How coaching has made me a better athlete
One of my goals this year was to post some info and reflections on my experiences coaching. So far I haven't been that great at it. In fact I haven't been all that great With the posting thing in general. But I had a beautiful run in the sun yesterday and I started composing this post.
I wanted to share with you some of the things that have changed for the 'athlete' me as a result of learning the coaching thing from Alan, Andrew and Barb. This is kind of a half baked/rare brownie style post but I am hoping to return to some of these themes soon.
1. The plan is a plan for a reason. There is a lot of thought behind it. Be respectful and show up on time and be ready to go. They are there for you be it 7am or 6pm after a long day at work.
1.1. If they 'yell' at you about this or something similar it is their frustration coming to the surface. If you don't do the work to 100% then don't expect 100% results and don't complain about not getting it.
2. I'm putting a huge effort into leading by example. If I won't suck it up and do hill repeats til my legs want to fall off why should the people I am coaching do it?
3. You are only setting yourself up for failure if you set the premise for an excuse not to do the work before you have to do it. Make the time. Make the commitment.
3.1. The cheesy "there is no try there is only do" is so very true.
4. The physical training is only part of the picture. I am not alone with my head games. Everyone has them. Watching others fight their demons and helping them if they ask has helped me fight my own.
4.1. Observing and learning from Barb at the helm at spin practice has helped me develop a better mental approach to climbing. I finally get it.
5. Enjoying coaching has brought a whole new enjoyment to doing the training.
6. Celebrating other people's achievements gives me the warm fuzzies. I should allow others to celebrate with me because they really do want to.
7. Swimming, biking, running... all seem like individual sports but the power of being part of a team is invaluable. And although being a good teammate is a responsibility it is worth the rewards.
More on some of this to come later but I think it still needs to brew a bit before I put fingers to keyboard and fully explain it all.
2 comments:
Cool!
I agree 100% on 1.0. I'd also like to add to 1.1 that if sometimes we get really grumpy in practice it's because we're mad at ourselves not getting the drill or the technique, not at the coach. I try really hard to be nice though! Well, Alan can take it so maybe not so much with him.
3 and 3.1 - it took me a while to get this then I converted entirely and now no longer understand people who don't get it.
7 - that's why I love the club.
And 5 & 6, out of order but leaving the best til last, that is AWESOME! You're a great coach and I think it's fantastic that you get to renew your love of triathlon doing it. And that we get to profit too.
You've got a pretty cool apprenticeship going with some great mentors.
I actually look forward to the session when I know Amy is coaching. Yeah, I should actually listen/hearvwhat the coaches are. Saying. Truly and totally appreciate what you do, Amy.
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