Running coach

[tuggyruns]

Does/has anyone worked with a running coach? Pros, cons, reccomendations?

I'm really thinking about doing this for 2 reasons: a more customized training plan and someone to advise when I need to change my plan, and two, to have someone help with any form issues/deficiencies I might need to work on.

Thoughts, experiences?

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[Susie]

I have a tri coach this training cycle. It's long distance (southeast to northeast US); I learned about her by reputation, from friends who have used her with good results. She is an RD, a USAT coach, and a multi-time Kona Ironman finisher, so she is well credentialed. She gave me the training plan to follow, I do my workouts and upload to Training Peaks, and she reviews and gives feedback. One of my friends used her for a marathon training plan too.

Obviously, we don't do a ton of form stuff, since we are long distance, so it depends on what you are looking for help with. She does give strength exercises (mostly hip and core) designed to help avoid injury, in addition to the usual swim/bike/run. Nutrition is a component as well.

I expect that it will help me go into my HIM better prepared, more confident, and probably in better shape, with less risk of overtraining. 8 weeks to go, we'll see!

My sports med doc, who is a Kona finisher and member of my tri club, has made some interesting observations. He has commented that in his non-surgical sports med practice he sees more running injuries among triathletes than swimming + biking combined (I believe it), and that he actually sees more injuries among coached athletes if anything than uncoached athletes. Not necessarily because coaches are bad, but likely because coached athletes tend to push harder. I thought that was interesting.

[thom]

This is a great question that I'll be following. I've never seriously thought about it before, but if I decided to go after a BQ someday it might be the next step.

I feel like any injury scare makes me crazy, and it would be good to have a coach to get advice from & figure out how to re-adjust my workouts. Maybe...

[taratru]

I've been thinking about it, but cost is a huge factor for me right now. It's also hard for me, since I spent so many years as a track coach, to come to terms with I can't really "coach" myself. I'm a headcase.

[CallingAllAngels]

My running group has a coach. It's about $60 per training cycle for the group plan. She has clinics on nutrition, fueling, stretching/conditioning, chi running, etc. We meet once a week for a group run. We have a zillion pace groups (each with its own leader) starting around 8:00mm going to a walk-only group. She has preplanned loops and water/Gatorade stops set up. She charges (I think) $145 for an individual plan where she rights your plan with specific paces in order to achieve a certain goal. I'm thinking about doing this for Fall because I really want to drop another 8 minutes (at least) off my half time. I'm not sure I will because I like to do a lot of research and figure things out myself.

Our group has been pretty successful, so she must be doing something right. I still consider myself a beginner and I'm still slow, but many other people in my group have seen great gains in the past few seasons (and I have too, but I'm still running pretty slow, just not as slow as I was).

[clseale]

Idk, I sort of have mixed feelings about it. I paid someone to write my plan for Chicago, and in the end, I think it was sort of a waste of money. (Luckily it wasn't a huge investment) I mean, basically, if you have a pretty uneventful training cycle, there's nothing mind-blowing they're going to do for you, and any plan they write, can just as easily be found online. If I was having an ache, or tired, or something was troubling me, any advice I was given, was something that I could have figured out on my own.

I went with a highly experienced and respected runner, and he runs a group here with a bunch of crazy fast runners. Still, I'd argue that they are fast because they all run together. They religiously, without fail, get together for weekly tempo, and track workouts. You can find tempo workouts, and track workouts online. The paces he gave me, line up with what any pace calculator would tell me, based on my goals.

I guess it depends on how personal you're talking about. A huge investment with a coach who regularly runs with you, pushes you on those runs, cross-trains, etc. That might be beneficial.

[tuggyruns]

Apr 22, 2014 13:28:22 GMT -5 Susie said:

I have a tri coach this training cycle. It's long distance (southeast to northeast US); I learned about her by reputation, from friends who have used her with good results. She is an RD, a USAT coach, and a multi-time Kona Ironman finisher, so she is well credentialed. She gave me the training plan to follow, I do my workouts and upload to Training Peaks, and she reviews and gives feedback. One of my friends used her for a marathon training plan too.

Obviously, we don't do a ton of form stuff, since we are long distance, so it depends on what you are looking for help with. She does give strength exercises (mostly hip and core) designed to help avoid injury, in addition to the usual swim/bike/run. Nutrition is a component as well.

I expect that it will help me go into my HIM better prepared, more confident, and probably in better shape, with less risk of overtraining. 8 weeks to go, we'll see!

My sports med doc, who is a Kona finisher and member of my tri club, has made some interesting observations. He has commented that in his non-surgical sports med practice he sees more running injuries among triathletes than swimming + biking combined (I believe it), and that he actually sees more injuries among coached athletes if anything than uncoached athletes. Not necessarily because coaches are bad, but likely because coached athletes tend to push harder. I thought that was interesting.

I think that the excercise and nutrition part would be key for me. I need someone to be like "your hips look weak- do XYZ" and "btw fatty, eat this-XYZ"

That is a really interesting observation from your doc. I would hope that my use of a coach would help me to prevent injuries. 

[tuggyruns]

Apr 22, 2014 13:36:35 GMT -5 thom said:

This is a great question that I'll be following. I've never seriously thought about it before, but if I decided to go after a BQ someday it might be the next step.

I feel like any injury scare makes me crazy, and it would be good to have a coach to get advice from & figure out how to re-adjust my workouts. Maybe...

Story of my life- this is what I would hope a coach would do for me too. It's like I don't trust myself to measure whether I am ready to run after little niggles or need more time off. I probably drive y'all CRAZY with my injury scare questions. I'm such a hypochondriac sometimes! 

[tuggyruns]

Apr 22, 2014 15:43:11 GMT -5 CallingAllAngels said:

My running group has a coach. It's about $60 per training cycle for the group plan. She has clinics on nutrition, fueling, stretching/conditioning, chi running, etc. We meet once a week for a group run. We have a zillion pace groups (each with its own leader) starting around 8:00mm going to a walk-only group. She has preplanned loops and water/Gatorade stops set up. She charges (I think) $145 for an individual plan where she rights your plan with specific paces in order to achieve a certain goal. I'm thinking about doing this for Fall because I really want to drop another 8 minutes (at least) off my half time. I'm not sure I will because I like to do a lot of research and figure things out myself.

Our group has been pretty successful, so she must be doing something right. I still consider myself a beginner and I'm still slow, but many other people in my group have seen great gains in the past few seasons (and I have too, but I'm still running pretty slow, just not as slow as I was).

This is me too. I finished a marathon, but I KNOW it wasn't my best effort. I want to safely, without getting injured, run a faster marathon.

[tuggyruns]

Apr 22, 2014 15:16:54 GMT -5 taratru said:

I've been thinking about it, but cost is a huge factor for me right now. It's also hard for me, since I spent so many years as a track coach, to come to terms with I can't really "coach" myself. I'm a headcase.

I totally get this- because I coached swimming for several years. However, I know that for me,  I can be lazy. I like the accountability of a coach too.

[tuggyruns]

Apr 22, 2014 16:01:51 GMT -5 clseale said:

Idk, I sort of have mixed feelings about it. I paid someone to write my plan for Chicago, and in the end, I think it was sort of a waste of money. (Luckily it wasn't a huge investment) I mean, basically, if you have a pretty uneventful training cycle, there's nothing mind-blowing they're going to do for you, and any plan they write, can just as easily be found online. If I was having an ache, or tired, or something was troubling me, any advice I was given, was something that I could have figured out on my own.

I went with a highly experienced and respected runner, and he runs a group here with a bunch of crazy fast runners. Still, I'd argue that they are fast because they all run together. They religiously, without fail, get together for weekly tempo, and track workouts. You can find tempo workouts, and track workouts online. The paces he gave me, line up with what any pace calculator would tell me, based on my goals.

I guess it depends on how personal you're talking about. A huge investment with a coach who regularly runs with you, pushes you on those runs, cross-trains, etc. That might be beneficial.

I'm really looking for a $500 or less scenario. Someone who I could meet with once a week or month, email questions to about my training plan and nutrition after they formulate a plan for me. 

[tuggyruns]

Sorry for the post and run earlier! It was my last day at my current job and things got crazy tomorrow I start my dream job!

[sadlebred]

I am so happy for you tuggyruns!

If you can afford it, I saw try the coach! I know very few people that have done it and regretted it.

[clseale]

Apr 22, 2014 18:48:06 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Apr 22, 2014 16:01:51 GMT -5 clseale said:

Idk, I sort of have mixed feelings about it. I paid someone to write my plan for Chicago, and in the end, I think it was sort of a waste of money. (Luckily it wasn't a huge investment) I mean, basically, if you have a pretty uneventful training cycle, there's nothing mind-blowing they're going to do for you, and any plan they write, can just as easily be found online. If I was having an ache, or tired, or something was troubling me, any advice I was given, was something that I could have figured out on my own.

I went with a highly experienced and respected runner, and he runs a group here with a bunch of crazy fast runners. Still, I'd argue that they are fast because they all run together. They religiously, without fail, get together for weekly tempo, and track workouts. You can find tempo workouts, and track workouts online. The paces he gave me, line up with what any pace calculator would tell me, based on my goals.

I guess it depends on how personal you're talking about. A huge investment with a coach who regularly runs with you, pushes you on those runs, cross-trains, etc. That might be beneficial.

I'm really looking for a $500 or less scenario. Someone who I could meet with once a week or month, email questions to about my training plan and nutrition after they formulate a plan for me. 

Give it a try, then! There's not too much at risk, since you're not looking to invest a ton. I'm not sorry I explored the option, even if I don't feel it's necessary at this point in my running. (Meaning that I'm an average recreational runner, and I'm still improving, on my own, in ways that make me happy.) You might really enjoy it! 

[gt7301b]

Apr 22, 2014 13:28:22 GMT -5 Susie said:

My sports med doc, who is a Kona finisher and member of my tri club, has made some interesting observations. He has commented that in his non-surgical sports med practice he sees more running injuries among triathletes than swimming + biking combined (I believe it), and that he actually sees more injuries among coached athletes if anything than uncoached athletes. Not necessarily because coaches are bad, but likely because coached athletes tend to push harder. I thought that was interesting.

This is interesting. My anecdotal experience is the one person I know who worked one on one with a coach got injured and has been sidelined for months, but I think that was because she was running half marathons and her coach's plans appeared to be geared more towards ultra-runners.

tuggyruns it sounds like you want to give it a try, so I'd go for it. I'd just take some time selecting a coach and make sure your goals are in line with their training techniques and they don't push you too much.

[thom]

Apr 22, 2014 18:48:58 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Sorry for the post and run earlier! It was my last day at my current job and things got crazy tomorrow I start my dream job!

Awesome!!! Have a great day.

[thom]

clseale - thanks for sharing that perspective. I think I am too far out in "the boonies" to find a near by coach to actually meet with, so I'd mostly do what you did & have someone writing my plan. Maybe giving me advice via email/phone. It sounds like you did better when you went with your own instincts for Celebration this winter.

Still, I'm never disciplined on following a plan exactly because I feel like you need to factor in real life. I'm usually more scared of overtraining than under training. If I had a "custom plan" that might help with making no excuses? I also know I'll learn a lot by how this marathon thing goes in a few weeks!

[thom]

Apr 22, 2014 18:44:45 GMT -5 tuggyruns said:

Apr 22, 2014 13:36:35 GMT -5 thom said:

This is a great question that I'll be following. I've never seriously thought about it before, but if I decided to go after a BQ someday it might be the next step.

I feel like any injury scare makes me crazy, and it would be good to have a coach to get advice from & figure out how to re-adjust my workouts. Maybe...

Story of my life- this is what I would hope a coach would do for me too. It's like I don't trust myself to measure whether I am ready to run after little niggles or need more time off. I probably drive y'all CRAZY with my injury scare questions. I'm such a hypochondriac sometimes! 

Ah, yes. This. Except you don't drive us crazy. That's what H&F is for!