What I Wish I Knew When I Started Coaching Endurance Athletes

When I first started coaching endurance athletes, I thought success was all about the plan.

• The right intervals.
• The right zones.
• The perfect progression.

But over time, I’ve learned something much more important:

Coaching isn’t about the plan, it’s about the relationship between my athletes and I.

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1. The Plan Isn’t the Differentiator; The Human Connection Is

Today, athletes have access to incredible tools.

Platforms like Athletica and other AI-driven plans can guide athletes to their goals.

And honestly?Many of them work.

But what separates a coach from a generic plan is the human element.

Some athletes can self-coach successfully. But many need more:

• Accountability
• Encouragement
• Perspective
• Someone to remind them they’re doing enough

One of the most important things I’ve learned is this:

Athletes don’t just need direction, they need reassurance.

That message, “you’re doing enough,” is something I share almost daily in some form or another.

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2. Relentless Positivity Is a Coaching Skill

Early on, I underestimated how much mindset matters.

Workouts don’t always go well. Life gets in the way. Fatigue builds.

In those moments, athletes don’t need criticism, they need support.

That’s why I practice what I’d call relentless positivity:

• Encouraging athletes after tough sessions
• Reframing “bad workouts” as learning opportunities
• Reinforcing consistency over perfection

This doesn’t mean ignoring problems, it means helping athletes move forward with confidence.

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3. Communication Is the Foundation of Everything

If relationships are the foundation of coaching, then communication is what builds them.

This is something I wish I had prioritized even earlier.

Today, communication is woven into everything I do:

• Daily comments inside Athletica
• Text messages when I notice trends
• Weekly emails celebrating consistency and progress

It doesn’t have to be long or complicated.

Consistency matters more than perfection.

A quick check-in can make a big difference.

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4. Data Tells a Story, But Only If You Listen

As a coach, I spend a lot of time reviewing athlete data. But I’ve learned that the goal isn’t just to analyze—it’s to understand.

When I open an athlete’s file, I’m asking: What story is this telling me?

Here’s what I look at:

• Session charts to understand execution
• Workout Reserve to assess relative effort
• Time in Zone to identify training distribution and fatigue trends
• Recovery metrics (HRV/resting HR) to monitor adaptation
• Efficiency Factor to track cardiovascular progress

But numbers alone aren’t enough.

I also look at:

• RPE
• Comments
• How the athlete felt

Because sometimes:

• Strong power + low heart rate = possible fatigue
• Low power + low RPE = maybe zones need updating

The real skill is connecting the data to the human experience.

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5. Consistent Check-Ins Build Trust

One of the simplest things I’ve learned:

Don’t disappear as a coach.

Even small touchpoints matter:

• A quick “nice work this week”
• A short message after a tough workout
• A weekly check-in

These moments build trust over time, and trust is what keeps athletes engaged.

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6. Flexibility Makes Coaching More Accessible

Another lesson I’ve learned is that athletes need options.

Because I use tools like Athletica, I can offer:

• More affordable coaching with human support
• Fully customized plans for athletes who want more depth

This flexibility allows more athletes to get the support they need without feeling priced out.

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7. AI Isn’t a Threat, It’s an Opportunity

With AI starting entering the coaching space, a lot of coaches feel threatened.

I don’t.

Because AI doesn’t replace coaching,it enhances it.

Athletes can now:

• Ask better questions
• Understand their data more clearly
• Come into conversations more informed

I’ve seen this firsthand. One of my athletes used the AI Coach to think through pacing for a 50K. Then we discussed it together and refined the plan.

That’s powerful.

The future of coaching isn’t human vs. AI, it’s human + AI.

Coaching Is About Supporting the Person, Not Just the Athlete

If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this:

Focus less on perfect plans and more on supporting the person in front of you.

Because at the end of the day:

• Most training plans will work
• But not every athlete will feel supported

And that’s where coaching makes the difference.

Coach Paul Warloski runs Simple Endurance Coaching and works primarily with everyday masters athletes who have cycling or running goals. He specializes in coaching gravel cycling and cyclocross athletes.