Coaching & Training Plans

My ability to effectively monitor and prescribe your training relies on your uploading workout data to TrainingPeaks that includes distance/duration plus heart rate (and/or power).

Using your GPS watch and heart rate strap (and/or power meter) while training makes it easy to automatically upload the data to TrainingPeaks. To connect your device to your TrainingPeaks account, see these TrainingPeaks instructions.

Consistently using both your GPS watch and heart rate strap (and/or power meter) is important to model your training load over time. Heart rate (or power) data is used by TrainingPeaks to calculate a training stress score (TSS) for each workout; the TSS takes into account both the duration and intensity of your workout. I use this metric along with other coaching tools on TrainingPeaks to monitor and prescribe your training. Optional: If you’re interested in learning more about TSS, see “Training Stress Scores (TSS) Explained” in the TrainingPeaks help center.

In addition to uploading data from your training device, you can add subjective notes in the “Post-activity comments” box. These can be notes on how you felt, weather conditions, other life events going on, etc. I recommend adding comments at least a few times a week, especially for key workouts. These comments provide me with greater insight into how you’re responding to the training. Feedback on what you’re qualitatively experiencing in addition to the quantitative feedback from your training device are both important to helping me monitor and prescribe your training. For more tips, see "Why Is Logging Post-Workout Comments Important and What Should You Include?"

To help me schedule your training around work/family/life commitments, you can mark on your calendar in advance when you have limited availability to train, such as when traveling or during an important work/life event. See the instructions on how to mark your availability in the TrainingPeaks help center article, “Athlete Availability/Limited Availability.”

You can always use the post-activity comments in your TrainingPeaks log to ask questions, especially if it relates to that particular workout. I check and respond to these comments frequently throughout the week. If you haven’t received a response within a few days on an urgent matter, feel free to send me a text or email.

I usually respond to emails within a day or two during the week (not including weekends).

If you have a coaching package with text communications, texts work well for quick comments or questions. I usually respond to texts within a few hours or by the end of the day at the latest. My texting response hours generally run from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Mountain Time on both weekdays and weekends. You can text me outside those hours, but I may only respond during those hours. Sometimes I’m in the backcountry and out of cell range all day, in which case I’ll respond after hours if it’s not too late or the next day.

Sometimes it’s just easier to talk by phone or to meet virtually via a video call.

If you have a coaching package that includes a regularly scheduled call, we’ll set up a consistent time for a weekly, biweekly, or monthly check-in to discuss your training. I have time slots available for calls on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but we can find times on other days as needed. Sometimes, it might be helpful to meet via video conference so I can show you things in your TrainingPeaks calendar/dashboard.

If you have a coaching package that doesn’t include conference calls, you can always purchase a one-on-one consultation call. This works well if you’d like a more in-depth consultation to discuss your training, strategize for an upcoming race, debrief at the end of a season or after a race, etc. I have time slots available for calls on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, but we can find times on other days as needed.