Triathlon Swimming Q&A: Best Time to Work with a Coach

Q: When’s the best time to work with a coach, before you get in shape (and develop bad habits), or after you get in shape (and can work harder)?

A: Ideally, the best time to work with a coach is very early in your yearly training cycle.  For most triathletes in northern climes, this occurs in the months of January through April.  This gives you plenty of time to work on any techniques and training tips you may learn.  Also, the off-season is when you can devote energy and attention to swimming.  In the summer, it is tough because you are in the middle of your triathlon racing schedule and are forced to divide your swimming time with cycling and running.

This doesn’t mean that finding a coach in the mid to late summer doesn’t have some benefit.  You should expect a good coach to get some improvement quickly.  Otherwise, why would you work with them?  Just don’t have as high of an expectation in mid-summer as you would with a coach you start with in the off-season.  Until next time, happy training.

Click here to view previous questions.