Have a Coach. Be a Coach.

My client and friend, Peter O’Dunne (picture at right from Ironman Lake Placid), wants to qualify for Hawaii and, as his triathlon coach, I’m going to help him get there.

Like Peter, I also have a coach - pro German triathlete Olaf Sabatschus who coaches me for triathlon.  From Olaf’s guidance and 20+ years of experience including Ironman wins at Brazil and China, I’ve learned a tremendous amount of knowledge that I’ve able to pass on to my clients.

Have a coach be a coach.

Peter shares his perspective on why it’s important to both have a coach and be a coach:

See a difference in yourself and make a difference to others.

February 1, 2010 was the start of my 7th season training for Ironman. I will race Ironman Lake Placid and Ironman Arizona in a new age category. Like so many competitors, I am trying to go faster each year in hopes of earning a slot to Kona. But unlike most competitors, I begin this season, with an Ironman coach. In fact my very first workout of this new season began at 5:45am in the pool sharing a lane with my coach. Normally, I would be nervous since my coach is none other than David Glover. Suppose I get in his way. Suppose I slow him down or hit him with my arm. None of that crossed my mind. I did hit him with my arm several times but I did not worry. He is my coach and my friend and I am the luckiest Ironman competitor of this new season because of it.

A funny thing happened while getting my VO2 testing – I went in for testing and came out with a coach

In February 2009, I was looking for some ways to improve my performance. I had heard about VO2 testing. I searched out and found a place in Towson, MD to get my VO2 tested: Total Performance, Inc. I took a friend from work who also wanted to be tested for his marathon training. We met with the owner, Krista Schultz, in her office, answered some questions and before long I found myself on a bike with a mask peddling for my life. My test was done is 9 minutes. I was done for the rest of the day!! My friend completed a similar test on the treadmill.

The first thing I had noticed in Krista’s office was a finisher’s certificate from the just completed inaugural Ironman China. She was coaching a client for the race and decided to do the race with her client at the last minute. Wow, I thought to myself, I wonder if she would be my coach for Ironman Lake Placid. When I inquired, she apologized and told me that she was over committed already but that she had a friend in Reston, VA that would be glad to speak with me. I called her friend, which turned out to be David Glover. He asked me some questions and asked me to fill out a questionnaire and set up a telephone conversation to discuss the questionnaire. Rather than sign me up right away, he wanted to make sure that he could help me accomplish what I was trying to do. We talked for almost an hour on the phone. We started an online coaching relationship a few days later.

Online coaching turns face to face

Our relationship took a significant upgrade when David decided to move 10 miles from my house. Our online relationship was now face to face at least once every couple weeks. In October, I invited David to join me on a business trip to Boulder Colorado where we would take a few extra days to Swim, Bike, and Run. I had done this same trip in June for a week and knew exactly where to stay, where to rent bikes, where to swim, bike, and run. To my amazement, he accepted my invitation. We spent a memorable 64 hours together. We trained together in the pool, on the bike, and running on the road. We did strength workouts together and shared every meal together. I got to know my coach and developed a friendship that will last my lifetime.

I later introduced my wife and 19 year old to David. David was a hit with all especially my daughter who is a Division I cross-country runner with visions of doing the Lake Placid Ironman with her dad one day after she graduates college.

Does a coach really make a difference?

In 2009, I had personal best in Lake Placid and Arizona despite starting the year with a hamstring injury. It was the first time I was able to do two Ironmans in one year. It was a great year. And since that time, I have reflected on what role David’s coaching had on my performance. I concluded that I could not have done it one my own.

The design of the workouts tailored to my personal schedule and my capabilities was as important as the accountability that David’s coaching provided. More than anything, David’s feedback and constant encouragement was external force I needed to keep going. My other conclusion about coaching was alarming. And that was, I will perform much better for someone else than I will for myself.

Further, David’s belief in me was all that mattered. If David thought that I could do it, I could do it. It did not matter what I thought. Any negative self-talk inside of me was over ridden by David’s confidence in me. This conclusion is what gives me 100% confidence that despite being a MORAG (middle of the road age grouper), I will earn a slot to Kona by 2013. This single conclusion is the reason I wrote this article.

Everyone needs to have a great coach and not just for triathlons

So a good coach listens to what people what to accomplish and why they want to accomplish it. Then the coach helps them to accomplish it. The coach gives regular doses of positive feedback, lots of encouragement, skill building, etc. The coach sends the signal that say “I believe in you,” “you can do it.” This sounds like what moms and dads and teachers and great bosses do all the time. It even sounds like David’s online coach, Olaf (Yes, even coaches need coaches).

Imagine what the world might be like if everyone was a great coach to someone else!! We all have something that we are passionate about or something that we do great, something that we could teach to others. In fact, I have a theory, that, most of our problems can be solved by the very people around us, if we just take the time to engage with others.

Why would you want to coach other people?

That’s what triathletes do. That’s what Americans do. Maybe it’s called mentoring, or helping. Maybe it’s with high school kids. Maybe it’s a new employee at work. Maybe it’s with a neighbor. There is no shortage of coaching opportunities. Remember that best boss, that best friend, that best parent, that influenced you the most. We can all be that person to someone else.

I like what Zig Ziglar, world famous Sales motivator, says: “You can have anything you want in life as long as you help enough other people get what they want.” People don’t coach to get something in return.  But in fact they do get lots in return. It just feels good to help others solve their problems or to help others become better at something.

Hiring a triathlon coach does not cost a lot of money and you get so much in return. Besides a fast track to performance improvement, you also get to learn and witness good coaching that you can then use to help others.

Life is short. Hire a coach and become a coach. See a difference in yourself and make a difference to someone else.

What would you like to her someone say about you at your 80th birthday party?

I hope I am around for David’s 80th birthday party so I can thank him for making a difference in my life and the life of my family. I have already invited him to mine.

David

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David B. Glover, MS, CSCS
Author of Full Time and Sub-Nine: Fitting Iron Distance Training into Every Day Life
Triathlon Coach, Athlete and Writer
Web: enduranceworks.net

© 2010 David B. Glover