A Running Coach is the Missing Piece of Your Performance Puzzle
Here is a secret:
Making a training plan is easy. Every running coach will tell you.
“it’s science.”
Performance running is not new. Best practices exist, and you can read a myriad of resources. Daniels, Handson, Galloway, any Runner’s World mag are a few from the top of my head. It is easy to get workouts that will make you faster. And still, runners struggle to improve.
So, what’s the deal?
Runners make the mistake of creating a “makeshift” plan. They pull info from several resources. They add things they like and drop what they don’t.
This is a great way to make a shitty plan. To kick butt on race day, you need clear direction and a goal.
Is a shitty plan better than a no plan, I guess so? But, to optimize your performance, you need context for what will make YOU a better runner. It’s hard to see what you “need” when you are in the weeds of day to day training.
Enter a Running Coach.
A coach should do more than write workouts. A coach is someone that helps you understand the process of improvement and how to grow as a runner.
Benefits of a Running coach beyond the “xs and os.”
Coaches will teach you the “right things.”
As a runner, you are driven. You set and achieve goals. Every season starts a new challenge.
Runner’s do not need the motivation to get their butts out of bed and do the work. Most runners need the opposite. They need someone who will hold them back and teach them “smart” work. Accountability helps you stay on course toward success. Runners will do too much of the wrong thing and end up injured or burnt out.
A good coach will teach you to understand what you need and when. When to add:
- recovery
- strength
- mobility
- hard
A Running Coach WIll Help You Learn Your Potential.
Many athletes a vision of their “future” selves. They want to run a sub-20 5k or run in the Boston Marathon.
But, it is hard to see your current situation. A good coach will put in place:
- Check-ins.
- Assessments
- Performance indicators
- Lifestyle habits
Athletes compare themselves to other. It happens. They see what others are doing on social media. They know how fast their friends have run a half marathon. They wonder what they can do to improve.
A coach will make things clear. You will do what YOU need to do. Your friends have a reason behind their training and so do you. You need to stay in your lane, keep your head down, and do the work.
A Coach Will Understand your Motivation
It may be cliche, but you need to know your “why.” Training for and finishing a race means more than a “finishers medal.”
Here are a few “Why’s” from runners I know:
- My friends Rob wanted to prove to his wife and daughters that anything you do is possible if you put your mind to it.
- Judy is a high achiever and wants to put her best foot forward. She wants to prove to herself that she can achieve more as an athlete.
- Pam wants to drop a few lbs to feel more confident.
- For me, I love to compete and competition is attached to my self-worth. Do I need to separate myself from my expectation as an athlete? Maybe. But, I’m working on it!
The process to find you why is easy. All you do is ask yourself…..Why?
When you find your answer you have to ask “why” again.
After about five “whys” you will find a more in-depth reason.
The question is easy, but being honest with yourself is hard. Stew on the “why” and if it feels uncomfortable, you are getting close to your answer. You can learn a lot about yourself when you think about “why”.
A Coach Will Encourage Self-reflection
An essential piece of growth is to know yourself.
A coach will analyze your strengths, your motivations, and your roadblocks.
Your reflection is not only about training and racing. Life challenges have as much to do with your performance as the training itself.
- What are the obstacles?
- What can you do better next time?
- What did you do well?
- How can you build for the future?
A coach should help you through this process so you can take away more from your coaching than a “PR.”
A Running Coach Will Keep You on Target
Too often athletes get distracted by a shiny object. Social media can be traumatic for an athlete. I am thrown off my game from watching a competitor do impressive things. This happens far more than I like to admit.
But I have learned that “IG” post will never affect my performance on race day. So, there is no reason to worry. Choose to be happy and inspired by others, not jealous and insecure.
Everyone needs to follow a process to improve. There are steps to improvement, so take them! Keep your Head Down and Work.
- Do not do to do a “social media challenge.”
- Do not add the workout of the week our favorite athlete.
- Do not get antsy and add extra workouts.
If you want to add things to your training talk it through with your coach or someone who you trains at a higher level.
A Running Coach Will Ensure You Take One Step at a Time.
There is a process of going from a 4-hour marathoner to a 3:45 marathoner. Jumping to 3:45 pace is too hard and you get inconsistent workout results.
Consistency is pivotal to adaptation. So, when you run too fast or miss workouts your progress will slow down. To benefit from a training plan you need to go through steps of adaptation. A coach will give you easy to follow directions.
Discovering the Value of a Coach
As a coach, I also invest in coaching. I have coaches for running, nutrition, and business. There is real value in coaching that can take you to the next level.
I would love to hear more about you and your situation as an athlete.
