Why Would you Ever Hire a Running Coach?

Baby, we were born to run!

We all know how to run.  It’s a natural inherent ability for most people, and perhaps the easiest sport there is!  And that feeling of joy! Even my 2-year-old Cassie is constantly urging me, “run, Mama, run!”

So, if we already know how to run, why would you ever hire a running coach?

Obviously, that is a rhetorical question coming from a running coach. Plus, you probably wouldn’t be reading this if you weren’t looking to improve your running.  But, before I answer, let’s back up and look at the main characteristics of a good runner.

1. Inherent ability – your God-given genetic make-up. Some people are just built to run.
2. Desire – the motivation to work hard and improve at running.
3. A Strategy – enter the running coach!

As a coach, I have zero control over characteristic 1 (outside of my three children)  And, I can only play a minor role with characteristic 2. But, honestly, if someone doesn’t truly have the desire to run, there’s no coach in the world that can change that.

Think of these attributes as a sliding scale, where each athlete has a different blend of ability and desire.  It’s also important to look at where you are today, at this moment in time.  Along with fitness, our desire to perform well will change we move through the seasons of life.

My point – there is never a one size fits all strategy (or training plan!). The strategy should be flexible to account for ability, fitness, and motivation.  Understanding how to modify the strategy specific to the athlete is where a coach can make a major impact on a runner’s success.

WHO NEEDS A RUNNING COACH?

Coaches are not just for elite athletes.

Many new runners, and even seasoned runners (regardless of where they fall on the ability and desire spectrum) lack direction.  They go out and run the same distance, same effort (usually really hard), on every session and only see small improvements, or wind up injured.

Some runners half-heartedly jump from plan to plan, following well-intentioned advice of fellow running friends and the latest trends with varied success.

Others are not driven by competition but yearn for that simple joy of running and need help with accountability or fitting running into a busy schedule.

Then there’s the perpetually injured. And how about the runners who feel guilty taking a rest day…

You see where I’m going with this.  Simply put, coaches help athletes like these to find the best direction to get them from where they are today, to where they want to be.

If you are looking to PR your marathon or just want to figure out how to find longevity in the sport of running, I encourage you to reach out to see how a running coach, like me, can help you achieve your goals!

Thank you to photographer Chris Pregent-Halford for the picture of Stuart Coaching athlete Grace Pregent Halford doing a hill workout!