Posted by Frank Day (63.201.228.13) on February 03, 2004 at 13:40:28:
In Reply to: Re : Improvements. posted by Juerg on February 03, 2004 at 12:17:18:
Juerg,
Your comments, as always, are very thoughtful and perceptive. I think the best example of one size fits all coaching failing (IMHO) is that of Steve Larsen.
Steve is a great cyclist who starts training on PowerCranks and starts to see some big running improvements in the little bit he does. He is getting a little disenchanted with mountain biking so decides to put his little toe in the triathlon waters and has some pretty good success (Wildflower, 4th). He then tries again with a little more effort, with a course record at Vineman 1/2. Then again at lake Placid. He has the world abuzz at Kona and comes off the bike 10 minutes ahead of everybody and is on his way to victory when he bonks, finishing 9th overall.
He then takes on a big name triathlon coach who has him stop using the PowerCranks and starts running high mileage and speed work like his other big name triathletes. He spends the entire next season injured with disappointing results.
One size does not fit all and although there are things we can learn from each athlete that we can apply to others, the cookie cutter approach, when it works, is just as much due to luck as skill.
Frank