Let’s start this blog off with why I think you should get a coach, this isn’t exclusive to strength sports, but that’s my sport so that’s where I’ll focus. If you are serious about the sport you want to pursue, then a coach, I feel, is vital, and don’t be afraid to change coaches (more on that later).

For me a coach keeps me accountable, as a PT, yes, I could probably programme myself, but, I will always have that niggling doubt that what I’m doing isn’t getting the best out of me, plus and yes I’ve done this when I’ve programmed myself…..with the greatest intentions in the world when you’re writing the programme and you put in the exercise you hate….because its good for you…..you will not do it! – Well I didn’t!....go on admit it….neither did you…did you?........Here’s what I did…I always left it till last, so there was never time, I was tired, hungry, the gym was closing…I’ll do it tomorrow….but……I never did it tomorrow!!....so how is it different with a coach? because coaches programme things we don’t like doing….don’t they?....yes…they do, but for me it’s the accountability, knowing my coach is waiting for that check in, plus if I’m going to the expense of paying my coach and then not doing what they’re coaching…well more fool me for wasting my money!  

Your coach, in my opinion should be experienced in the sport, they should know the exercises and the disciplines, how to break them down and teach them effectively and therefore be able to give constructive feedback, even with online coaching, which I will admit I was sceptical about; However the first videos of my deadlift I sent my coach, she corrected something minor straight away, which massively improved my lift and how my body fired for the lift, same with my log lift, my atlas stones, and  my overhead press – without these cues, I would, without a doubt be stuck on a plateau with my lifts.

I changed coaches during the first lockdown of 2020; I have been extremely lucky to be coached by a great guy who had competed in Strongman to UK level in the 2000’s. He was a member of my gym and coached me for free, which I will always be grateful for as he was my entry to the sport, before I met him and started looking into the sport, I didn’t even know Strongwoman was a thing.

The first few months of lockdown were tough, but there was a sense of optimism that it wouldn’t be long…we all know where that optimism got us…. but what that time away from the hamster wheel of work, training, competing did was give me time to reflect and think about where I was going and where I wanted to go.

I felt my coach and I had drifted apart in the few months prior to lockdown, no ones fault, I think we were taking different paths….I thought long and hard…I’m an over thinker, I don’t like upsetting people….but as I said we seem to have naturally drifted apart – so I was left in this dilemma of…Can I programme myself, fully aware of my own downfalls with this, or do I want to iron out those finer points and be the best I can be?....well who doesn’t want to be the very best?

So, I contacted my coach, and had a chat over the phone and to be honest for this part of my journey…it really is the best thing I’ve done. What I didn’t actually bargain on is the mental and emotional support a coach who knows you brings…. especially one who has faced the pitfalls of climbing to the top… I haven’t trained much during lockdown three, but again that time has given me  the ability to really focus on what I want out of this….and my coach has been there, on the end of the phone, with support, advice, and how to handle where I’m going and what I’m likely to face and what I am facing…. both physically and mentally……..

….and that is why you should get a coach!