Every fall, we see a jump in coaching inquiries. Races open, excitement builds, and then the fear sets in: How am I actually going to accomplish this?
Anyone can download a plan or ask ChatGPT how to train for a specific event. But athletes still want the personal interaction, the confirmation that they’re on the right path. You hire a coach for the back-and-forth: adjusting after a bad week, reading your feedback, and explaining the why behind each session. As you start reaching out to coaches, find out whether you’re getting a prewritten training plan or a plan built for you.
Communication is the coaching
One of the most important things to ask a prospective coach is how often they communicate with athletes, and whether there are limits. Keep in mind that coaches can’t read your mind. If you don’t log how a session went or how you’re feeling, they can’t adjust.
Before you sign up, understand the expected response time and how communication works. Some athletes only text, some want phone calls, and others prefer email. You want to know how your questions will get answered.
You also want to know whether your coach will work with you on the planning side. This past week, between athlete calls, I was on the phone with a health care provider building a return-from-injury plan for one of my athletes. A single workout doesn’t make a plan, but one dropped workout can certainly derail progress.
Ask:
- How often do you communicate with your athletes?
- Can you adjust the plan when life happens?
- Can I talk to a current athlete?
A plan built for your real life
You want a program built for you, one you understand and that moves you toward your goals. It should account for your schedule, work, family, injury history, and current fitness, and it should change when your life changes.
Most plans are written for the perfect week: no interruptions, training rolling along. We’d all love more of those weeks, but as coaches we know that isn’t reality.
Ask:
- What’s an appropriate timeline for my goal?
- If I get injured, will you work with my other providers?
- Which metrics matter most to you as a coach?
Find the right fit
The right coach isn’t just the one with the best plan on paper. It’s the one who listens, adjusts, and helps you understand the work you’re putting in. Take the time to interview a few coaches, ask these questions, and pay attention to how they answer. You’re not just buying workouts; you’re building a partnership that will carry you from sign-up to the finish line.
