Generic programmes. Yep thats a big concern. But it also applies to programmes from Fink, Friel et al. What happens if you miss a week, what happens when you just don't seem to be progressing, how does it take into account the fact that people adjust to training at different rates. A programme from a coach should in the first instance be periodised for you, the questions that have to be asked would include; 1) What volume of training currently are you doing in each disapline and how is it made up, 2) What is your goal race and your goals for that race, 3) how much time can you afford to put into your training and how is this made up, 4) Your current health and state of any current and or recent injuries; 4) Age 5) Support structures 6) Equipment and facilities that are available, it goes on... Only when a coach has that can they begin to consider things like, rate of build, length in respective period of training, ie base, base transition etc, what micro structure to use eg 2 week on 1 week off, 4 week s on 1 week off, what percentage of endurance, threshold, v02 and speed work is required. Once that is done the coach can then begin to design sessions that fit in with the athletes abilities, requirements and goals, if that is done then it is in no ways a generic programme if not well then its not a programme! Cheers
