Power of data when coaching new athletes

This athlete came to me after struggling with another coach. He is 50, looking to do well at Ironman FL. He had all the run data from before, which helped me determine what the real course of action for improvement should be. Another reason data is key for successful training and racing. Check it out:

Coach Vance

The Basic Training Philosophy

I spoke with an athlete yesterday who asked me what my basic training philosophy was. At first, I began to think, "there's no such thing as basic with me," as I constantly monitor and change what I do with athletes based on what I see. And then it hit me, that is the basic training philosophy.

I believe in collecting data, reviewing it regularly, along with feedback from the athlete, and determine how to manipulate the training stress, relative to their goal events and time to the event. There is structure, and a plan, but the plan allows flexibility based on how the athlete is progressing.

How do we know how an athlete is going to be feeling in 2 weeks time? How do we know in 1 month time? Sure, we can write plans according to a "perfect build-up" or timeline, but that's not realistic with most athletes.

Funny how it's very complex, and yet very basic at the same time.

Coach Vance