Coached, that is. That is the current thing that is running through my head. Don't get me wrong, if I had a money tree, I'd already have a coach... but I don't. The thing is, I really want to work on speed next year. I really want to get a sub-2 hour half marathon, which will be no small feat. I do not do speedwork. I keep saying I will, but I don't. I'm a go-with-the-pace kind of girl. I do know my body well enough to know just how much I can push during a race. I'd say, in general, I'm good at pushing my limit to just the right point during a race... I am awful at really pushing my limits during a workout.
I think I need someone to not only set out a training schedule (even though I can whip one up at the Runner's World website that works pretty well), but hold me accountable for speedwork. Yes, I plan to take the RRCA coaching course in January, and while I think that knowledge will help me, I'm still not convinced that I will do the appropriate speedwork and cross-training - both of which get zero attention.
As for the training programs we have available here in Dallas, they don't really work for me. My schedule is so inconsistent between mommy duties and art shows and racing... not to mention my husband often works insane hours and often 7 days a week.
So tell me...
Do you have a coach?
How did you choose him/her?
Do you meet in-person or just check-in online or via phone?
How has it benefitted you?
How long of a period did you hire them for?
Are you eating Ramen noodles in order to pay for your coach?
21 comments:
Uggg. I don't but I swear if I ever want to have a good running form, I will NEED one!!
I can't wait to follow your post though and see how others' have chosen one. I [think] I'd love to have one. ;)
I have a coach. This is my second one. First one didn't turn out so well. I met him face to face and see him at least once a week when actively training. I am uncoached over the holidays and that is okay. We go Feb-Oct with nov-jan off.
i don't but i really want one. i mean, i know how to push myself but i ALWAYS second guess myself as to whether or not i'm doing things "right". i have a friend who is a coach and i'm always slyly asking questions hahah
I would love a coach someday, but that's a luxury to come when the money is coming in again!
Do you have a coach? I do! She is awesome!!!!!
How did you choose him/her? I fell in love with her the INSTANT I met her.... love at first sight! j/k...
Do you meet in-person or just check-in online or via phone? We meet in person twice a week at swim and then typically check in online throughout the rest of the week. We have scheduled to meet up more the second part of my training. She has been hectic due to her IMCOZ training.
How has it benefitted you? Keeps me accountable (along with the blog) and I feel that I have a professional opinion when things are "sketchy". She is great about sending me little notes in the mail and calling me to keep me motivated...plus her emails are awesome.
How long of a period did you hire them for? Mine is open- ended - at least through April 2011 and my first 70.3. I would like to use her to train for a full marathon potentially.
Are you eating Ramen noodles in order to pay for your coach? Lea is very reasonably priced (I mean VERY) if you are interested in getting her contact info email me (allie0622 at yahoo dot com) and I can send it to you.
She also is a running coach at a local run shop so her experience is amazing!
No coach at this point - would love one someday, when I get a little more fit and start working toward time goals!
I don't have a coach, but I did join the local (small) tri club.
I joined the club for $60 a year, and $5 for training session there after, and I get the same benefit as a one on one coach, but I push myself that much harder because there are other people watching as well!!
As a bonus, I also get swimming and ride training too :)
You could try a club that do things like that if a coach is not in your budget. :) Also a good way to meet new people!!
I would definitely recommend meeting them in person first though. Because if they are a sucky person, chances are you are going to be loathe to go to training, and that's NOT what you want!
I have a swimming coach. I do my run and bike planning on my own...
I have a coach...she coaches our running group so it's not individual one on one coaching...but we all get a personalized training plan according to what race we are training for. We also meet weekly for long runs on Saturdays and on Tuesdays, we meet for either a hill workout or a speed workout! I love it!! :0) Good luck!
I don't have one. I run at my own pace. I set my own goals and find my own training schedule. But then again, I don't have time goals like yours, at least not at this stage of my running life.
How much does it cost to have a running coach anyway?
I totally believe in having a coach. Not forever, but in spurts. I've made the most/best gains each time when I've had a trainer guiding me. And I'm a 'certified' trainer USAT coach myself. i need the outside voice;-)
I don't have a coach. But I think I would be tons better if I did! I was nervous about even starting to run because I just didn't know how to do it. Building up to a mile was hard enough - but I didn't have the first clue.
BUT then would I get annoyed with someone telling me what to do? Maybe... ??
I don't have a coach, but it might be interesting to try it. I'm not good at listening to what others think I should do. If you don't want to do speedwork, add hill training, helps with speed AND form.
Nope, not for me. I just do my own thing. I must say I'm very dedicated and always follow my plan.
New to your blog.
I have thought about a coach but like you, I don't want to spend the $ right now. It would be nice to have someone hold me accountable but I think if I took running that seriously right now, I would end up disliking it and may even stop. So for now, I do my own thing and listen to my body. Fortunately if I did want one, there isn't a shortage of them in my area. Everyone and there brother is a running coach here!
I have a cycling coach but your questions and concerns for a running coach are comparable. My coach is someone I knew already through the local shop and had watched race before. I chose him because he had experience in all forms of riding, not just racing, and has faced the challenge of adjusting his training schedule to fit a busier lifestyle. Do not underestimate this! The training techniques that work for pros usually involve high volume. A different approach is needed for amateurs with busy family schedules.
As far as meetings, we meet occassionally but most of our communication is over email. The benefits go beyond having a plan to hold yourself accountable. Some of the biggest benefits have been quick answers regarding how to respond to specific aches and pains as well as how to adjust the training schedule when something doesn't go as planned. Originally I hired a coach just to prepare for Livestrong and was going to handle the winter on my own. I have since determined I have even more to gain from a coach in regards to how to handle the cycling offseason, i.e. strength training and such.
I don't have a coach but maybe someday.
I was thinking that I need to be more serious about running before I get a coach. But maybe I should get a coach, and that will make me take it more seriously. Hmmmm....
Hey girl! You know I have a coach and I LOVE her! I am not the type of person that could have trained for a marathon on my own, so I knew that I needed others to keep me accountable. I do have coached workouts during the week for hill and speedwork but I don't make it to those. I have the schedule and manage to do that part on my own b/c I don't want to get up so early. For me, I couldn't do it without my group, but I know that you can. You might just want to pay for a local running club... I'm sure you have a couple near you.
I do have a coach and truly believe in her.
I found her on a pamphlet at RunOn in Richardson. Kept it to the side of my desk for weeks/months until my wife had enough of my complaining that my swim was lacking.
I emailed her and she happened to be coming to Dallas and so we met and I immediately knew and hired her.
Everything is done online via TrainingPeaks but we exchange emails and text msgs and she is coming up for the Turkey Trot and DWR marathon.
I highly recommend a coach and especially her.
www.irunitri.com
I am a USAT L1 coach and I've coached many athletes. Even with that, I still use a coach for my training. I feel I know what to do (probably more than most) but the support he gives me makes me actually do it. I also need a goal to train for too as that gives it some urgency.
Picking a coach, though, can often be a challenge. There is no "best" coach but I believe that there is a "best" coach for each athlete at that point in time. I believe the best coaching relationship (and it is a relationship) requires personalization, honesty, communication, trust and goal alignment.
Good luck.
Hey Lesley, new reader here. Found you from a comment on Marathon Maiden. Any-who, I have an "accountability" coach who I check in with every other week. We basically meet up for a run so I can run my "running plans" by him. He's not a pro but he's been running a lot longer than I have and between him and my sister in-law (who might as well be pro, she's insane!) I get some pretty good support.
I guess my tip for penny pinches such as myself is to find friends and family that have some running experience.
Nice blog, got you added to my reader!
-Jim
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