I need some help in choosing a coach to help me train for the 2010 season, I'm looking to do the Orlando Half Ironman (my first) in may. I keep looking online and every coach I see seems the same, I look at companies like ironguide and they require a min 6 month commitment... I'm just afraid to blow 6 month on a coach I won't be happy with.

Many athletes have been training all summer for your first triathlon, which is usually accompanied by anxiety and nervousness. That being said, we have created a pre-race checklist that covers just about everything that you will need for your first triathlon in addition to some tricks of the trade. Pre-Race:

Beware: this is a rant. "You can never be too rich or too skinny." -My doctor

Seems like the cost of coaching has taken a jump lately and I'm not sure I'm interested in spending over $250/month for it. All I need is someone to give me my training plan based on the races I want to do well in, a plan based on my own fitness level- and the cycling portion in watts. I'm usually a top 3 in my age group in a smaller race and top 10 in a larger race. I'm mostly low maintenance.

Check my blog for my thoughts on racing, training and the things I learn from the athletes I coach.   http://tricoachmartin.blogspot.com/   www.tricoachmartin.com   Happy tri-ing!  

For those interested, this will be a top notch training camp in Bend, Oregon, home to some of the countries best endurance athletes and coaches: http://www.reboundspl.com/camps/spl_ironman_triathlon_camps.html

So I have been a little down with my training. I am targeting a fall Oly around October and have been trying to get up to speed with the swimming. My Brick bike and run I could do that portion tonight if needed. But back to the swim.

I believe I can speak with some authority on this (trust me it's the only thing I can speak on-don't know much else in life) and to give some back ground I was one of the first batch of 30 or so USAT certified coaches in 98. Since 2000 I have been helping USAT by presenting to aspiring new coaches on various subjects. After going through the USAT Level Three certification almost two years ago I really began thinking about this subject and the various moving parts.

Simon Ward writes: There are very few successful athletes who reach the top on their own, and by this I mean their very own. Most will have a coach or at the very least someone who they can turn to for advice.

(Tarpon Springs, FL) June 19, 2007