As a coach, over the last decade, I have been both fortunate and blessed, to work with athletes of all backgrounds and capabilities. From those in the top ranks of their sport, to those who have mastered the art of juggling a quality home life, a full time job, and training and racing for Half-Ironman triathlons.
I have learned an incredible amount from each and every coach & athlete with which I have worked, and will continue to learn even more through the athletes I currently coach, and those I will come to coach in the future.
But one of the most important things I learned, was what it means to be an "Elite level coach", from the best of the best in their field. And the cornerstone of being an elite level coach, is to tell the truth, and to call it how it is. This can be one of the most difficult things to do, but those at the top of their fields do it time and again. I find this is now more true than ever, that I have moved into coaching endurance athletes.
When coaching basketball, volleyball, or power-lifting, it's always been easy for me to tell an athlete that they aren't cutting it, they're not doing their job, or they need to take some time to re-learn, or to take time off. Calling it like I see it has always been a large part of who I am, as a coach, and as a person.
But when it comes to endurance sports, one of the worst feelings I will ever have, is needing to tell an athlete that they need to skip a race, or stop training all-together, due to injury, or risk of serious damage to themselves (and sometimes their relationships).
Endurance athletes are a special breed. They thrive on competition, and pushing their limits. I know this, because I am one myself. Pushing limits is what we are made to do. It's a large part of why we train so much, putting ourselves through pain, that normal folk would keel over at, or call it quits well before we would say we are even beginning to work.
I pride myself on my athletes remaining healthy and able-bodied, reaching the finish line of their event in their peak fitness, and with as few interruptions in their training (due to injury), as possible.
Fortunately, I can count the number of athletes whom I have coached and trained over the years, who have been injured to the point of skipping their goal event(s), on 1 hand. Of those, all contributed their injury to either deviating from their plans, or neglecting their strengthening exercises. (I'm also very lucky to have athletes who understand the who's whats and why's of what I do, and are very involved in their training!).
Don't get me wrong, there have been "small" injuries over the years. From some Morton's Neuromas, to Swimmers shoulder and sprained ankles, to pulled muscles, blisters, and sprained knees, there have been incidences. But with attentiveness, usage of the sports medicine team at the right times, and having each and every athletes full trust in our guidance, we were able to get all those other "small" injuries healed, and each athlete to their start, and most importantly, the finish, of their goal event.
I've learned from the past experiences, and will at times be preemptive with referring an athlete to a member of the sports medicine team. Although these times are few and far between, it's paid off nearly every time I have done so, as we are able to "nip it in the bud" and correct the problem, as well as prevent future issues pertaining to the onset of the current one.
I can tell you that hands down, there is nothing more I hate, than seeing an athlete get injured, or not reach their goal event's starting line. There have been a few times that I have had to tell an athlete to stop training, either for their event, or all together, until their issues are addressed.
It is one of the worst feelings I have to endure as a coach. But it also goes with one of the most relieving experiences I have had; knowing I have given the right advice (no matter how crappy I feel doing so), and guided my athlete down the right road. When an athlete follows this advice, and heals from whatever it is that ails them, it is one of the best feelings in the world. Especially when they come back to kick serious butt the next year, or at a new "goal event" for that year.
It's one of the hardest things in life to stop working towards something you have been striving for months, or perhaps even years. But who ever said that making the right decision is always easy?
It's the right thing to tell someone how it is, especially when it involves their health in the long term. It's the hardest thing to watch someone hurt themselves, possibly beyond repair, and to see them lose physical ability to do the things we all take fore granted on a daily basis.
The big message?
Listen to your body. You're only given one for your life. The more you listen to it, the better off you're going to be.
Treat it right. Remember that you're NOT getting stronger when you are out there putting in the work, but rather when you are resting. "Small injuries" are our bodies trying to tell us that it needs rest, and some TLC.
It sucks to miss a key event, or even a build event. It sucks a lot more to cause permanent injury, or to have to take a year off from something you love. Listen to your body.
I'll end again with "Why waddle on, when you can run on".
Eat right. Train Smarter, not harder.
