Why is it that girls respond more to coaching in triathlon than guys do?

It seems that guys follow coaching plans fairly well until they achieve a certain level. Then once they “make it” or achieve a level where they get respect from their peers, their ego becomes bigger than their brain. Very often then, when they would benefit most from coaching they take over the role themselves.

The easiest part of developing an athlete is the first year or two. Their body responds to the work quickly and easily. Good results and PBs flow out of every race.

Once the easy results have been gained the athlete needs to work on very specific parts of his performance. Put in a lot of work for a smaller rate of improvement. Breakthroughs don’t come in every race. To reduce an athletes 10km run time from 36min to 33min can take three years work. That’s why there are not many 33min runners out there. But to reduce his 10km time from 48min to 40min may only take three or four months.

Girls have a less distorted view of their ability than young guys do. They’re more in touch with reality. I guess it’s the testosterone. Guys with lots of testosterone are the ones who jump motorcycles over buses and go base jumping. Girls don’t do that sort of thing too often.

Often the young male athletes allow their ego to stand between them and their coach. If a close, trusting relationship is able to be cultivated, great results will follow as they work together as partners.

We need a big ego to to support great expectations and to achieve great things. But that ego needs to be under control. Don’t let it stand in your way or cause you to make short term decisions. When a long term view and a plan to support it is what you need to achieve your dreams.

I’m sure it’s because of this reason that I have had more success in coaching female athletes than males. The girls are more patient, have a more conscientious attitude to details.

It’s very frustrating for a coach to get a guy up to base level where he can work with him to go from “good” to “great”, and he goes off for three months of boozing and womanising. Now, I want it on the record that I’m not against boozing and womanising. In fact I’m a staunch advocate of the practice. But I really would like to schedule it into the program in measured amounts at strategic times of the year to not interfere with the development of the “aerobic animal”.