Accomplished marathoner, triathlete and cyclist, I have been training in racing in three disciplines for over ten years. I believe that successful coaching requires a blend of science-based training, practical experience and building a strong coach/athlete relationship. Anyone can design and send out training plans but it's important that a coach makes an effort to really understand their athletes and invest in their success. A good coach should educate their athletes about training principles and help them understand how each workout and interval helps them achieve their goals.