Mike Romans is a teacher, firefighter and a youth sports coach. When not busy adopting children, he is busy training for two Ironman 70.3’s in 2021 and even bigger plans beyond that. He is a member of Team Ordinary and currently coached by Coach Scott.
Cycling, running, swimming, racing, riding – so many decisions involved in endurance athletics. That’s just what to do for the day… then there are things like gear, nutrition, times, routines… so many things. It’s like going to Walmart with a 4-year-old during Black Friday. There are not many sane people that can keep those things straight.
Then there is a decision that I teetered on for a long time, one I am sure many of you have thought about at one time or another, perhaps reaching the same conclusion I did, or perhaps not. That decision is hiring a coach. Now, first off, this isn’t an advertisement for Scott, though I would recommend him in a heartbeat to anyone who will listen. But this is more of a ‘Don’t think like I did if you can help it” pitch. There are many reasons people don’t hire a coach. Many of those are justified, but I will do what I can to answer some of the demons that lingered in my head all too long.
“It costs so much”
Yes. As with anything in endurance sport, coaches are not free. Many of the range in price dependent on many things such as credentials, location, services provided etc. but the bottom line is, succeeding in endurance sports is anything but cheap. True, all you really NEED is a bike, trunks and a pair of shorts. BUT, with anything, typically you get what you pay for. True, there is a cost involved. But in my case, I spent more money nickel-and-diming my way into self-training, that it was CHEAPER to hire a coach. I wish I had half of the money back on things that I bought on a whim, thinking they would shave seconds or make me look better. Fact is, those things are achieved with hard work and grit.
“I can find my own program on the internet”
Yes. There are many programs out there. Many of them constructed by reliable, knowledgeable professionals geared for the common person. But where are they when you miss a day and aren’t sure what to prioritize? Where are they when you get hurt and need to make changes in your schedule and intensity to heal? Where are they when a bonehead idea for a two-hour hill climb comes into your head at the last minute and adjustments need to be made? They are nowhere, of course. They don’t know you. They don’t know your situation, your strengths and weaknesses.
Yes, you can research the different disciplines, get to know your body and adjust. You can guide yourself and complete any race distance or discipline you chose. However, many of us, myself included, get through the first race, and have new goals in mind before getting back to the car! The question is, how do I get there? That is where coaches come into play. While many programs and cookie cutter ideas can get you to it, a qualified coach will get you through it.
“I do better when I work by myself”
True. Some people enjoy the solitude of a strong workout and use it to escape away from people telling them what to do and how to do it. This is one of the reasons I gravitate toward going to a gym. I use it as a tool to get away, and for me it seems much more productive than going to the bar on a Friday night to relieve stress.
The question isn’t about having the desire to get there. The question is what to do when you are there! There is a lot to say about just going for a run, a bike ride, a swim, without looking at your watch or meter. Heck, my coach has suggested it. But when we freelance, we tend to get complacent, or worse off, too deep. Coaches provide the right mix of accountability and reality to help us keep going without going too far. I have slipped into both at times and have needed that much appreciated kick in the pants. Perhaps my two flat tires on the trainer that day was fate’s subtle message to tone it down a bit. Yes…. a flat tire on an indoor bike trainer…. twice….
There are many more reasons to investigate hiring a quality coach – comradery, advice, friendship. There is nothing more motivating for me than to see the invites on Zwift, the workouts in Training Peaks and the many messages from the group about our next adventure. True, we get many of those benefits from the group, which I have grown to NEED. However, there is just something about a coach that makes a person feel like a team. Now, I will again state that while I am writing this on Scott’s page, for Scott’s blog, this was entirely my idea to write. It is not just so Scott will give me an easier workout. I did not receive anything in return. I am simply telling my experience and decision-making process so that maybe it will help you with your own.
Good luck training!