#101 - Is Hiring A Running Coach Worth It?
Hiring a running coach is next level fitness. One-on-one training requires more of you than going to the gym or taking a class. Find out if this is the right move for you to get serious about your health!
Reasons To Hire a Running Coach
Are you brand new to running and looking for accountability and support?
Are you trying to lose weight and taking up running as a way to be more active?
Are you an experienced runner looking for professional help to improve or reach a goal?
The reasons are many but the benefits to hiring a running coach are pretty much the same for everyone: with a dependable pro leading the way, you’re far more likely to reach your fitness goals. A running coach may be the bridge that gets you from where you are now to where you want to be.
Get Serious About Running
The goal for you may be as lofty as qualifying for a race like the Boston Marathon, or it might be as simple as dropping a few pants sizes. Maybe you just had a baby or maybe you’re recovering from a sports injury. Obviously, if you’re looking into hiring a running coach, a standard gym membership isn’t going to cut it. You’re ready to work with someone who will support you personally with specialized training and individual attention. You want someone you can build a relationship with, who will keep you going and match your investment. You are hiring a running coach because you’re not dealing with fad diets and DIY video fitness classes anymore. It’s time to get serious about your health. The right running coach will make all the difference and you are definitely worth it.
Running Coach = Therapist, of sorts
Running is like therapy. Many, many people use running as a way to manage mental health and emotional wellbeing. The bonus is that you feel amazing and look incredible, but it’s a practical way to make time for you to clear your head and work on yourself. According to a study published last November, runners had lower depression and anxiety, lower stress, higher psychological well-being and a better mood. (A Scoping View of the Relationship Between Running and Mental Health)
Find the Right Running Coach to Work With
Running is not all roses, so you’ve really got to partner up with the right person who will help carry you through tough days. Your running coach should motivate you, build a relationship with you, and give proper guidance as you strive for the most appropriate goals.
Professionalism and Personality in a Running Coach
Hire a running coach with experience, and someone you feel like you “click” with. You don’t need someone who will use a copy/paste version of a fitness plan. You need someone who has experience and success with many different programs and people. Find someone who listens to you and has the wisdom to identify what’s working and what’s not, and explain why. A running coach should feel like a friend, but whether you’re working with a man or a woman, he/she must be absolutely professional. You should never be made to feel uncomfortable, so if you notice a running coach being too touchy-feely or making suggestive comments, run the other direction!
Proximity - Local Training vs. Remote Fitness
You need to choose a running coach and a training program that you can afford long term, and a local running coach is usually the best way to go. Gym memberships are pricey, and you’re mostly paying for access to the space and equipment. When you hire a running coach, you’re paying that person to commit their specialization to helping you become a better athlete - whether you’re training for a race or running for weight loss.
Your running coach must be accessible, preferably in your time zone, and preferably training in an area close to you. It’s possible to lean on a running coach remotely, especially if you’re using an online accountability group for support and motivation. However, if you want a running coach to show up at the track and help you to improve your form and improve your time, you should hire someone local.
Price - A Training Program You Can Afford
So, what can you afford? The question really is what are you worth, because without health you don’t have anything. Your health is essential to a long life, a happy family, and success. Don’t let a budget stop you. Take a look at what you’re spending on diet products or gym memberships and see if you can give that up in exchange for hiring a running coach. Or, what if you cancelled a service that’s making it harder to reach your fitness goals, like a movie streaming service where you’re encouraged to spend more time on the couch? What if you stopped eating out at restaurants? What if you avoided the fast food drive-thru, and put that money towards your health instead?
If you gain more weight, just imagine the money you’ll have to shell out on a whole wardrobe of larger sizes. Instead of getting into that cycle, partner with a running coach on a program you can afford so you can fit your clothing and feel great about yourself.
6 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Running Coach
Womensrunning.com put together a list of six questions you should ask a running coach before deciding to partner with him or her. I asked Coach Tadris to provide some solid answers for us. Here is what he said:
1. What is your coaching philosophy?
Coach Tadris Parker:
Since I work with a lot of parents and grandparents, my philosophy is to train less, yet run further, faster and pain free. With that statement, our philosophy works for all ages.
2. What role, as a coach, are you going to play in this for me?
Coach Tadris Parker:
I'm going to play the role of keeping you focused on your goals. You tell me “why” you want this goal, I'm gonna tell you how to get to your destination in a safe, effective way. I am going to hold you accountable, and remind you of “why” you started.
3. What experience do you have?
Coach Tadris Parker:
I have been transforming lives with running since 2013. I've worked with all ages and body types. I had the opportunity to work with a person that lost 100lbs. I helped online participants like Danielle Selassie of MN compete in the Chicago Marathon following our system. (Listen to her story)
4. How much do you charge?
Coach Tadris Parker:
Beginners sign up to our RUNA5K Program which includes 8 weeks of training, weekly Health Connection Calls, & our team shirt for only $235.00. Former Runners or experienced runners looking to take their runs to the next level and subscribe to our Online Accountability Program.
5. Can we work my favorite cross-training or exercise classes into my schedule?
Coach Tadris Parker:
Absolutely! I encourage running only 3 days per week of running. This allows time to fit in your other favorite exercises.
6. How do you support your athletes when training gets derailed?
Coach Tadris Parker:
Derailing is bound to happen; it's called life. Things are always going to come up unexpectedly. I support my clients by helping them navigate around any situation. Danielle Selassie (Listen to her story) sprained her ankle 3 weeks before the Chicago Marathon and she was so bummed. I helped her to not focus on the past and not get anxious over the future. I told her to be present, focus on what she could do on this day to heal the ankle. Danielle took my tips and steps for ankle recovery and ran her race without pain.
Hire a Running Coach and Train for a 5K
Stop thinking about it and just sign up and do it! Register for a race, buy some running shoes, and partner with a coach to help you train. If you live in the South Jersey area, Coach Tadris is here and ready to help YOU. If you live further away but want to be part of a group for accountability and motivation, check out Run To The Best You online.
Are you ready to take the leap?