I have decided that as I work towards my next marathon, I will be working with a running coach. I’ve gotten some questions about my decision so thought that I would share why I chose to work with a running coach and how I chose my coach. After one real attempt and one kind of real attempt (Richmond was kind of real, haha) to break four hours, I decided that I really wanted to go for it in 2018.
In addition to deciding that I truly wanted to break four hours in the marathon in 2018, I also knew that I wanted to run the New York City Marathon. I had the great opportunity to spectate the marathon last fall and watching it convinced me that in 2018 I needed to run it. But – after running Berlin, I came to the conclusion that I would no longer run World Majors for time. They are too big, too crowded and running them for time really takes away from the experience. So that left me with a bit of a dilemma. I knew I wanted to run New York, but I also knew I did not want to run New York with the pressure of trying to break four hours. So I decided I would need a spring marathon. Once I decided that, I felt a bit of an urgency to really make sure I was doing everything I could do to give myself the best chance of breaking four hours. That made me revisit my previous thoughts about hiring a running coach.
If you are a regular reader of the blog you know that I travel for work fairly regularly. Sometimes it can be really tricky figuring out my schedule when I’m on the road and dealing with crazy travel. It sometimes gets a bit stressful trying to manage all of that on my own. I truly believe having a coach can help me get there.
After I decided I wanted a coach the next decision was to choose a coach. I knew I wanted someone who wasn’t a stranger and who really understood me as a runner. I also wanted someone who had a philosophy about coaching that made sense to me. Finally, I wanted someone who had been there – there meaning someone who had running success that was significantly further along than my running. While I do not believe that successful coaches have to all have had run three Olympic Qualifying Times – but I did feel strongly that my coach needed to have had a level of success in the marathon that I have not had yet. And so I went with one of friends and one of the runners I most respect. And, yes, she has run three Olympic Qualifying Times and most recently ran the 2016 Olympic Trials. And she is an incredible runner. But she is also a friend and I have gotten to know her pretty well over the past year and a half. I’m thrilled to announce that I’m working with Oiselle Haute Volee Becki Spellman. Becki is one of my favorite people and I value her insight so much.
So there you have it. I’m excited to start building fitness again and thrilled to be working with Becki.
Do you have a coach? How did you choose your coach?
Can’t wait to read about this. I’d love to hire a coach but I travel so often I don’t know if it would be possible.
Will you run with the coach? Get morning workout instructions? Are Weights and cross training required?
Thanks for the inside info on World Majors too. I ran NYC and it was such an amazing experience.
Actually, people at the start said the same thing, run this for the experience, soak it up. Didn’t know the other majors were like that too. I guess 50,000 people so of course it is.
My spring race, just because it worked out time-wise (and cheap hotels, and Tiffany Haddish show in town that weekend) is the Revel Vegas half. And I think you get pie at the end too, so yay!
Every coach is different and what they offer is different so I would do your research. My coach lives in Ohio so we will not run together regularly but I will see her in person at least once during this training cycle. I have heard that Revel races are very well done. That sounds awesome – pie is always a win 🙂
congrats on picking a running coach! You definitely used all the right reasons/criteria in selecting a coach.
I had a personal relationship with my coach before we started working together and I think that has really been beneficial to my training.
Thanks – it’s already helping and I navigate some upcoming work travel!
Congrats on picking a coach. I have it works for you!
Maybe I can get to NYC and spectate your race.
For me with work, I think a coach would be a waste of $$. I am also stressed enough about $$.
Hopefully someday, I will have the time to train and maybe a coach will be on list.
I HIGHLY recommend spectating NYC. It was the most incredible experience. Just such a wonderful day 🙂
I don’t have a running coach because I have a mortgage and we have student loan payments. For me, running is a social activity and hobby- I run to be with my friends and socialize. I do like to push myself, and I’m still hoping to someday run that 1:35 half marathon and **attempt** to run a marathon (although being injured, those goals seem so far away right now). I have the motivation to get out and train and put in the work, but my body said NO at the Kiawah Half Marathon and I’m down with tendonitis. Then again, I thought running was expensive until I got injured.
There’s a local group of coached runners here who all train together two nights a week at a park and run on Saturday morning. To me, it just seems like a Running Sorority or Running Fraternity. They wear matching clothes and are a “team”. They are all fast and hang out together at races. I can’t ever see myself being a part of something like that. I have so many friends I love running with, hanging out with, and I love the freedom to race when I want without the pressure to perform for a coach or because I’m wearing a certain singlet.
I do think it’s probably a smart thing to have a coach if you have a schedule with a lot of travel or something. I can see where it would help to have input on WHEN to run and how to schedule training because if you’re away from home you can’t just follow a plan and will have to move things around and improsive. I guess that takes the guesswork and anxiety out of it.
What put me over the edge was knowing that I will be traveling even MORE than I was previously for work. It can be stressful for me to figure it all out so having a coach to bounce things off of is extremely helpful. Running is a hobby (obviously) for me but just like I wouldn’t hesitate to invest in a career coach, I decided that I am worth the investment because of the benefits that I think I will GET from my coach. That being said, I was able to work the coach into my budget. I don’t think it’s a necessity but it’s a bonus that I’m willing to invest in.
I hope you love working with your running coach and you get that sub-4 you’re going after! I wish I’d been aware of the Marathon Majors back in the day. Anytime I hear it mentioned, I get a major case of FOMO! 😉
Debbie @ Deb Runs recently posted…Getting Back Into A Healthy Routine
Thanks Debbie! My quest for all the majors continued – I just entered the lottery for NYCM today!
ignore my other comment! this was hiding on my feedly account 🙂
All good! 🙂
I feel the same way about big marathons. I ran Chicago in 2015 and 2016 but enjoy the smaller marathons much more. Coaches are great! One of my co-workers used to coach track in H.S. and just from the conversations we’ve had has helped me a great deal. Good luck in New York!
Thanks! I’ve really benefited from training with a group this winter (I unfortunately still have a hard time motivating myself to run alone!) and I’m definitely contemplating adding a running coach to the mix as I gear up to train for my first marathon…
Laetitia-Laure L Brock recently posted…I Made a Plan & (Actually) Stuck with It!
Glad you are loving the group runs! So excited you are doing MCM!!
Wow! This is awesome. I just got back to serious running and am running the Boston with a foundation team. I’m so jealous you got to run Berlin. That must have been amazing, New York is also on my list, but like you, I’d like to break a few Pr’s first especially in my Marathons. I wish you the best of luck and can’t wait to hear more about your experience with a running coach…this is something I’m considering doing too.
Thanks – I will definitely share more about how I think it’s helping me!