Why you need a coach

• Coaches can provide inspiration and information, analysis and applause, support and sympathy.


• You don't have to make all the mistakes; you can hear about them and avoid them.


• You need someone to affirm that what you are doing is right, and that's one of the job descriptions for a good coach.


• A good coach is someone who gives athletes workouts and explains why they will help. When I go out the door to run, I don't want the stress of thinking what I have to do that day and why I have to do it.


• A coach can bring information from a great number of sources and explain why something works and why something else will not.


• A coach who carefully monitors an athlete's progress can recognize when the athlete begins to show signs of the fatigue from overtraining that often precedes any injury.


• A coach can look at your workload and evaluate it more objectively than the athlete.

How do I know if the coach will be good for me?