Often times when I mention that I have a coach, other riders respond with surprise: “wait, aren’t you a coach yourself? Why do you need a coach?” It’s a good question, and one I’ve been meaning to write about for a while. I think the answer, interestingly enough, connects back to my “other” life as a professor.
As an English professor at a small liberal arts college, one of my teaching duties is first-year composition. One of the hardest lessons students have to learn is that writing is process and often a long one. That process should include multiple drafts, and most importantly, having someone else read and comment upon the piece of writing in progress. Once you’ve “lived with” a piece for a while, it’s almost impossible to come to it with fresh eyes, the kind of objectivity a first-time reader (or more importantly for the students, a professor) will bring to the piece.
In many ways, I think training for cycling and writing parallel each other. Both are time-intensive processes, and neither is conducive to overnight success. But for me the key connection is the need for an outside observer to provide a more objective point of view. Even if you are well-versed in training methodology and can design smart, effective workouts, having someone else to look over the mix and timing of those workouts can be key. My own experience certainly bears this idea out. Over the years I have worked with three different coaches, one before I became a coach myself, one when I first earned my certification, and one currently. Working with each coach, my racing took a big jump, and not because they had that “secret” workout that put me over the top. In fact, I’ve done and/or prescribed nearly all of the workouts before. No, the major benefit lies in the analysis. Just like student writers, it’s easy for a rider to get so involved with the details of training that they lose track of longer term goals. Having a coach, for me at least, provides that “fresh pair of eyes” that I discuss with students. And invariably not only does my riding improve, but I learn something new about coaching and the sport in general in the process.