Career Question

Training Advice/Discussion General

9 years ago 08/22/2014 4:28pm EDT

Very Serious Question for me personally. I have been debating for the last few years to change careers. I currently teach tennis full-time. I am on the court approximately 30 hours a week. A combination of groups and private lessons/hitting sessions.

I have finally started to run/race again after building up my mileage slowly over past 11 months. I have taken a 16 year break. PR when I was 19 was 14:58 5K. I recently ran a 18:45 (Not fast) but considering I lost 70 pounds since this time last year, pretty happy with that. I totally am back in love with running again.

So, my question is do you think that having a physical career as a tennis instructor will slow my progress as a road racer? I would love to run even say 16:40 someday. I just turned 38 years old. I have built up mileage to around 36-38 miles per week now.

I appreciate anyone who replies for taking the time to do so. Thanks

9 years ago 08/22/2014 5:08pm EDT

re: Raym

Why did you stop running when you ran 14:58 at age 19? That path should have been more fleshed out.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 5:14pm EDT

re: Raym

My honest opinion about the other portion of your initial inquiry is it really depends on what the tennis job entails. It could help or harm your running. If the coaching involves a lot of side to side movements and plyometric type stuff, then yes, this will help your running. If you're exhausted from your job to the point that running is a chore, then this will hurt it. Do you do your runs before or after work? What type of movements are you doing at your job? Could you incorporate movement routines into your tennis job that could aid in your running? Just some food for thought.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 5:49pm EDT

re: sloop john b

I stopped running because I had a very minor stroke. Took several years before I got full function of left side of body. Completely great now :)

9 years ago 08/22/2014 5:55pm EDT

re: sloop john b

I do my runs before I start my day around 5:30am in the morning.

I usually am exhausted. The private lessons especially hitting sessions with the teenage boys really take there toll on my body. Group lessons don't bother me too much.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 6:02pm EDT

re: raym

Holy cow, no idea that actually happened to you. Props for sticking with it despite the obstacles.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 6:04pm EDT

re: Raym

I'd say both options are quite viable, and your course of action depends on a couple things.

1st- how much do you get payed as a tennis instructor?

2nd- how likely are you to get a job if you quit? and how quickly would you be able to get his new job?

3rd- how much would new job pay?

9 years ago 08/22/2014 6:09pm EDT

re: raym

Have you noticed a decrease in performance since you started back running? I think that might be the best way to answer your initial question. If you're hitting a peak at a certain time, then it might make sense to do more of the group session type stuff. I think the best judge is just to see if you can continually improve off the training that you're doing. I go back to the old "if it ain't broke don't fix it." I made a ton of mistakes with over training in college. I wouldn't necessarily visit the topic of "could this be negatively affecting my running?" until it happens. Just some more food for thought.

So see how close you can get to 16:40 with your current routine and do a re-eval if your running into a wall.

9 years ago 08/22/2014 6:27pm EDT

re: agc5k

As a Tennis instructor I make around $45,000 a year. It would probably take at least a few months to find something comparable.

Groups in tennis is where the money is at. The private and hitting sessions is what i don't look forward to and I make less money doing them.

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