Coach Carter

Friday lunchtime, Chris and I met up to discuss his latest visit to see Nick Webborn, the sports medic who is treating his crash injured hip. In helping him with his apple and cinnamon cake, he made a suggestion for this week’s blog post: the things I do for my athletes! Whilst helping athletes with their endeavours to stay lean and taking any opportunity to share coffee over face to face chats is ‘up there’ in terms of the best bits about my job, there are several examples of when I might go that extra mile...

...or indeed an extra FEW HUNDRED miles! It isn’t uncommon for me to look at one of my athlete’s intended goals for the year and get so excited by it that I get caught up in the emotional wave. My best example of this was when Juliette suggested riding London to Paris last year – before I knew it I had signed on the dotted line – and we all know how THAT affected me! At times like that, I end up riding events well outside of my fitness comfort zone. In preparation for L2P last year, I needed to ride some longer routes – so signing up to help Craig in the Castle 100 seemed a good plan. Whilst Craig might have thought Coach was well in control, she was breathing just as heavily as him on some of the testing climbs – all wondering how on Earth I would cope in the L2P only a few weeks later! “Why do I do this?” is not a rare thought in my head...and since Craig sent me a link on Monday to take part in an Everest base camp trek, I am rather concerned again (can I give someone my credit card for safe keeping please?)

It isn’t just organised rides I commit to. I have been known to perform route reconnaissance: thinking nothing of riding up and down busy dual carriageways, all in the name of preparing riders for National Time Trial events. Last Saturday was a recent example of a slightly different "reccie". Due to meet Craig for a 2h training ride, he was struck down sick my a bug last week and it came back with a vengeance at the weekend. We were meant to ride out via the nearby village of Glynde so that we could check the mileage for a morning commute idea we have. Undeterred by a lack of Craig, I went out and did the ride myself “Why am I doing this?” - my legs reminding me I have only spent 1h on the bike since getting back from Mallorca over a month ago. Juliette past me in her car as I was coming back in to Eastbourne – she said I looked ‘weary’...a compliment! At least we have Craig’s route planned.

The athletes I work with have often told me what sets me aside from a lot of other coaches is that I am there at races, and they lappreciate that. I like it too, and for me, the spectating breaths life in to my role as their coach. Again, there are moments I question my sanity – getting in to my car at 3am in order to get to a time trial start. A great example is last year’s British Time Trial Championships. Due to commitments at home on the Saturday, it meant I had to travel to South Wales on the morning of the race....not too bad, and the 270 mile coffee fuelled journey was well worth it. Getting back in to my car some 12 hours later at 4pm for the return drive home was less fun: especially hitting traffic on the M25. Dan and I have done some comparable drive miles in “Mobie” for lab testing and races –accumulation of mileage to the extent that has had us thinking of setting up Mobie's own Facebook page and putting a sticker on his back bumper “Follow me on Facebook”

My duties have even taken me cross the channel. I like to go over to watch riders in the Duo Normande each September if I can...and I last year’s edition had me planning the itinerary well ahead of time. My good friend Andy was getting married in Central Park New York on the Friday evening before the Sunday race in France. I had a mad cap plan of flying out of NY on Friday last thing, arriving at Heathrow 10am Saturday, jumping in my car to Portsmouth for the 3pm ferry to arrive in Normandy at 9pm. I even booked all the necessary travel. Sensible reflection caught up with me – even with MY coffee drinking, I was bordering on stupidly chasing my tail! I was still disappointed not to be there supporting Paddy and Seb.

I imagine I will be making a cross channel trip or two on work duty this summer. For one, I intend to go over on a day trip to meet up with Nic as he prepares for the French TT Champs in June. Last year, he did his course reccie with his father in the car behind videoing the session for me. Alongside his power data files, it allowed me and Dan to break down the laps and provide Nic with our view on the required pacing strategy. This year, I would like to go over to meet him and see the route for myself. Thankfully, the event is being held a little closer this year – Bologne is easier to reach from the UK.

There are less pleasant aspects of athlete support that I do. Not ‘less pleasant’ because the moments themselves are too onerous or unenjoyable – but rather I wish I didn’t have to be doing it at all. I refer to the times that I have accompanied athletes to appointments for injury or health related consultations at clinics or hospitals. It is useful to go – to hear the diagnosis and understand how the condition has come about – whether its a cycling injury brought on my poor technique, or something more inherent to the athlete’s biomechanics. It is good to work with other professionals too, increasing my network of expertise. Last Monday, I accompanied Juliette on her hospital visit – an appointment with Prof Mike Mortimer, the UK’s expert in Lymphdema. I’ll let you read Juliette’s take on the day. Like I say, I wish I didn’t have to see my athletes go through this kind of challenge, but I am glad I can be of support.

All this activity has made me reflect on the role of the coach: very appropriately given the book chapter I am in the middle of writing. When first selecting a coach, it probably starts off by looking for someone with expertise, or experience in a particular area / discipline. But I think one of the major benefits athletes find themselves receiving is all this 'value added'. Look at the coaching science literature, and a list of roles the coach plays extends from expert, advisor, mentor through to project manager, supporter and even friend. It makes for a demanding job - as when you start to care about the person 'underneath' the athlete, it can never be a 9 to 5 job. I'm fortunate to have close and trusting relationships with my "1-2-1" clients, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Bring on the cake!