Hi all! I’m Lora and I blog over at Crazy Running Girl about my running adventures, as well as my fairly recent Texan life. A big thanks to Megan for the opportunity to guest post today!
I have been running since I was in middle school and started running marathons in 2006. When I trained for my first marathon, I really had no idea what I was doing. I found a book on Amazon (4 Months to a 4 Hour Marathon) and followed the training plan… I finished in exactly four hours!
{Twin Cities Marathon, 2006}
Since then, I’ve been hooked and over the years, I have learned a LOT about running. I even had the opportunity to get my running coach certification last summer from the Road Runners Club of America.
One of the questions that I get a lot from people is – should I hire a running coach?
I think hiring a running coach is an extremely personal decision and depends largely on your reasons behind it. That being said, here are some things to think about before taking the leap:
Why do you want a coach?
Everyone runs for different reasons. The reason why I get out of bed in the morning to go for a run may be completely different from why you grab your running shoes right after work.
Because of this, wanting a coach varies and its something you need to think through. If you want to hire a running coach so you can tell all of your friends that you have a coach, no, you should not hire a coach. If you want to hire a running coach because you really want to qualify for the Boston Marathon and you don’t know how to shave 20 minutes off your marathon time, then yes, you should hire a coach.
Will your coach be able to help you?
This is a very tough reality to think through. You need to think about your goals and if they are realistic. For me, setting a goal to break three hours in the marathon is super unrealistic. It is probably unrealistic for me to ever get below 20 minutes in a 5k.
It’s a great thing to DREAM BIG, but knowing your body’s limits will help you determine if you a) should hire a coach and b) how much they can realistically help you. At the same time, if you don’t know these limitations, a coach can help you find your way.
{coming in at the finish at the Madison Marathon in 2009,
where I qualified for Boston by 12 seconds!}
How do you want to work with your coach?
There are certified running coaches located across the country (check the directory here). Some offer virtual services, others will give you one-on-one sessions where you live. As you search for a running coach, figure out how you want to work with them.
What style works for you? Do you want someone you can meet in person? Or do you prefer to communicate all via email? Taking this into consideration will help you set up for success with your coach.
When you work with a running coach, you will have a relationship with them like all other important people in your life. Because of this, it’s important to find a coach that fits with YOU. Some coaches are more progressive (think Hanson’s Marathon Method) while others are more old school (Daniels’ Running Formula). Knowing what helps you perform to your best ability will ensure that you can get the most out of your relationship with your coach.
Have you worked with a coach in the past? What was your experience like?
Thanks to Lora for this awesome guest post! Be sure to catch up with Lora over at Crazy Running Girl.
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