Give The Gift Of Coaching This Holiday Season

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If you are like me at this time of year, you are probably struggling with gift ideas for a friend or loved one.  If the person you are trying to buy for, is an athlete, consider giving them the gift of coaching.

Hiring a coach was probably the best thing I did on my triathlon journey.  I value it so much, that even though I am now a coach myself, I still pay another coach to coach me.

There are many benefits to having a good coach. Some of the things that I value are:

  • Structure and Planning –  With a coach, I don’t have to figure out a detailed training plan, that builds towards my key upcoming races.  This saves me a lot of time and reduces stress considerably.  All I need to do is look at the plan for the day, and do the assigned workout(s).  If life gets in the way, a quick word with my coach, and the plan is adjusted. 
  • Wisdom and Experience – If I have a question or something is bothering me, all I need to do is ask my coach.  Chances are, whatever it is you want to know about, your coach can get you an answer.  They will either have direct experience themselves or will have seen something similar with their other athletes.
  • A Sounding Board and Friend – A coach is there to help.  Good coaches care deeply about all aspects of their athletes lives.  They will listen, if you need someone to talk to.
  • Protecting You From Yourself – Lots of athletes have a tendency to push too hard and either get injured or suffer from overtraining.  Prior to having a coach, I was injured all the time. I didn’t have someone willing to tell me to ease off occasionally, or anyone watching out for my health.
  • Accountability and Motivation – A coach cannot make you accountable and motivated to do your workouts. For some people however, the thought that they will have someone looking over their shoulder, motivates them to get out the door.  This isn’t me, but there are plenty of people benefit who benefit from this.

These are just a few of the benefits of hiring a coach.  It is not a typical thing to buy someone for the Holidays, but the gift of coaching might be exactly what they need.