Confession: I’m Working with a New Running Coach!
Last night I ran 3 easy miles and today I have a 5-mile progression run on the calendar. The first 3 miles will be at an easy pace, the fourth mile at a moderate pace and the final mile at my 5K goal pace.
(I still need to find a 5K to sign up for ASAP before the season ends!!)
Some of you will probably have noticed over the last month and a half that I’ve talked about speedwork a lot more than I used to. While I’m not embarrassed to be a back-of-the-packer when it comes to the half marathon distance, I do want to strive for improvement. To help me achieve my goals I’ve recently begun working with a new running coach!
I had worked with my previous coach since last June. I selected her because she was an accomplished ultrarunner and becoming an ultrarunner is my long-term goal.
Working with her was amazing because she really understood my needs as a beginning runner. She helped me work on form, mental strength and most importantly she helped me prepare for my first half marathon (and second) without any injuries.
However, I think it’s possible that she never stopped thinking about me as a new runner. Beginning in December I asked to start incorporating speedwork into my schedule, but my training plan continued to look relatively the same week after week (with no speedwork incorporated).
I did a little speedwork here and there on my own, but I didn’t want to do too much too fast and get injured; I prefer to have a coach providing guidance (especially when I’m already paying for one).
This all lead me to reaching out to a new coach who was well recommended by a friend. While my new coach and I haven’t been working together very long, I am super excited about the future!
I love that, based on my goals, my training schedule now includes a target pace to aim for on certain speedwork days. That’s so helpful to me as someone new to speedwork. Before, I felt like I was feeling around in the dark wondering if I was doing too much or not enough and now I know exactly what to aim for.
I feel like I should wait a little while before saying who she is, but some of you may already know her. Here’s a hint: she’s writes a blog and is gonna kick butt at Boston this year!
More on that soon…
Have you ever worked with a running coach?
Are you always looking to improve your pace, or are you happy with where you are at and focusing on other things?
That’s awesome that you have a new coach! Sometimes you just gotta move on. Maybe it was hard for your old coach to see you as something other than a “new” runner because you were “new” when you started with her. Obviously that is not going to fly anymore! I hope your new coach is awesome… and I can’t wait to find out who it is! I never worked with a coach but I have a few accomplished runner friends who I can always bounce ideas off of. I did work with a personal trainer before when I needed to learn to weight train. Best health money I ever spent!
Megan @ Meg Go Run recently posted…Ah, Spring!
I really think that was the case … she just kept treating me exactly the same and I wasn’t getting anywhere. I’ve been running almost the same exact easy/hard pace for over a year! >:(
That’s awesome that you have accomplished runner friends to bounce ideas off of. I don’t have any friends who take running very seriously, but thankfully I do have you and other experienced blogger friends!
Hm, I have an IDEA of who your new coach may be! I’m glad you decided to branch out and find a coach who fits who you are NOW, not who you were months ago.
I’m happy with my pace, but I also know that if I can be faster, running long distances will seem less daunting. A 6 hour marathon sounds a lot scarier than a 4.5 hour marathon, you know?
Ali K. @ Hit the Ground Running recently posted…Body Acceptance
YES exactly! I think I probably would have stuck with the same coach, but the idea of running a 6+ hour marathon sounded very scary. I may still take that long, but at least I will be able to hold out hope that I may finish a little faster 🙂
PS: We start marathon training SOON!
6 hours… you could almost walk one in 6 hours. That was her plan for you??? Psh. Seriously.
Megan @ Meg Go Run recently posted…Thinking Out Loud- *More* Elementary School Memories
Great News On The New Coach. Fact That Your Excited To Work With Her Is A Good Sign Of Things To Come.
Never Worked WithA Coach Before But Have Been Considering It Lately.
I Am Always Trying To Improve My Time And Pace.
The Running Schlub recently posted…I Just Kicked That Runs A$$
Working with a coach has been so great for me. It really takes the thinking out of training and let’s me focus on the running part which is so much better … plus whenever I have any little ache or pain I Google it and think I am coming down with the plague. Having a coach reassure me that I’m not dying is helpful in those situations : )
I am excited for you. I could also sense the new excitement from you about running when you changed coaches! I have never worked with a coach before, but I am thinking about taking the plunge with some new running goals too.
It really has renewed my sense of excitement and passion for running. Seeing real progress for the first time in a long time has excited about every single run!
Good for you for making the change – you have to find the coach who is the perfect fit for you and your goals! I hope that your new coach listens to you and really pushes you!!!
And – very cool that you hope to eventually transition to ultras.
I’m running a 50 in May.
Kim recently posted…Calming Your Mind
I am so excited for you to run a 50!! So so awesome! Can’t wait to read all about it! 🙂
Very exciting re: the new coach. Sounds like you’ve made the right decision and the new coach sounds very promising!
I have never used a running coach, not yet anyhow. Is it all online/via the internet, or do they meet you in person? Maybe I will look into it soon. Rather than just scouring the internet and finding a training plan that I like the look of, haha. (At the moment I’m doing the following: https://www.digitalrunning.com/advanced-half-marathon-training-plan/). Are they expensive??
Thanks Kristina!
Lou @ Running Through China recently posted…Feeling Hot Hot Hot
How exciting you are going to have a new coach! I am excited to see how your marathng training goes.
Karen recently posted…Team Soup PR
I have never worked with a coach. I have ran with a coach that I work with and read a few training books lol I enjoyed my recent push to increase my pace, but I can’t reasonably maintain through summer. I guess I will see how I am feeling when I start really training for my half in Nov.
Karen recently posted…Team Soup PR
I am so glad you found a coach that is a better fit for you!
Once my kids get a bit older, I want to focus on running longer distances faster and I’m thinking a coach may help me get there, so I can’t wait to read about yours!
Kristin @ A Mom on the Run recently posted…Coffee Date