Using a Running Coach
The Benefits of Using a Running Coach
Firstly, if you have ever struggled with a running injury, inconsistent training, the lack of access to expert running guidance, or uncertainty about the different types of runs in a training plan, you are not alone! These are all very common issues for runners of all abilities. However, using the expertise of an experienced running coach can help to prevent these problems, and improve your overall running experience.
You could make the case that some people do not need a coach. But this is usually an exclusive group of people who either have a deep understanding of training principles, lots of experience or who just run very infrequently and socially. For everyone else, the benefits of using a running coach are substantial. The best athletes in the world all have coaches for a reason.
Coaching involves a blend of science and art. Training programmes must be based on sound scientific principles, with a clear progression towards an end goal. This must then be married with the art of understanding the athlete, getting to know their training/injury history, their lifestyle, and what works for them.
The first major benefit of being coached is that you outsource the training plan to an expert. In any other form of life, if you weren’t sure what to do, this would be a logical step. A coach can take your goal, and develop a pathway to help get you there. Depending on your ambitions, this could be a long-term plan, and having someone with the knowledge of the bigger picture, when the natural desire is for instant success, can be very useful in times of performance plateau or low motivation.
Whatever your goal is, the training plan needs to utilise all of the different energy systems which we use while exercising. Often, people who run without expert guidance will perform all of their runs at a single pace. Typically, this falls in the ‘grey area’, between the key easy and hard intensity zones, where significant performance adaptations can occur. A good coach will provide a plan which sets a variety of appropriate intensities for you, and explains why and how you should run at these different levels.
Most running-related injuries come from pushing too much, or too hard. As runners, we can be our own worst enemies with this. We fear the one missed workout or long run which will stop us from reaching the goal. It is usually only after a problem has occurred, that we reflect on our training errors. Your coach should devise a training plan which mitigates this in the first place, but should you be on the verge of injury, reporting any aches/pains or concerns to your coach will allow them, an external and independent voice, to advise whether it really is appropriate to continue with the session, or whether a rest day is needed.
Finally, a good coach should be open to fielding all of your questions and concerns. A sounding board like this is invaluable before a big race or after a hard training session, for example. Working with someone who has been through the process before can help to settle any nerves or concerns which you understandably have.
Of course, the athlete-coach relationship is a two-way process. There must be a good understanding of how each other works, and the ability on both sides to adapt as needed. It pays to shop around, ask opinions and have an initial consultation before committing. If you feel that you may not work well with the coach, try another one. Once you connect with the coach who works for you, I am sure you will see your performance soar!
Happy Running!!
Enda specialises in treating running-related injuries, as well as providing training plans and strength and conditioning advice for runners. An experienced runner himself, Enda has completed multiple marathons, including qualifying for the Boston marathon, with a PB of 2:47:21. He has finished a 100km ultramarathon and in recent years has started to take part in triathlons, with an Ironman planned for 2024.