The nicest thing a coach can do for someone

Great coach gettin it done.

As I slowly gather more and more experience, I think I’ve finally figured out the nicest thing that a coach can do for someone. Be totally honest. Let me explain.

I have contact all the time with people who don’t have an honest assessment of where they stand. Myself included. I’ll delude myself for weeks at a time about where I’m at physically. Case in point, last year before Aromas, I said to myself “Oh I’ll be ready for the hill run”. Bullshit. I should have weighed and measured for an extended period of time to lean out a little more…. then I’d have been more ready for the hill.

Here is the kicker though. The truth hurts.

Do I really want to hear someone say, “You need to weigh and measure for 3 weeks. No more eyeballing.” No. It is a lot easier to just say “I’ve always been a bad runner”.

Do you really want to hear me say you need to gain 30 lbs? No. It is a lot easier to just say “I’ve always had weak legs”.

Do you really want to hear me say you need to lose 20 lbs? No. It is a lot easier to just say “I just can’t get the hang of kipping pullups”.

Do you really want to hear me say you are shooting yourself in the foot every Friday and Saturday night with alcohol? No. It is a lot easier to just say “I eat perfect Monday through Friday”.

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So here is my promise. If you give me permission, I’ll be totally honest with you. If you don’t want me to do this, that’s fine. However, if you do give me the green light, I’ll tell you exactly where I think you are at as an athlete.

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What prompted this post? I got some great feedback on my coaching style from a coach I admire. No bullshit. No sugarcoating. Just honest appraisal. Trust me…. it helps.