Testimonial: novice coached triathlete - Andy Rowlands

I received this email testimonial today from a coached triathlete, (thanks Andy, the cheque is in the post!) and had to share it with you. We always appreciate feedback from athletes and this must have taken Andy a fair amount of time to compose, so thanks again!

So what is the point in employing the service of a coach?

Endurance sports, especially Triathlon has seen a huge increase in participation over the last few years and the number of people entering events such as Ironman Wales having never donned lycra in their lives before is staggering! 

But to get better at cycling for example, you have to buy the best bike and kit available and ride your bike as much as possible; right????

I see a lot of people spending a lot of money on shiny new bits for their bikes, making it lighter, stiffer and more aero. This expense is borne of  ‘expert advice’ gained from training partners and the dreaded Internet Forums.

Inspired by the new shiny bits and the realisation that the entry fee has been paid, training begins. Swimming as far as possible, riding for hours on a bike that doesn’t fit because everyone on STRAVA is beating you, and running half marathons every three days because we have to ‘get some miles in the legs’. All of this done without any food (because were trying to loose weight), without any hydration (because water is ‘just the same’), all in the pursuit of glory on the Ironman red carpet.

Clearly, the scenario above is far from ideal and unlikely to yield the best results. How many times have you heard the story of aspiring athletes being unable to train due to having a constant cold or being injured before the season has even started! Overtraining is very common and very easy to fall foul of especially at this time of year when enthusiasm is abundant.

If we were to use Golf as an analogy, is buying the newest driver off the internet (because there is a good deal on extra stiff shafts) and playing as many rounds as possible, reinforcing bad habits the way to become the best Golfer you can be? Sure you will see some improvement but very soon you will reach a plateau that could disillusion and eventually drive you away from the game. Conversely if you employed the services of a Coach who works with you to groove an efficient and consistent golf swing with clubs that are measured specifically to you along with specific drills and practice sessions that target your weaknesses, the chance of success becomes considerably higher.

I met Mark Whittle about a year ago through mutual clients. He certainly has the credentials of a well respected Coach with his Military Career, High Profile Clients and his personal achievements in Triathlon speak for themselves. But what makes Mark different is his manner and his personalised approach to coaching.

When I became one of Mark’s clients, it wasn’t a case of handing me a training programme and telling me to get on with it. After a period of consultation that identified my current ability, my goals and aspirations, a tailored package was designed to suit my specific needs. This plan is very much a ‘working document’ and through regular communication we are constantly tweaking it to suit my lifestyle and optimise output. The new private WhittleFit Inner Circle area is a superb resource for anyone training for endurance sports – the key is that it has limited number of members and experts that are vetted and trusted by Mark himself. The result is quality information not someone’s opinion!! 

I do not consider myself an ‘Athlete’ and many would argue that people of my ability do not need the services of a Coach. But I would argue that it is  perhaps more important for people who juggle work and family commitments with their love for Triathlon to seek the advice of a Coach.

For me, a key benefit of being a WhittleFit client is to be told what not to do as much as being told what to do! There is a very real need for trust between the Coach and the Client and Mark has a very good way of making clients feel at ease with a mixture of  empathy and banter that  compliments utter professionalism.

Never before have Athletes had such a platform to share their opinions about training and racing as what we currently have with the internet. To my mind, if you want advice on training and racing for an endurance event, speak to an expert – speak to WhittleFit.

Thank you Andy, very kind words, much appreciated! 

WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight: James McNabb

Here's the latest instalment of our WhittleFit Athlete Spotlight series, where we let you inside the mind of WhittleFit athletes and see what makes them tick.

This month we focus the spotlight on James McNabb, read on to find out what James has to say:

Should You Swim, Bike, Run with a Winter Cold?

It’s the time of year for coughs, colds and sniffles. Should you train through it, or rest up?

Having a cold is so annoying: you’re not ill enough to want a day off training, but you’re certainly not feeling your best.

Remember that triathletes and endurance athletes are no less prone to coughs and colds than sedentary people. Yes, we’re probably healthier on the whole, but long training hours can actually suppress immune function, leaving us open to getting ill at any time of year. I always advise clients to use common sense and instinct when deciding whether or not to train. But if you’re someone who is likely to push through even when you should rest, here’s a useful check-list.

Should You Train Through Winter Illness?

It’s OK To Train If You Have:

• A runny nose
• Congestion in your nose
• Sneezing
• A sore throat or tickle cough

It’s Best To Rest If You Have:

• Upset stomach or sickness
• Congestion in your chest
• A chesty or hacking cough
• A high temperature
• A fever
• Exhaustion
• Achy or sore muscles

What To Do When You Feel A Cold Coming On

Eat:

• Look at your nutrition: plenty of vegetables including leafy greens, enough carbohydrate (from healthy, natural sources), enough fats including essential fatty acids, and plenty of protein.
• This is not a time to cut calories or go on a severe diet.
• Consider supplementing with a quality vitamin D supplement.

Protect: 

• Do what you can to avoid contact with other ill people. Wash your hands often and consider using a hand sanitiser.
• Always wash your hands when you’ve been in public toilets and on public transport, etc.
• Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose with your hands.
• Don’t share drinks bottles or cups with others (especially kids and people with colds!)

Recover:

• Get enough sleep, it’s one of the most powerful ways to stay healthy. Nap during the day if necessary (and possible). Go to bed earlier.
• Pay more attention to recovery between training sessions, and consider cutting back on all but your key sessions. This will minimise the immune system suppression which comes from training volume
• Stay as warm and dry as possible when training, and get into dry clothes quickly if you get caught in bad weather
• Try a hot Epsom salt bath before bed, it will help clear sinuses, warm you up when you feel chilled, and will send you in to a deep restorative sleep. Plus, it just feels lovely!

Be sensible, stay healthy, and don’t miss out on any training days in January!

Best blog posts of 2015

So, it's almost the end of 2015 - where has the time gone? I decided to trawl through this years blog posts and see which ones I enjoyed writing the most. These are my favourites, I hope you enjoy them too!

1. Lanzarote Training Camp

2. Nurture The Little Things To Grow The Bigger Picture

3. Why I love "Big Day Ironman Training" - And you should too!

4. Ironman Frankfurt Race Report

5. Ironman Wales course preview

6. Ironman Training & Racing Observations

And my own personal favourite: Testimonial: Ironman Wales triathlete

We really hope you enjoyed reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them! Watch this space for more exciting blog posts including our new Athlete Spotlight series and some guest blogs from some very experienced single sport athletes.