In some ways, it takes the pressure off to have a coach. You don’t have to try to plan what you are going to do, you just follow directions. You have a partner to watch out for you, and who wants you to be at your best and will help you get there. Someone to help you bust through plateaus, help pick you up when you’re down, and be there to give you a high five when you accomplish a goal.
I’ve been enjoying added benefits of working with Jason at Fascat because they have things I don’t have at home….
Like Normatec space legs for recovery. 
Or motorpacing to work on sustained power output.
(thanks to Jeff Kerkove for the video)
Or someone to say, “Uhhh, no… no racing this weekend.” or “yeah, you’re going to be really tired on this day…” or someone to collaborate with when you made a plan and things didn’t work out. Figuring out the why.
There is also a lot of science, computer programs, physiological markers, TSS scores, power zones, etc. that are used that you may not want to deal with or are simply not interested to see. Being able to measure fatigue a little more scientifically by looking at a power file, or measuring certain markers in the blood can help you overreach but not overtrain.
Cost is often a barrier for coaching…but really if you are spending all that money on racing, travel, equipment, AND investing all that time in training, it would make sense to have a little insurance that you’re doing it right!
I’ve also coached some athletes over the last few years, and have learned a lot about coach-athlete relationships, expectations as a coach AND as an athlete so it’s important to find someone who has a style you appreciate and trust (do you need a lot of feedback, do you want to learn the science behind what is going on or do you just want your workout, will you really do the workouts assigned to you, communication, do you need reasons for why you are doing things, do you have a lot of other things going on in life that effect your riding, do you need a lot of attention, etc. etc.)
It’s all about balance and finding what’s right for you, but a coach can help you improve!
