All Things Endurance Podcast 17: Coaching Independently vs For an Org with Guest Jim Rowe

In this episode of All Things Endurance, host Rick Prince chats with triathlon coach, Jim Rowe. Jim is the coach education lead for Playtri and comes to the world of triathlon coaching from a non-traditional pathway – as a Lutheran minister. While various topics are discussed in this podcast, the central theme that Rick and Jim discuss are the pros and cons of coaching for yourself versus coaching through an organization. As Jim has done both, he brings a unique perspective to this discussion.

Jim is a Lutheran minister and a triathlon coach. Currently, Jim is a full-time triathlon coach with Playtri and is the coach education lead for the organization. In addition to coaching, Jim also performs physiological testing, bike fitting and swim stroke analysis for his athletes.

Areas covered in this podcast:
1. You have a unique background with respect to being a full-time tri coach, could you discuss your background and the path that you took to be a full-time tri coach?
2. Could you explain a bit more about how you made the decision to step away from being a minister, to being a full-time coach?
3. In both ministry and being a coach, you deal directly with people and communication is critically important. Would you say that your background as a minister has helped you in your role as a coach?
4. You had your own coaching practice prior to joining PlayTri as a coach. Could you discuss your reasoning behind that transition?
5. What are some of the pros and cons of running your own coaching practice, as well as that of coaching for an organization like PlayTri?
6. You also offer physiological testing as part of your coaching practice with PlayTri. When did you add that aspect to your services and how has that helped you in your coaching practice?
7. What are some key pieces of advice that you would have for a coach trying to decide if to coach independently or through an organization?
8. As a coach for an organization, do you still have to market your coach services or is that done 100% through PlayTri?
9. What does a ‘day in the life’ of Jim Rowe look like with respect to coaching?