Anyone considering working with a triathlon coach will want to know how much triathlon coaching costs, to help them understand if it’s within their budget or not. Every coach has different levels of service, and different levels of experience/qualifications so this is one of those “how long is a piece of string?” questions. However, I’m going to talk you through some of the most basic packages and what you could expect to pay for them in 2026.
Most coaches are opaque about their pricing (if you have to ask, you can’t afford it etc), but I have included my personal pricing where relevant.
Group swim session
This could be as part of a triathlon club, or a professional coach renting a lane those their own squad. This will always, hands down, be the cheapest way to access free coaching. This basic level of triathlon coaching costs £7-£12 per swim, based on the pool, coach and area.
These sessions are a great, affordable way to meet fellow triathletes and to get some feedback on your stroke. However, you may get very little feedback in a session. Some coaches will enjoy spending all session giving feedback to swimmers, while others will write the session on the board and spend the session on social media promoting their sessions.
Every swim squad should offer a free trial session, so go along and dip your toes in the water before committing.
1to1 swim coaching
If you want to really improve your swim stroke, you’re going to want 1to1 time with a coach. However, this isn’t cheap, and pound for pound, is the most expensive form of triathlon coaching.
This is because the overheads are so high for the coach. A coach can’t just saunter onto poolside at the local leisure centre and start delivering coaching, they need to pay a fee to the pool. This often means renting an entire lane, which is not cheap. Then there’s their time travelling to and from the session.
The second option is visiting a triathlon coach who has an endless pool. The best coaches will tend to make the upfront investment in hiring a unit and purchasing and endless pool to help them keep more of the money they make. This will allow you to get a video analysis, which can be tricky in a public pool. However, if you are a very new swimmer, you may find swimming in an endless pool to be very difficult.
Due to the costs involved in lane rental and/or the endless pool, you can probably expect to spend around £100 per session these days. Just because the price is high doesn’t mean you shouldn’t invest though, as one session could transform your swimming, and enjoyment of the sport.
I no longer offer traditional 1to1 swim coaching. Instead, I offer a remote 1to1 swim analysis for a fraction of the price, £40. Provide me with a video of you swimming, and I’ll provide a stroke breakdown as best I can. You can learn more and book here.
Nutrition Coaching
Many triathletes will struggle with nutrition and need guidance. If you’re taking on your first sprint triathlon then this won’t be a huge concern. But if you want to get faster, or take on longer events where nutrition becomes the difference between a PB or a DNF, you may want some external guidance. This tends to be more expensive than swim coaching, as it requires a greater level of education.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach I offer nutrition consultations for £75. This is a 90 minute session to educate you on different areas of nutrition and answer your questions. This can include improving energy levels, losing body fat, creating a race fuelling guide or any other relevant topics. Learn more and book here.
Bespoke Training Plan
Help with your swim stroke or nutrition is great, but what’s really critical is the bigger picture, pulling it all together. Having an improved swim stroke is important, but not worth much if you arrive at your event under trained, burnt out, having done completely the wrong training, or suffering with an unnecessary injury.
This is where a bespoke training plan comes in. A plan written around your work schedule, equipment, family life, training history, injuries and more.
This doesn’t have to cost the earth either. I currently charge £180 for three months. When you consider how much you have probably already invested in entry fees, bikes, pool fees and the like, the cost shouldn’t be prohibitive for most people. Learn more and read testimonials from previous clients here.
Online Triathlon Coaching
If you want to have regular communication with your coach, then a proper coaching relationship is required. The downside to the bespoke training plan is that when life gets in the way and you miss sessions due to illness or pick up an injury, that it can be hard to know how to proceed.
Some will laugh at the idea of working with a coach in an online capacity, but what’s the alternative? Hiring a coach to watch you complete every single session? If you want someone to oversee your training, plan it out and help you adjust the plan as things change, than working with a coach in an online capacity is by far the most economical and practical way to achieve this.
I can set bespoke workouts, analyse uploaded workout data and ensure you stay on track at all times. You can message me with any questions, update me with your changing schedule, and book a call when you’d like a catch-up. With good communication. This is the best, and quickest way to improve as an athlete.
Personally, I have two pricing options. If you want daily workout analysis and unlimited coach contact, that will cost £250 a month. If you’re happy with just a single point of contact each month for feedback and to share your schedule for the coming month, then that will cost £120 a month if you choose to work with me. You can learn more about both here.
Now, there will be coaches who charge less, and coaches who charge more. I’d like to think that my prices are fairly middle of the road, especially given my qualifications and experience. If someone is very (suspiciously?) cheap, then there are one of two possibilities.
The first is that they’re new to coaching and just looking to cut their teeth. There is nothing wrong with this at all. I too charged very low rates when I started out. The downside was that I really wasn’t very good. I didn’t really know anything about strength or nutrition, and based my coaching on my own personal experiences rather than best practices. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say I was embarrassed by the coach I was back then, we all have to start somewhere, hiring me was definitely a false economy.
The second possibility for suspiciously low rates is that the coach just isn’t providing a bespoke service. They’re actually just copying and pasting your training plan. Catch up cals last 10 minutes, and you are made to feel like you are inconveniencing them when you as questions. This is known as over promising and under delivering.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have coaches who charge four figures a month. How can they justify this? Well, chances are they’re the best in the business. They may have been coaching for 30 years and worked with world champions. Alternatively, they may be pirates targeting “high net worth individuals” who can justify the cost, but not actually delivering results.
Conclusion
There will be a coach out there that fits your budget and your goals. Remember that different coaches have different specialisations, communication habits and personalities. Some will hold your feet to the fire if you miss a single session, some will have a very hands off approach. Some will be wedded to the science, some will take a more pragmatic view.
My recommendation is to find a coach who places a priority on trust and communication, as that’s where the gains can really be found. If you want to book a free 15 minute call with me to discuss how I can help you achieve your goals, you can do so here.
