Why You Need a Running Coach and What to Look For

There is probably no one sport where a good coach can make such a significant difference more than ultra running. Think about all the time and miles you are putting into your training runs, making you susceptible to injuries which are exponentially increased when you factor in the difficult terrain of trail or mountainous running. And think about all of the logistics of training for and competing in races that last for many hours, and sometimes even days. The list of questions, like the ones shown below, can start to pile up very quickly.

- How many miles per week do I need to run each day/week/month as part of my training schedule?

- What should my longest training run be?

- How quickly should I ramp up, cycle down and taper?

- Should I incorporate strength training? What exercises? How often?

- Should I incorporate speed work?

- How do I fuel and hydrate to sustain such long distances?

- Do I need to worry about heart rate training?

- Do I need to incorporate speed work and/or hill work?

- What shoes and gear would work best for me?

Bottom line, a good ultra running coach can help his clients to truly enjoy this amazing sport, prevent injuries, develop personalized training schedules, and share knowledge that would otherwise take a newer ultra runner years to learn on their own. Beyond that, they can help their client avoid the dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish) in a race, and literally finish the race hours faster than what they would have otherwise.

So given the dramatic impact that a good running coach can make, how do you find one that will be right for you? What should you look for? Are there any significant differences between ultra running coaches? Here are a few key items that you should consider in your search:

- Is the coach willing to allow you to interview them so you can learn about their approaches and practices?

- Is the coach so far removed from your goals that they won’t be able to relate to you? (The gap between a newer ultra runner and an elite-level runner may be too far to bridge).

- How much time and effort will the coach spend with you to understand your specific needs and life circumstances to truly personalize a training plan that is developed solely for you (and not just using a template spreadsheet to produce your training plan).

- Are they also willing to modify and adapt your training plan when “life happens”.

- Are they willing to consult with you along the way, answer your ongoing questions and strategize on your upcoming race logistics?

- Will they be connecting with you on Strava so they can monitor your progress, to give you real time feedback, guidance and encouragement?

- If they are local to you, are they willing to go on training runs with you to give you pointers on your running style, as well as show you techniques?

- Do they offer services that could include race pacing or crewing?

The value received from a running coach can make a world of difference for a relatively low price (especially depending on the coach and level of services). You can start with a Google or Facebook search for an Ultra Runner Coach, possibly in or near they city where you live or train, but be sure to take a little extra time to be sure you and your coach will be a great fit!

Dig Deep. Run Long.

UltraRunnerCoach.com