Online Coaching Services Overview
I wanted to take a moment to reintroduce myself to anyone that might have stumbled across my page! I am an endurance coach specializing in triathlon, cycling, and running coaching. I work with athletes both locally and remote ( in the States and overseas). While I am based in Nashville, TN, I work with a coaching group, Bolton Endurance Sports Training, that is headquartered in Santa Fe, NM.
While I absolutely LOVE working with my local athletes, I wanted to talk today about my online coaching services and how it can provide just as big a benefit as living local. In recent years the online coaching scene has exploded with both good and bad scenarios. Sometimes it’s hard to pick out the good from the bad, so let’s focus on the good today! This will give a better sense of what to look for in a good online coaching service. We know that to complete or compete in triathlon, cycling or running at any level it takes dedication. Not only from the athlete, but also from the coach. So let’s discuss how a long distance, online coaching relationship can work, and work well.
Benefits
Listed below are just a few, but important, benefits of having an online coach.
Flexibility - A lot of the athletes I work with have demanding jobs, family, and other obligations that make meeting in person for specific sessions each week challenging. Online coaching allows me to tailor each week specifically to what is going on in that persons life so they can get the most out of each session on their time.
Communication - It might sound crazy, but sometimes I communicate more with my athletes that live far away. In order to build a proper plan I communicate with my athletes a lot so we can structure training appropriately. In addition to that we chat via Training Peaks about key sessions to make sure the athlete is feeling good, staying on track, and giving meaningful feedback.
Tailored Training - No cookie cutter plans here! Each of my athletes receive personal training plans built for them. They are built out a week in advance to ensure proper progression which allows for adjustments as the training progresses.
Accountability - Each week I am writing and reviewing my athletes plans and completed workouts. Knowing there is an actual coach on the other end looking at these sessions provides a level of accountability to keep training. I also check in via phone or Google Meet so we can discuss training regularly.
Finding the Right Coach
Now, I’d love to say that I’m the right fit for everyone, but in reality that is just not the case! Finding a coach that you connect with, that you trust and that understands your needs is super important.
Know what you Need - Before searching, assess your needs. What are your goals, your skill sets, your training availability, your budget? Know what you need and this will help you narrow down what you are looking for.
Ask a Friend - Find out who your friends are using as a coach. Do you like what you see they are doing in training? If so this can be a good starting point.
Do your Research - It’s very important to find out a bit about the coach, or coaches, you plan to talk to. Anyone can be a coach, but not everyone can be a good coach. What are their credentials, experience, or certifications? Does your philosophy align with the coaches?
Ask Questions - Don’t be afraid to ask the coach questions. This will help you both have a better understanding if this relationship can be a success. Ask about the process, the plan, the communication. Anything that you value when looking for a coach.
Evaluate - Take the time to review what you heard in your conversation(s). What you liked, didn’t like, etc.
Once you’ve made your decision, it’s time to begin your training journey. If you talked with a few coaches, get back to each one, even if you opted for someone else. The coach will appreciate the feedback too.
If this is a journey you’d like to explore, then send me an email and we can discuss what coaching would look like for you.
-Happy Training,
Coach Sarah Portella