Knowledge Base

Coaching

Coaching endurance athletes is an art, a science, and a craft.

We offer this selection of coaching-related articles, videos, workshops, and guides to help coaches begin to explore the support available for coaches through Fast Talk Labs.

Contact us with your questions, clarifications, or requests at coaches@fasttalklabs.com.

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Coaching > Planning Your Season

A competitive marathon runner with arms raised in the air crosses the finish line at the Padova Marathon.

3 // Mapping a Season of Training

Anyone can make a training plan. But a good coach knows how to plan a season that unlocks an athlete’s true potential. Joe Friel is joined by a full line-up of master coaches in this module that will expand your thinking.

Process for Goal Setting and Season Planning

Onboarding New Athletes

Goal assessment and season planning are two details you must attend to in taking on a new athlete.

Coach Alan Couzens teaches a swimmer

Season Plan for Triathlete Leveling Up to Ironman

Athletes often underestimate the amount of fitness that they lose in tapering for, and recovery from, excessively frequent racing. This is especially true in Mary’s case where she is looking to make a significant jump in training load in order to properly prepare for the Ironman distance.

Graphic of vision, mission, and philosophy intertwined with each other

Performance Plan for an Aspiring Olympian

Dr. Andy Kirkland outlines what it will take for an aspiring young triathlete to go pro, illuminating a biopsychosocial approach to season planning.

photo of cyclist in a race

Season Plan for Masters Cyclist Who Wants to Podium

Coach Trevor Connor presents the season plan he created for Cynthia, a female masters athlete based in Colorado. Connor’s plan includes the training detail for the final weeks leading up to Nationals.

photo of cycling coach Dean Golich with world-champion athletes, Allison Dunlap and Mari Holden

Block Training Plan for an Elite Cyclist

The principles of block training can be applied across endurance sports, whether the athlete is elite or amateur. The biggest difference is that elite or pro athletes have more time to train.

Planning Skills

Develop Your Planning Skills

Joe Friel explores the development of annual training plans, short-term plans, and matters beyond sport-specific workouts.

legs of triathletes

Training Distribution for Triathletes

If you’re new to triathlon, equal training among the three sports may be all you need. But for advanced athletes, a more sophisticated approach involves unequal distribution between the disciplines.

How to Build an Annual Training Plan

How to Develop a Yearly Training Plan

We review the art and science of developing and maintaining an annual training plan, which helps athletes progress and perform at their best.