Bums me out when I think I might have been faster in years gone by with a coach. What makes you think right away that it'll make you faster?
I have a hard time being honest with myself as to how I feel, and I tend to over train and get to the point where I "need" a break, get sick, can't sleep, etc. Two steps forward, one step back. After 3 weeks with a coach I feel good and healthy, and my numbers are getting better. He also has coached people with great success even at the national and world level, so I trust he knows what to do with a local nobody like me.