What To Look For In Ironman Triathlon Coaches

Competing in or even just completing an Ironman triathlon is a task that involves more than you the triathlete running on the track from the start line to the finish line. You need a coach and not any coach but the right coach who will give you motivation, constructive criticism and expert knowledge on how to go about an Ironman triathlon triathlon race. So, how do you choose one?

When searching for Ironman triathlon coaches, there are several qualities that should come into play which will dictate whether your coach will be a success or disaster on your side. Generally, you need to look at the interpersonal skills of the coach, his training schedule and how flexible it is, experience, how close he/she is to you in terms of location and whether he/she has the passion for the job. Let’s first have a look at the most cardinal quality you should look out for.

1. Good interpersonal skills

The relationship between a triathlon coach and a triathlete is what majorly determines success or failure. A good triathlon coach should be one who you will be able to trust his/her knowledge base and judgment, openly and positively take a feedback from your coach and he/she should also positively and openly take a training feedback from you.

Good Ironman triathlon coaches should also be able to build your mental muscles apart from your physical muscles. This implies that the coach should offer you some form of motivation that will keep your training and racing morale high; eventually leading to splendid results in the long run.

2. Easily accessible

Location is a key factor to look at. With the advent of technology, and the inception of social networking, the distance between the triathlon coach and the triathlete has been increased from tens of miles to thousands of miles. For example, an individual in Michigan would mostly like search more local triathlon coaches in Michigan. Whilst now, these athletes can get the same (or similar) level of triathlon coaching on the web.

Most triathlon coaching nowadays is done online using platforms such as Skype, Google+. and email, leaving a few athletes to the old-fashioned one on one interaction with their coaches on-site. However, despite online training being effective in Ironman triathlon training, getting a coach who is within your vicinity and can attend training sessions in person is better.

A local triathlon coach will be in a better position to evaluate your training progress mainly because he/she can see your body language during training and make assessments from his/her observations. However, whether you choose to do online training or the conventional one-on-one training, it is important that your coach is available regularly for feedback so that he/she can analyze your progress and create better training plans for you.

3. Success history and expertise in Ironman coaching

When getting an Ironman triathlon coach it is good to look at his/her work experience. How many triathletes has he/she worked with and what results did his/her clients get? If you are a seasoned triathlete who has been in Ironman triathlon for quite a number of seasons and you want a change in coaching which will take you to the next level, it will be in good faith getting a coach who has a —– and his/her clients have had great success stories.

The same applies to someone who is interested in getting a coach who will take an athlete to the top podium in Ironman triathlon. However, if you are a beginner getting into Ironman triathlon for the first time and you want to gain experience before going for the top cream, you will be good enough with a coach who has experience in training beginners. A beginner triathlon coach will be able to take you through the baby steps that will slowly take you to the top of the podium in Ironman triathlon. At the very least, the coach should be holding Level 1 USAT certification and he/she should be a certified personal trainer.

4. Flexibility of his/her triathlon training plans

An effective training is one that is flexible. Your coach should be able to adjust his/her training plan so that it fits your individual needs. You should get to know his/her philosophy concerning adapting a triathlon training program to your needs. As you progressively move in training, he/she should be able to observe your progress and do adjustments to the training program that will ensure that you fit in well and benefit from the training.

A coach who is rigid with his/her program and does not make adjustments that are suitable for you will not get the best out of you. Apart from your progress, your personal life and work life should not be disrupted by your training. A good coach should be willing to understand your daily schedule and draft a training program that will not interfere with other daily activities.

5. Passion as a triathlon coach

A passionate triathlon coach will definitely identify with your Ironman triathlon goals and dreams and will be dedicated to ensuring you achieve them. You can judge his/her passion by getting views from previous clients as well as looking at his/her track record. Good reviews and a good track record will be sure signs that he/she is passionate about coaching and that your success will be his/her success.

Start interviewing your candidate coaches looking for these qualities in them. The one who has it all is the best for you and your Ironman triathlon career.