Online Coaching

I used Troy Jacobson's coaching service and was very unhappy. I was matched up with a semi-local
coach who I talked with over the telephone to pass on my information, goals, training schedule, etc.
Everything seemed good. Several days later I received my first two week workout.

During our initial conversation I informed my coach of two things, stemming from his questions, (1)
I hate stationary trainers, do not have one, and will not buy on, (2) I would only swim on Mondays,
Wednesday, and Fridays.

I was unhappy when my workouts had several stationary trainer workouts and swimming on anything buy
the days I asked. I passed on this information again. Next workout, same thing. Passed the
information on again. No reply, but more workouts. This went on for about two months. I finally
cancelled my membership. I did get a call my one of the head coaches after an angry email and they
apologized and explained that my coach had moved, did not have a computer set-up, etc.

Come to find out, Jaconson partners with Spinervals spinning videos and it was obvious they pushed
product first, trained second. I would shy away from online coaching for a bargain. Most of the good
training is ridiculously expensive.

Brandon

Mark said:

Hey all!

Anyone have the skinny on some really good online coaches for Iron distances? Are there some that
you get a really good bang for your buck? Any personal experiences from anyone? Thanks in
advance! M~

Dear Mark:

I specialize in coaching and racing Ironman and longer distances. Check out my web site at
www.svi.net to see both premium and quarterly coaching plans. I am also certified by Joe Friel's
Ultrafit associates, the guy who wrote the TRIATHLETES TRAINING BIBLE. I am currently accepting
athletes preparing for 2004 Ironmans. We'll also be having a mMarch camp in Texas, and pre-race
preparation and Ironman Coeur d'Alene this June.

I'll also be doing Ultraman Hawaii this year after Thanksgiving weekend, where I previosly finished
top five overall adn first in age group. For 2002 I was a USAT All-American, and for 2003 am ranked
number one masters triathlete in the USAT Southern Midwest region. Before becoming a full-time
triathlon coach, I trained astronauts for endurance physiology experiments aboard the International
Space Station.

Brandon Sullivan said:

I used Troy Jacobson's coaching service and was very unhappy. I was matched up with a semi-local
coach who I talked with over the telephone to pass on my information, goals, training schedule,
etc. Everything seemed good. Several days later I received my first two week workout.

During our initial conversation I informed my coach of two things, stemming from his questions,
(1) I hate stationary trainers, do not have one, and will not buy on, (2) I would only swim on
Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

I was unhappy when my workouts had several stationary trainer workouts and swimming on anything
buy the days I asked. I passed on this information again. Next workout, same thing. Passed the
information on again. No reply, but more workouts. This went on for about two months. I finally
cancelled my membership. I did get a call my one of the head coaches after an angry email and they
apologized and explained that my coach had moved, did not have a computer set-up, etc.

Come to find out, Jaconson partners with Spinervals spinning videos and it was obvious they pushed
product first, trained second. I would shy away from online coaching for a bargain. Most of the
good training is ridiculously expensive.

Brandon

Dear Brandon:

If you'd like to try something with higher quality and truly the most elite, well-trained coaches,
you might want to give Joe Friel's Ultrafit associates a try. Joe wrote the best-selling books ever
on cycling and triathlon, and has chosen the "quality instead of quantity," different from other
big, "famous" coaching groups.

I am affiliated with Ultrafit and was formerly a coachign client of Joe's before becoming an elite
masters athlete and a certified coach myself. I've been very happy with the coaching I received, the
training later on to be a good coach, and the best-quality people I've ever worked with--and that
includes previous association with Fortune 100 technology and government agencies like NASA.

If you'd like to see what I'm up to, try www.svi.net or email me at [email hidden].

Brandon Sullivan said:

I used Troy Jacobson's coaching service and was very unhappy. I was matched up with a semi-local
coach who I talked with over the telephone to pass on my information, goals, training schedule,
etc. Everything seemed good. Several days later I received my first two week workout.

During our initial conversation I informed my coach of two things, stemming from his questions,
(1) I hate stationary trainers, do not have one, and will not buy on, (2) I would only swim on
Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays.

I was unhappy when my workouts had several stationary trainer workouts and swimming on anything
buy the days I asked. I passed on this information again. Next workout, same thing. Passed the
information on again. No reply, but more workouts. This went on for about two months. I finally
cancelled my membership. I did get a call my one of the head coaches after an angry email and they
apologized and explained that my coach had moved, did not have a computer set-up, etc.

Come to find out, Jaconson partners with Spinervals spinning videos and it was obvious they pushed
product first, trained second. I would shy away from online coaching for a bargain. Most of the
good training is ridiculously expensive.

Brandon

By the way, Brandon, I also don't like indoor training much (I'll do it only if weather is truly
horrible), and I swam for years on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We tailor programs to the athlete,
not the other way around like some coaches.

Tom Rodgers <[email hidden]> wrote in news:YuRnb.298$XS5.83 @newssvr24.news.prodigy.com:

Quoted message said:

I'll also be doing Ultraman Hawaii this year after Thanksgiving weekend, where I previosly
finished top five overall adn first in age group. For 2002 I was a USAT All-American, and for 2003
am ranked number one masters triathlete in the USAT Southern Midwest region. Before becoming a
full-time triathlon coach, I trained astronauts for endurance physiology experiments aboard the
International Space Station.

Yes, but are you qualified?

:-)

FWIW, I used CTS this past year and successfully completed my first Oly and
1/2 Ironman. My coach was very responsive and set up my schedule to suit my needs. They seem
reasonably priced.

I checked out a variety of online programs....Friel, Mark Allen, etc. In the end I hooked up with a
local coach in my area. I pay a bit more however it was worth it. I get a ton more 1-1
correspondence (vs a set amount based on how much you pay). I lucked out in that the person I hooked
up with is highly qualified and came recommended by many in the area. While I wish my time at my 1st
IM (CDA this past June) had been better, my training was spot on. He's now on retainer and we're
mapping out 2004 right now.

Tom Henderson <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Tom Rodgers <[email hidden]> wrote in news:YuRnb.298$XS5.83 @newssvr24.news.prodigy.com:

Quoted message said:

I'll also be doing Ultraman Hawaii this year after Thanksgiving weekend, where I previosly
finished top five overall adn first in age group. For 2002 I was a USAT All-American, and for
2003 am ranked number one masters triathlete in the USAT Southern Midwest region. Before
becoming a full-time triathlon coach, I trained astronauts for endurance physiology experiments
aboard the International Space Station.

Yes, but are you qualified?

:-)

Has anyone tried www.trainright.com??? Prices and service seem a lot better than Ultrafit. Please
let me know if you've worked with them and what you thought!

Very affordable, personal attention, and goal-related:

Rick Niles, author of "Time-Saving Training for Multisport Athletes"

www.ranfit.com

[email hidden]

- Bernie Hall, Great Floridian 2000,2001,2002; Duke Blue Devil 2002

I finally found a great online coach, MaryEllen Powers. Worth her weight in titanium! She helped me
achieve my goal of qualifying for the big dance in Hawaii for 2004 at IMFlorida 2003. Her workouts
weren't the cookie cutter workouts I (and several of my friends)received from other online coaching
services. They were very individualized and creative. She also rearranged workouts when they needed
to be changed because my schedule changed on short notice. (I have two little girls ages 6 and 4, so
sometimes things come up and my training schedule needs to be changed). She also called me to see
how the key workouts went, to evaluate how my body is responding to the workouts, and if the plan
needs to be altered in any way. I was never bored with the workouts. She always responded quickly
when I called or emailed her with a question. And I had many ??...usually on nutrition for the IM. I
highly recommend her for long or short distance events. Very knowledgeable, inspiring, and
motivational. Check out her website, System3Coaching.com.

Diana