Triathlon: coach athlete relationship

I appreciate my athlete's, whether they are in a group or train individually with me. They sacrifice their time to train with OnTrack Fitness. They change schedules for months or years on end to meet up for a training session. Week after week they do this, and it's not always meeting for a fun filled jolly time. 

Don't get me wrong, we have a lot of fun. But I ask them to push their boundaries, make new comfort levels and do things they don't think they can do. Mentally tough! There's physical suffering that happens too. Sometimes they don't much like me, I know this and I get it. 

Hitting my own milestone -
my first marathon

We train smart but there are times that a training session extends their endurance levels or pushes them to work just a bit harder than they can keep up with. It's how we get stronger and fitter. Oftentimes the only thing they go off of to do this effort is the trust they have in me that yes they can indeed do this! 

This training deal is personal. We work on these big, crazy goals. Goals that are close to the heart. The kind that you're afraid to say aloud. That's scary! Yet they come to me to get it accomplished. There's a moment every athletes has that they must let go & take a leap of faith when coach says do something they think impossible. There's something really special about the give and take of coach & athlete that stems from that very big, scary goal. Working on that goal day in and day out for months or years. It's a big deal. I take it seriously & I take their faith in my coaching seriously. 

I've been there! This is me at my
first Honolulu Triathlon

Sometimes I'm the only one in the bunch that really knows how much this means. Simply stated, I can stand back & see their dedication, drive, faith. I know what it takes to reach this goal. I specifically know what they are doing, the effort level it takes & how far they've come. I know not everyone has the drive to get it done, and not everyone has the ability in the moment to say "I don't think I can, but I will believe you if you say I can." Wow! 

I've been there. I know the fears, frustrations, disappointments, sacrifices, and joys that come from training and reaching a goal like triathlon, half or full marathon.  It's painful and it's thrilling. It's scary and it's exhilarating! There are milestones hit that once seemed ludicrous. Now they're warmups. Simply amazing.

To my athlete's I want to say thank you. Your goals are my goals. Your disappointments, frustrations, milestones and joys - I feel them too! When you see me excited about what you're doing it's real. When you're disappointed I feel your pain & I'm here to help put things into perspective. I am beyond proud of you, thankful for you and ready to help you reach your next goal! 

Written by Coach Emily, certified triathlon coach, Ironman Certified Coach, endurance coach & ACE certified personal trainer