So, I am going to help coach someone to do something that I have never done.
Meet Cindy!
Cindy is an awesome, bright, strong woman who has a contagiously positive outlook on life.
Last year she self-coached her way to completing her first 70.3 IM. This year she has her sights set on the full distance! 140.6 Lake Placid 2018!
Cindy and I are friends and we have similar jobs in Seoul; she is the swim director at another International school across town. Cindy approached me towards the end of 2017 asking if I would help her train, and specifically for help on the bike portion.
More about Me: I have a passion for triathlon and a passion for coaching. Most of my experience coaching is in swimming and running with younger athletes. I have been self-coached ever since starting triathlons again 3 years ago. I have a Masters in Exercise Science and yearning to learn the intricacies of endurance coaching. I am very competitive at the Sprint and Olympic distances and I have stretched that to the occasional 70.3 distance, BUT...
I HAVE NEVER DONE A FULL 140.6 IRONMAN!! I have 0 experience competing this distance. I have 0 experience coaching this distance. Truth be told, I have little experience coaching triathletes period!
So why ask me to help coach her? Is Cindy crazy? Yes. Cindy is crazy, she wants to do a full Ironman! Am I crazy for agreeing to coach her? Yes; training myself, devoting myself to excellence in my job, and keeping my family as a priority, I probably should not take on another endeavor like this. But, crazy is what we do, we are triathletes! I believe that this will be an incredible learning experience for both Cindy and I.
In our little bubble of South Korea, I have a decent reputation as being a strong cyclist. Cindy’s greatest room for improvement is in cycling and this is the area she has the least amount of experience. The best attribute that I have going for me is that I am a nerd when it comes to hobbies (like most Triathletes). Also, with a background in the exercise science field I understand, on at least a cognitive level, the biomechanics and physiological systems at play in endurance sports. I love researching, learning, and listening to a variety of opinions.
As we embark on this endeavor, I want your input! For me to gain the most out of this experience I want you to brutally judge me. Keyword, me, all comments about Cindy should be positive and uplifting, believe me she deserves it! What is in it for you? Free workouts! I will be posting many detailed workouts in all three disciplines of triathlon.
How to get involved?
Leave comments: I know everyone has their opinions and even among the “experts” there are varying opinions. As I write about our journey please comment on, ‘ What am I doing right?’ And ‘What would you do differently?’ Suggestions are always welcomed. Feel free to share specific favorite workouts that you think would fit into Cindy’s training as we go.
Follow along and share in the journey with us as we become an Ironwoman and an Ironcoach together for the first time!
FULL DISCLOSURE: Cindy is not paying me anything. This is a mutually beneficial arrangement where hopefully we both learn and grow in experience and knowledge.