Why I hired a 1-on-1 coach
I've gone back and forth for a week now about whether or not to post this. Then yesterday, just for the heck of it, I loaded up my PMC on Training Peaks and the story it told compelled me to share with the team here.
The purpose of this post:
- First an foremost, to present the factors that led to my hiring a one-on-one coach
- Discuss problems I had going from a total couch potato, morbidly obese, former athlete back to being a self coached athlete.
What I don't intend from this post:
- This post is not in any way an indictment or criticism of EN.
- This post is not intended to make the case for one-on-one coach over the EN approach
- This post is not about anyone else except me.
A little about me (short version, sorta)...2006, I weighed 380 lbs, high blood sugar, burning the candle at both ends going to school full time and working nights full time, on a downward spiral health wise. Met some great folks who got me into running. Lost over 100 lbs, ran a couple marathons, and basically joined "the lifestyle". Running was my life. I met so many great friends and running really turned my life around. In 2010, I discovered triathlon and loved it. In 2011, I trained for my first Ironman. It was the inaugural IM Texas. It was a great experience even though I DNF'd with some major back spasm issues, probably due to overtraining. The coach I had at the time SUCKED (in retrospect). I discovered Endurance Nation about 5 weeks before my Ironman, about 6 months too late. Fast forward to 2013/2014. Started having some knee pain. Found out I needed knee surgery for a torn meniscus. Had the surgery but did not aggressively rehab. I sank deep into this really bad place with my health. Gained ALL my weight back and before I could blink, it was Christmas, 2014. I was back to 370 lbs, watching a LOT of TV and leading a very sedentary lifestyle. Decided after this new year that I could not go on like this. I was disgusted with myself and longed for the old life. I started out slow, just walking a little more each week. I got back on my bike for some leisurely strolls. I really didn't have any workout clothes or bike shorts that fit so it was difficult. I got back on a focused, healthy diet (I've lost 40 pounds since February).
...which leads me to training. When it came time for me to really get back to training, of course I turned to Endurance Nation. It's the best. I signed back up in February and was ready to get to work. I knew I would have to "train to train", meaning I knew I would have to work my way up to being able to complete EN workouts. I started with the Pre-season plan. I spent 4-6 weeks in Week 1 of the plan, not being able to do the workouts, trying to figure out as a self coached athlete what adjustments I could make to the workouts which would help me get thorough SOMETHING. I skipped ahead to see if I could do part of the OS. Again, several weeks trying to do Week 1, trying to get through a test. CoachP was really cool. He would always say, "Vic, who's coming back from knee surgery."... but it was actually Vic, coming back from total couch potato and morbid obesity. LOL. I just really wanted to come back. I wanted to feel like I had a plan and that I was executing it. Some things I tried:
- I used the the run re-entry walk/run plan for my runs.
- I shortened the intervals on the bike.
- At first, I just tried to get through the bike warmup, then later added some very short intervals
- I did not have the fitness to get through a bike test so I just winged it.
- Basically, for the whole thing, I just winged it, trying to figure something out, most of the times over-doing it, trying to achieve something, reaching too far most of the time.
After multiple cycles of overdoing it, trying to figure out what I did wrong, taking days off, trying again, making some progress but often feeling I didn't measure up when I looked at what I was doing compared to what was in the EN plan and what others were doing, I just decided I needed some help. So I hired a coach here in Houston that I have worked with before. She knows me. She was actually there at the IM in 2011 when the sag cart picked me up at mile 22 of the run at 11:30 pm so I feel like we have this connection.
So, since hiring Kim 3 1/2 weeks ago, I've been wondering if I did the right thing. My mind and my body know it was the right thing but my heart is is split between my coach and EN. Ironically, it took a CHART to communicate to my heart that what I'm doing is right for me right now. I'm posting my PMC below. It's pretty self-explanatory. it's pretty plain to see from February to the beginning of May that I am just not a very good judge of where I'm at, where I want to be and what it takes to get there. I'm not a very good coach to myself. And it's pretty plain to see that since hiring a one-on-one coach and gaining a partner in this journey, a local, objective eye on me and my own personal current state, that I have been accomplishing more, staying healthy, staying more positive.
Why I'll always be with EN - While initial signs are good with Coach Kim, I'll NEVER not be with Endurance Nation. The wealth of knowledge, the sense of community, the perspective on training, the awesome plans, the friends I've made, it's worth a lot to me. Is it strange to be on EN and have a one-on-one coach? I don't think so. Just like I have not relinquished responsibility for my health and fitness and training solely to EN, I have also not handed it all over to Kim. The way I see it is the ultimate responsibility for my training rests with me, myself, and I. I'm just adding a resource.
Comments
What I see on your chart there is steady upward movement. And in the time that you've had a 1 on 1 coach, you've continued that upward movement, and decreased your injuries (or at least the need for a chiropractor). If a 1 on 1 coach keeps you off the sidelines, then I'm all for it. I just hope it doesnt keep you off of EN.
I think the beauty of EN is that you can use it as much or as little as you need. But it's always there for you when you DO need it. I also think that diversity of experience is huge. What works for a 10 hour finisher doesn't necessarily work for me as a 16 hour finisher.
Your story is one that someone's going to read as they're contemplating getting into triathlon and they'll see a path to get them to their goal. It's tough for someone who is outside of triathlon to read through RnP's stories, and see how they too can finish one of these "impossible" races. But your story is accessible to people. And I for one am glad you're on here and willing to share it.
I think there are a lot of good reasons to go the 1-on-1 route. Mostly a good coach will get to know you very well, learn your strengths and weaknesses and have the ability to push you to your limits, but not over. Quick plan changes always keep the big picture in mind. They can put a plan in front of you and you just do the work and report back. They adjust as you move along a path. Accountability is huge as you know they want feedback from everything they assign you. Miss a workout and they know and ask about it.
To me, I've come to find out that these guys are no smarter than anyone else, they may or may not have the time for you and with a limited number of athletes under their wing, they really lack the experience that comes with EN and it's huge base of really smart people. EN knows age groupers like no one else. There is just such a vast collection of invaluable information here - all presented in a positive manner. Try posting a newbie question on Slowtwitch and let me know how it goes
Congratulations on the healthy lifestyle focus - it's a never ending battle!
Vic - it's clear the change you made with a keen, local eye is the right move. Your chart shows a worrisome sawtooth pattern before that - large spikes up in the CTL, followed by repeated visits to try and correct something you pushed too hard too soon. I hope you continue to see steady progress with this strategy, and also share your experience to contribute to the value of EN of all of us.
Also, as others have said, it's great you have retaken control of your lifestyle.
FWIW, I got an Achilles strain in early December, curtailing my running. I had a Vdot around 40 at that point.
Fast forward to 4 weeks ago, I was finally pain free and could start to train again. I contemplated 'just winging it', but in the end forced myself to do a running test. It was hell, and it seemed to take for ever to finish the 5 km. But I did it and jumped into the OS Intermediate using the paces derived from my very slow 5 km test. My Vdot was a disappointing 28.
Over the last 4 weeks I have felt my running improve and would guess that my Vdot has risen to around 34. And this improvement has been without extreme fatigue or injury.
My takeaway is this. Do the run and bike tests, and use those zones to train, and it is much more likely (than otherwise) that you would progress in a sustainable manner.
Just my 2 cents worth.
And, good luck and continue to reach out to the EN community — we are all here for you!
Sounds reasonable.
Let us know how it goes.
Tools are tools. You try things, you change things, you add things, you keep improving. Sometimes you let some things go. Loyalty is a marvelous quality. Being a good teammate is important. This stuff is supposed to be enjoyable and challenging and is probably different things to everyone. We learn from each other. Thank you for sharing, I appreciate it very much.
When I first signed up for EN last summer i wasn't ready for that load of work and I quickly became overtrained. I'd never felt like that before... I just wasn't ready to be able to absorb that amount of work. Stay consistent... Get stronger... and when you're ready come back and nail all the Interval sets EN can toss at you and you'll be ready for them!