Fall races are right around the corner and if you are like us, you have weekends packed with fun sweaty adventures. This fall is stacked with races like Chicago, The bRUNch Run and Boston all happening the same weekend. (Side note: The bRUNch Run is a great taper for anyone running the Colfax Marathon or the Colorado Marathon. Hint. Hint. Nudge. Nudge).
As so many of us are coming back to distance after a break in 2020, the question we are all asking ourselves in how am I going to train?
There are a ton of free training programs available on the Internet or you can use any of the popular training apps and purchase a program. The only problem with those, they don’t know you. This is why getting a coach might be a great option. We know what you are thinking, that’s expensive and why do I need a coach?
Think about it, we can all use coaches and support in everything we do in life. Asking for help is never a bad thing and that’s just one of the many things a coach can help with. Need a few more reasons?
Here’s why:
1. You are goal digging.
Fitness and health goals are more than just showing up. There are emotions and a history involved. Step one is identifying that goal and a coach can help you work backwards by providing the building blocks needed to create a strong foundation. Say you’ve been chasing a goal for years but you can never seem to check it off. A coach will look at the situation with a new point of view and can create a new strategy to get you there.
2. You need someone to hold you accountable.
You plan to go for a run but then life gets in the way and since you are running on your own time, no one knows you skipped your run. A coach will change all that. Not only will they check in on you but many coaches include and lead group runs. Now your coach knows when you aren’t running.
3. You keep getting injured or are coming back from an injury.
Injuries happen to us all but if you are constantly fighting an injury and if that injury is an overuse injury, you need a coach. We all love to push ourselves but sometimes that rest day is not to be missed. A coach will be able to call you out when you are pushing it too HARD and will help you rain it back in so that you are become stronger. When coming back from an injury, a coach is great because they can ease you back into running instead of you pushing anything too soon. Remember rest days are just as important as your hard workouts. You need to give your muscles time to recover and rebuild.
4. You are not seeing the results or progress you want.
This is perhaps the biggest reason to see a coach. You just need them to add in some special sauce and make a tweak to your program. This could be as simple as adding in true speed and track workouts. Making sure you are resting on your rest days. Recommending the addition of strength to your training program. A coach is able to completely customize a program for you with specific times, schedules and workouts that will help you see those results and the progress you want.
Not sure where to even look for a coach? Let us toot our own horn for a minute.
You can hire us to be your coaches! We are certified RRCA coaches and have built a variety of training programs from walk to run all the way up to marathon training. After you sign up, we will text with you to customize your program based on your lifestyle, goals and what you love most. Are you a Peloton fanatic? We can add rides to your weekly workouts. Love yoga? Let’s make that an active recovery day. Plus you can text us anytime with questions and we will get back to you within 24 hours. Our programs are all built on the bird app so you can connect your Strava account and automatically upload all your runs. Together we can look at the numbers and track your progress. Send us a text and we can chat more about your training needs: 720.704.4873. Check out all of our current programs here.
If we aren’t the right fit for you, make check sure you are finding someone that is certified first and foremost. Most certification programs like Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) have a database of run clubs and coaches. It’s a lot like dating and finding a best friend. There is someone out there you will totally just mesh with.