What is The Power of Holistic Endurance Coaching?
This article delves into the power of holistic coaching, emphasising our comprehensive approach that goes beyond just a training plan. By incorporating mental, physical, and emotional support, this coaching strategy has helped athletes thrive. Testimonials from current athletes highlight the significant benefits of this well-rounded methodology, reinforcing the importance of a holistic approach to coaching.
For many athletes (and coaches), the training plan is the focused output of any coaching relationship. It is disappointing to hear of coaching approaches where the coach essentially delivers a training plan they may or may not have written specifically for the athlete. Unfortunately, the reality is that this is what many athletes and some coaches believe is the essence of a successful coaching partnership. We believe that a genuinely professional coach goes far beyond the training plan and develops or even evolves the athlete as an individual. However, we often find ourselves working hard to demonstrate this, the real benefits of a coach to those who don’t quite get it. It falls on us to educate everyone, though!
With the development of artificial intelligence, the delivery of an intelligent plan will only develop and evolve so that these coaching partnerships will become extinct. Authentic coaching will include a training programme and cover the mental, physical, functional, and emotional aspects of athletic development. They will explore the intangible or immeasurable impacts of performance, ensuring that an athlete has a complete approach to development that ensures their health (mental and physical) improves along with their performance.
Following a plan doesn’t cut it for our approach, and we often say that athletes’ heads will hurt as much as their legs and arms after our sessions as they learn more about improving themselves. We frequently see these athletes reflect on their journey as athletes reflecting on their personal growth far beyond their athletic endeavours.
For example, here is some feedback we had from an athlete after finishing working with one of our coaches:
I can’t possibly begin to adequately explain and convey just how brilliant Tim has been and how much it has meant to me to be a coached athlete of his. Unlike many on the TTH roster, I was never going to be a top-three triathlete, but I have no doubt Tim made me the best athlete and person I could be.
Comments like that show how far-reaching a coach can be. Sure, a training plan is relatively straightforward. After all, there are only so many ways to break down a 2,500m swimming session! However, a great coach will help you understand how to deliver a great session and help you explore why you want to do your sport.
The other thing we see with our holistic approach to training and coaching is that athletes find a positive group of like-minded athletes and coaches who are supportive through our culture and values. Though this isn’t something directly linked to a holistic approach to coaching, it is fundamental to our strategy, and the culture is nurtured by our coaches and instilled in the sessions so that all athletes believe that they can achieve whatever their goals are. Understanding the emotional and psychological impact on an athlete enables them all to strive together to support one another, which goes a long way to unlocking potential for the long term.
“I don’t think I’d have stuck with triathlon if I had been coached by many of the companies I see around and the culture I have seen from their athletes.”
Our approach is to coach holistically. This sounds like a catchphrase, but it is the only we know how. We have an internal driver where we believe that “happy” people create “happy” athletes. We believe that by nurturing the approach that works the person first, the performance is unlocked.
Although we can all improve by following a plan, if we invest in ourselves and use the plan as a part of our overall development, we will see the performance in all areas of our lives improving.
Philip is the founder of Tri Training Harder LLP. He’s a British Triathlon Level 3 coach, and has been coaching for over a decade and is involved with mentoring and developing other coaches.
Philip has coached athletes to European and World AG wins, elite racing, many Kona qualifications, IRONMAN podiums and AG wins.
Alongside the conventional development through many CPD courses, he has also been fortunate enough to work alongside experts in the fields of Physiotherapy, Strength and Conditioning, Nutrition, Psychology, Biomechanics, Sports Medicine. Putting this knowledge into practice he has worked with thousands of athletes to various degrees, from training camps in Portugal and around Europe, clinics in the UK and online coaching.
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We’re here to help
Tri Training Harder are one of the leading Triathlon coaching providers in the UK, using our wealth of experience to unite scientific and technological research with already well-established and successful best practices, to create a formula for triathlon and endurance coaching that works.
The result is an honest, dynamic, yet simple new way of constructing an athlete’s training to allow them to reach their potential.
If you’re planning your next season, just starting out in the sport or are looking for extra guidance at the very top end of the field, we are here to help, and our coaches would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact us via the website, and one of the team will be in touch.