What to Expect and How to Find the Right Fit for Your Unique Training Goals!
Understanding Online Training Plans:
You’ve looked at online training plans. You’ve done some homework looking up coaches online, and you’ve talked with some riding buddies about local coaches or coaches they’ve used. But with it being your first coach, you aren’t sure what it is that you’d actually be getting, and as it is, you already enjoy training and riding, and you don’t want to mess that up. You do want to get better, though, so what’s the next step, and what should you expect? Online training plans are what we call “off the rack” plans. Typically, you search for a training plan based upon your experience level, time available, or perhaps you have a specific area which you want to focus, and you find a training plan focused on that. You are looking for something you can buy off of the rack and apply immediately. The plan is sent to you (usually via your Training Peaks account) once you’ve paid, and it is yours to follow.
Limitations of Off-the-Rack Plans:
Off the rack plans don’t typically allow for much customization. It’s off the rack, afterall. It was already built, so you and folks like you who buy it are doing the same thing. If you need to have Tuesdays off, for example, the plan probably doesn’t directly accommodate that. What you don’t get in terms of specifics as it related to your uniqueness is made up by a lower price. It should, however, offer a program that presumably gives you consistency and workouts that will guide you to reach your goal(s).
Balancing Coaching Workload:
An off the rack training plan isn’t likely to come with direct coaching guidance. Some will offer an online group for discussion, but nothing that is specifically about you in terms of adjusting zones, workouts, scheduling, and things like this will be applied or adjusted to your plan. There won’t be much discussion, if any at all, about what is working and why, what isn’t and why, and no other accountability of the coach who wrote the plan or the athlete.
Choosing the Right Coach:
The next level of coaching offerings is usually a more custom or customized plan that comes with some regular guidance. This guidance can come from in-person interaction on rides or during workouts, or it can come from regular conversations on the phone to discuss progress, challenges, and anything that will help you get more out of your training and workout time. This interaction can also be via text, email, the comments section of files, or whatever is mutually agreed upon. Most coaches will have a particular format that they use in order to organize their workload, so if you just don’t like to email, for example, you’d want to look for a coach who utilizes your preferred method of communication.
Tailoring Training Plans:
These programs tend to be about how often you should expect interaction with your coach, but all come with a training plan, which should be something more unique to you than something off of the rack. Some are set up with weekly phone calls, or some are daily comments on files. It’s normal to see a plan that is a fixed amount of phone time per month, a limited number of plan adjustments…basically whatever the coach has determined that they can manage or works for the way that they want to coach athletes.
The Williams Racing Academy (WRA) is your gateway to a transformative cycling experience. Our coaching programs extend beyond off-the-rack training plans, offering a personalized approach tailored to your unique goals and preferences. With a commitment to regular guidance and communication, our coaches ensure that every pedal stroke contributes to your progress. Choose WRA for a coaching partnership that goes beyond the ordinary, propelling you towards cycling excellence.