Weekly News Number 4

Back in Noosa and slowly returning to a rhythm of movement. This week, I rediscovered the joy in training, and my thoughts are becoming clearer — especially when it comes to the search for a triathlon coach. Finding someone who is just as passionate as you are is difficult. Often, the issue is that potential coaches already work with 20–30 athletes or earn their income in other sports.

What happened this week?

I had two phone calls with a friend from Austria. For a short time, we had a really good idea, which unfortunately turned out to be a dead end because we couldn’t establish contact with the coach who would have been an option. So it was back to square one.

What I also really appreciated this week were two phone calls: one with an older friend who has a lot of life experience, and one with my mum.

One sentence from the first conversation really stuck with me:“Get shit done first.”

What I’m doing right now is, luckily, not shit. Still, we all know this: in life — or even within a single day — there are tasks we prefer to do, and others that simply have to get done.

Looking back on ten years on the road

Something else that occupied my thoughts this week was my travel history over the past ten years. Can you remember where you’ve been as a European — with open borders? That reflection pushed me to my limits at times.

By looking at my triathlon results, I was able to trace where I’ve been. Luckily, before that, I had a phase where I was mostly in Switzerland — during my apprenticeship or while I was working. Still, it’s impressive to see where sport has taken me.

I’m currently doing all of this to secure a long-term visa here in Australia. At the beginning of the week, this was an additional task that weighed heavily on my mind. In the meantime, I’ve been able to put things into perspective, and today everything looks very different. As so often: when you train a lot, it can be hard to assess situations realistically.

All the more valuable is having good people around who help put things into perspective. Today, on Monday, while I’m finalising this blog, things feel much clearer and calmer.

Out on the bike

Why finding a coach is difficult

That’s exactly why my search for a coach isn’t easy. Writing a training plan for someone isn’t the main challenge. The real hurdle is the passion, the joy in coaching, and having your head 100 percent in the process.

Maybe that’s also a reflection of our time and how the world has developed. As a coach myself, I see how important it is to be genuinely passionate about the athletes you work with.

Inspiration from a book

This is also a good transition to a book I’m currently reading — written by a former All Blacks coach (New Zealand’s national rugby team). I’ve only just started, and I’m definitely not a bookworm.

My hope with this biography is to understand that passion more deeply: What did he do with the team? How did he live leadership? I’m sure I’ll be able to take one or two things away for myself.

What I’ve already learned is this: he grew up in a family that lost their mother early on, and before coaching the team, he worked as a police officer. Already in the first few pages, it becomes clear what he learned up to the age of 30 — how disciplined his rugby upbringing was and the kind of drill he went through to become a police officer.

The book about the coach