As someone that has been somewhat consistently since about 2012 I never considered needing a running coach. Honestly I didn’t even know they existed until our dear friend Chris Savio used one and was on our podcast talking about. I pictured him at a high school track with a coach and a whistle telling him how many laps to do.
The reality is most running coaches are via online. They help come up with a schedule for you. This will include different types of runs geared toward your goals.
After coming home from marathon weekend I felt this feeling of..now what? Paris is my next RunDisney race. Which is 9 months from now. I have a few smaller races I’m planning but that’s about it. I’m also face with fact my PR and the proof of time I’ve been using for Disney Runs is expiring. I also signed up for the Brooklyn Half Marathon in May. This will be my first time running in NYC and I’m thinking this may be a good race to get a PR?
I was going to Orange Theory Fitness quite regularly when I got that proof of time, so how would I be able to match it? I truly run to cross finish lines. I don’t even enjoy trying to be fast. When I go out for a run I find a nice comfy pace and just get the miles in. Is that good enough?
That’s when the thought of using a running coach entered my mind. Maybe a running coach would help push me further? Hold me accountable.
Recently my friend Heather got her certification in coaching. She has been coaching another friend Jen and it’s been really incredible to see Jen’s improvement. So I reached out and began asking questions.
Heather gave me a questionnaire to fill out and asked me my goals and said she’d get back to me with a plan if I decided to go for it.
I’ll admit I can be impulsive and flighty at times. What if I don’t like her plan. What if I fail and she gets mad at me? This is my friend after-all. I don’t want to jeopardize our friendship of this isn’t for me. Luckily Heather assured me it’s ok and we agreed on a month to month basis.
A couple days later I saw the calendar and I got nervous. Omg I’m gonna die!! I can’t run this much! The girl that ran 26 miles 3 weeks ago is stressing about the 12 mile run I’m supposed to do.
- The good news is it’s somewhat flexible. If 8 is what I feel I can do that day, my coach said it’s ok. So I’m nearly at the end of my first week. That long run is hanging over my head, and the weather doesn’t seem to be cooperating. Will I get it done?
- That is TO BE DETERMINED…
In the meantime I’m already pushing myself more. I’ve completed my first tempo run, and I went to the gym and did hills on the treadmill yesterday. These are things I’ve never done before. And they’re hard. I’m still hoping this hard work will payoff.
