As a runner, I know all about the benefits of working with a coach. I was able to go from finishing races at the back of the pack to placing highly in my age group with just one year of coaching help. That’s why I’m excited to introduce this article on triathlon coaching: it’s an excellent way for athletes to improve their performance and reach their goals!
How to Start
If you're looking to start triathlon coaching, the first step is finding a coach. Here are some things to consider when choosing one:
- Look for someone who is experienced in working with athletes like you. If they haven't coached other people who have similar goals and fitness levels as yours, their methods may not work well for you.
- Make sure your coach understands the sport of triathlon at all levels--from beginner through advanced--and has experience helping athletes reach their goals within those levels. An inexperienced or uninformed coach may make recommendations that aren't appropriate for your level of fitness or experience, which could set back progress rather than help it along!
- Look for positive reviews from other clients; if no reviews are posted online (or if there aren't many), ask around locally before making an appointment with someone new! You want someone who can be trusted with sensitive information about yourself and others like yourself so don't settle when it comes down right now...
Time Management
As you begin your training, it's important to set up a schedule that includes both your training and other responsibilities. For example, if you have children and a job, it may be difficult to find time in the mornings or evenings for workouts. However, there are many ways for athletes with busy schedules to fit in their workouts:
- If possible, try waking up earlier so that you can get some exercise before going to work or school. You might also consider getting up an hour earlier than usual on weekends so that you can get an early morning start on the weekend races coming up soon!
- If this isn't possible due to travel plans or other commitments during certain parts of the week (or even months), then try going out after work instead--you'll still benefit from being active while also having time left over at night!
Strength Training
Strength training is an essential part of any successful triathlon training program. Strength training can help you to increase your speed, endurance, and power as well as prevent injuries by strengthening the muscles that support your joints.
Strength training should be done at least twice a week on non-running days, but three or four times per week is even better if possible. You should aim for a total of 15 to 20 minutes of strength work with weights (or bodyweight exercises) in each session - so if you're doing four sessions per week then each session should last 5 to 7 minutes max!
The amount of weightlifting (or push-ups etc) required will vary depending on where you're starting from - but generally speaking, we recommend aiming for 3 sets x 8 reps with around 40% 1RM (one rep maximum). This means using weights that are heavy enough that it's challenging but not so heavy that the form starts breaking down after only one set! For example: If someone weighs 70kg/154lbs then their estimated 1RM would be 70x1=70kg/154lbs - so ideally this would translate into about 30-40kgs/66-88lbs when doing their prescribed sets/reps combination above...
Nutrition
Nutrition is one of the most important factors in your ability to perform athletically. It's not just about how much you eat, but also what you eat and when. If you are trying to lose weight or gain muscle, there are specific foods that will help with those goals. Here are some guidelines for how much food should be consumed before and after a race:
- Pre-race: You should try to eat something light 1 hour before competing in order for it digest by the time competition begins. This prevents stomach problems during exercise which could lead to nausea or vomiting. Post-race: After completing an event it is important not only to rest but also refuel with healthy snacks like fruit smoothies (made without added sugar) or peanut butter on whole wheat bread!
Working with a coach can help triathletes accomplish their athletic goals.
Coaches can help triathletes with time management, nutrition, and strength training. They can also provide guidance in the mental game of racing. Coaches are usually able to get more out of a workout than an athlete could do on their own because they know what it takes to achieve success in the sport.
Athletes who work with coaches have been known to set realistic goals for themselves, which often leads them down a path of success. A coach may also help develop proper race strategy or plan out races properly so that athletes can achieve their goals at each race distance without overtraining or injury that would prevent them from competing again soon after finishing one event (such as Ironman).
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many benefits to working with a coach. A good coach will help you set goals and achieve them by providing guidance, motivation, and support along the way. If you're interested in learning more about how coaching can benefit your triathlon training and racing, contact us today!
