt out of bed bright and early each day to train because you have race goals...not because you have a coach who will be looking over your shoulder....

for things such as form where I know I can improve,, swimming and running I'll use a coach for a session by session bias or blocks of 3 -6 sessions if needed..

for my training plans I use the ones here since I think they are very good for me and a having a coach won't make me more accountable..

I"ve improved my swimming quite a bit with the swim coach I've used

I've used a coach for two years.  The money I pay does provide and incentive to get out the door sometimes. Otherwise what's the point.  However, joining a BT mentor group is even more motivating knowing that if you slack off someone will get you for it.

The biggest point of having a coach for me vs using a plug and play training plan is that the coach knows me and my abilities, life and goals.  A plan can't do that.  My coach takes that all into consideration and creates training on a periodization plan for me based on each race I have planned for the season and not just the A race that the plan picks for.  My coach also reels me in when I get overzealous and want to push harder than I should.  I also have a sounding board to ask questions.  It is all well worth the cost.  I wouldn't be nearly as consistant if I created my own training or just worked a plan.  I started to quit my coach and do the IM BT plan but after looking at it decided that my coach's approach is more suited to me.  If I did the BT plan I would be mentally whipped before the IM ever got here due to the distances it called for.

Like everyone else that's just my .02.

Good Luck! 

x3 or 4

I have used the same coach going on my 4th season. Why I started was so I would use my time efficiently and trust an expert to help me train smart. He has helped me improve faster than I would on my own.

Having a coach has helped on so many levels..beyond training plan. I know why I am doing this workout like this instead of like that. I've learned to be mentally stronger racing and training. He has helped me with race nutrition/hydration and helped me with my overall diet and helped me achieve my weight loss goals. He is great at encouraging me and helps me when things don't go so well figuring out why and accepting it. He helps with equipment purchases as what is appropriate and what isn't.

One thing he has helped with is trying to avoid injuries and if I got them how to deal with them. Often us triathletes are type A people and push on to much in pain. Taking some time off when something first crops up often makes the time you take off less.

I can't imagine ever not having a coach if we can afford it. The cost is minimal compared to what I get from my coach. I think it is well worth the cost.

My coach is Will from tri-hard.com 

I have been doing tris for about 7 years now.  This is the first year I decided to use a coach and I can't believe I didn't before now.  Every year I would get injured running and tend to lose a race (or more sometimes) and I never could progress in distance past about 18km. 

I obviously was overtraining.  Before I couldn't fathom training more than 6 to 8 hours a week.  Now I am up at 10 and still feel fine.  No injuries and I am doing a 30 km race next week.  It is the quality of the workouts like everyone has said.   I thought I knew what I was doing....read every book and magazine going, tried different plans in books, read lots on the internet.  Having a coach is WAAAAY easier.

2nd year in tris. I have been using a coach (rocketman here on BT) since August of 07.  Previously (Dec 06 to Aug 07) I used BT plans and saw some improvement but also had months where my improvement stalled.  That's what caused me to look for a coach.

If anything, I am too motivated and Brett keeps me from doing stupid stuff (like a 20 mile run when he says run 16 miles).  So, yes he keeps me accountable to following the plan he has laid out. 

He also is more conservative that I would be on my own.  At the hint of the slightest of injury or sickness, he will schedule the right amount of time off.  This is great because I don't have to guess if I'm doing the right thing.

He lays out the road map; I follow the road map; I get faster.  It's that simple.

I've seen time drops because he lays out a plan based on my limiters.  It also has just the right amount of speed work, hill work, endurance work and rest.  I know I've gotten faster in all 3 sports since August.  Not only do my races say so, my training paces have improved and my training partners have provided major compliments.  In my mind, it's been the best money I've spent on triathlons.