Coaches, Trainers and Mentors

Support is a huge component of being an athlete and improving your performance. From professional athletes to middle school athletes, coaches and mentors are huge ingredient in success. Whether it be a casual relationship such as asking questions on a forum or a very personal, day-to-day relationship where the athlete and the coach interact, each provides guidance and a source of information and encouragement. Other peer sources would include training groups/teams and workout partners. Both are highly recommended.

For runners, swimmers, cyclists, triathletes, etc., there are usually training groups in every major city that you can meet up with to do workouts. Most will embrace new members with open arms. Some require a small fee to join, but many are free. These groups may or may not be organized by coaches and may just be open rides/runs. Determine if the atmosphere is conducive to your abilities and if there is the type of support you require/need. If you cannot find what you need, there are usually private trainers and coaches that are willing to train you for a fee. There are also personal trainers at almost every gym you could want to train at, so seeking out personal trainers at your local gym may be a good starting point if you aren’t sure what direction you want to take your training in.

What should you look for in a coach? First you should look for someone who has some sort of background in the sport or field you are trying to get into or advance yourself in. Certifications are good, and usually show that the person has at least general knowledge on what they coach, but don’t always use that to be your deciding factor. Some certified coaches may not be the best at developing a good periodized training program, or may not be willing to push their athletes as far as they would like due to fear of liability. Be sure to be open with whomever you decide to coach you because trust is essential in developing a program that will actually work for you.

How much should it cost? This can be tricky. Are there some trainers/coaches out there that are making more than they are worth? Of course, but there should still be a wide availability of good, hardworking trainers who don’t cost an arm and a leg. Find trainers that are in your price range and figure out which one is best for you. Sometimes you can even negotiate prices with a trainer if the one you like is a little steep. You may also find that there are group discounts, etc., that you can take advantage of.

Whatever you do, make sure that you find a trainer/coach/group that suits what direction you want to go in. In any event, good luck!