As a running coach I am committed to making sure the runners I work with receive the best run coaching services to meet their individual needs. Here is a little bit about my coaching philosophy to help you understand how I go about my coaching as a coach for Run to the Finish. Hopefully this will help you to consider if we would be a good fit for your coaching needs.
My Coaching Philosophy
Runner/Coach Relationship
I believe that a positive relationship is the most important part of a coaching experience. If you don’t trust your coach, you will not be as willing to listen to them and you won’t feel as confident going into a race. A runner should be able to ask questions about their training plan and share what is working and what is not working. It’s important to decide if you feel like you will relate well with your coach before starting to train.
As a coach I recommend workouts and write up training plans, but it is up to the athlete to actually follow those workouts. It needs to be a team approach where we are training for the race together, but each doing different jobs.
Supportive Approach to Coaching
Outside of my job as a running coach I am also a trained counselor/therapist. I have always felt a strong desire to help others to problem-solve and succeed at various goals. I believe that I naturally incorporate my counseling skills into my coaching as this is an intricate part of being a coach. Together we can work on overcoming some of the mental barriers that may be holding you back from running your best or getting a new PR.
Please note, while I am a licensed therapist, I would not be providing my running clients with any kind of treatment. If the need arises, I would refer out to an appropriate resource.
My Coaching Philosophy: Train Smarter, Not Harder
More miles does not always equal faster running. I have seen too many runners (including myself) get injured from inappropriate training volume. In order to determine the best type of training plan, I look at each runner’s history, current status, and goals. I like to err on the side of less miles versus risking overtraining or injury.
One of the benefits of having a coach is having someone else to be able to help with making decisions. If it seems like the workload is too much or too little, we can adjust it as needed.
There’s more to running well than just running
I am a big fan of cross-training and strength training. This is by no means a requirement, but I will strongly recommend that every runner I work with does something to supplement their running. This may be mobility, or core work, or even just foam rolling. We can work together to decide what will be the most beneficial to you.
Still not sure if we would be a good fit?
You can E-mail me at milebymileblog (at) gmail.com if you have any questions about my coaching style or coaching philosophy. Even if you decide not to work with me I might be able to point you in the direction of other coaches/resources for you to consider.
