Emma Coburn engaged to coach.......why do so many female runners marry their coaches?

Thanks for the lady opinion. To some of your points:

Maybe some are asserting it's a big deal, but I (and probably others on this thread) are looking at it from a more academic approach -- as in, what about female or human psychology leads this to happen? Especially because it's rare to see a guy coached by his girlfriend/wife, but more prevalent the other way around.

Also, I think some people got us off track. The most interesting scenario is choosing to be coached by a beau, not the other way around (date or marry the coach). Others also brought up family -- not sure why that's relevant, as this is a discussion about athletes romantically involved with coach; WvN & Granny or Coe & son don't apply.

So I buy your emotional support theory for athletes marrying coaches. But what about Emma's scenario -- where she abandoned a coach to be coached by boyfriend?

thetrailrunner wrote:

The bigger issue is that her coach is NOT qualified.

Sure he was a excellent runner. But he does not have the background knowledge to coach an Olympic athlete.

They were HS sweethearts.

Emma made an emotional move.

It was a bad idea and one that will cost her big time when Courtney dusts her in the next Olympics.

But yeah coach Joe is her age....

Yeah, he clearly messed her up this year. She should have accomplished so much more.

Emma was quoted as saying she made the move so they could be happier after her win.

Does it appear to be working, yes.

But I think she is gonna get beat soon as a result of this emotional choice.

Lost in all of this blather is the possibility that Emma herself might actually know something about training, and in particular about what works for her. I wouldn't be surprised if part of the appeal of working with her husband is that the coach/runner thing can be much more collaborative.

Okay, so the first point you make bring up some other valid questions. What are the percentages of male/female higher level coaches for distance? I think it's mostly males so the odds a male is coached by a female is more rare and making it less likely of a scenario for a guy to be coached by a girlfriend. Also, I view a coach as a superior figure or more dominant so that may be a turn off for a guy if their beau is dictating their training, etc.

And I still go with my original theory of emotional attachment and support. I can't answer why Emma made that decision, it's working for her now and hopefully it continues to but if it doesn't she's at a high enough level she could get just about any coach she wanted.

And from a personal standpoint, I feel that an athlete has to trust their coach and training 100%. There's many ways to get from point A to point B and trust in the program you're following is key to success and developing confidence. Maybe this is another reason for her.

Rivky2 wrote:

But I think she is gonna get beat soon as a result of this emotional choice.

objectively look at it pal. The probable reason CF is going to be the AR holder in the steeple over EC is based on each of their steeple time progressions relative to their age; you can find those in their iaaf profiles. CF appears to have a potential huge upside. hopefully, her current coach doesn't screw it up by getting too greedy too soon, resulting in injury. but really, it appears CF could break 9mins within months, per staying healthy, etc. when she does so, maybe she can maintain some modicum of modesty and not get all high-minded by showing off her nude body in a magazine.

out.

Good points, especially the trust idea. I know that at some level each athlete has to trust their coach, but I feel like you're hitting on an idea that perhaps for female athletes there needs to be a different kind of trust, an additional kind of trust, or a different level of trust. I need to let these thoughts sink in. Thanks for the input.

uhhh, doooood wrote:

Rivky2 wrote:

But I think she is gonna get beat soon as a result of this emotional choice.

objectively look at it pal. The probable reason CF is going to be the AR holder in the steeple over EC is based on each of their steeple time progressions relative to their age; you can find those in their iaaf profiles. CF appears to have a potential huge upside. hopefully, her current coach doesn't screw it up by getting too greedy too soon, resulting in injury. but really, it appears CF could break 9mins within months, per staying healthy, etc. when she does so, maybe she can maintain some modicum of modesty and not get all high-minded by showing off her nude body in a magazine.

out.

Number of World Champion runners produced by each coach:

Jerry Schumacher: 0

Joe Bosshard: 1

In the end, EC and CF will make each other better. This could be a start of a wonderful rivalry. Perhaps world record bound too.

think i already could see it in EC's face and demeanor: she knows who the next AR is going to be...just a matter of when.

thetrailrunner wrote:

The bigger issue is that her coach is NOT qualified.

Sure he was a excellent runner. But he does not have the background knowledge to coach an Olympic athlete.

They were HS sweethearts.

Emma made an emotional move.

It was a bad idea and one that will cost her big time when Courtney dusts her in the next Olympics.

But yeah coach Joe is her age....

She improved massively this year.

wineturtle wrote:

Athletico wrote:

. Also WVN and his granny.

Anna “Tannie Ans” Botha, is actually a great-great grandmother but not his. They are not related.

People here keep saying she's his grandmother.

Knowledgeable crowd!

Let's see. She has coach's undivided attention, makes more money with no coach who has to be paid, and wins a world championship. Sounds like she's really being exploited by her unscrupulous fiancée.

He's gonna put that butt through nightly workouts.

gfdgfg wrote:

Bjorn Borg was coached by his wife.

So was the holder of one of the most illustrious US distance running records.

Reading all this reminds me of that line in Dave Wottle's Olympic commentary!

"Some said is was going to ruin him!"

What a bunch of losers on here.

He's also pretty damn fast. Big 12 champ in the 10k in 28:xx

http://www.cubuffs.com/sports/2011/5/18/205152547.aspx

We all know they went at it after her victory in the steeple

John utah wrote:

Joe learned from the best coach there is, Wetmore.

EC just won the world championship. Sounds like he's pretty good.

thetrailrunner wrote:

Yeah you have a point.

In this case I view this guy Joe as not qualified.

He has a degree in business not exercise science

No experience coaching even HS

Yeah he was a great runner ..but still

And he still is a 27-28 year old.

Just saying

Is Wetmore still sending his athletes to Dr. Brown for thyroid meds?

Shfkdgsv wrote:

Reading all this reminds me of that line in Dave Wottle's Olympic commentary!

"Some said is was going to ruin him!"

What a bunch of losers on here.

Gotta wonder what pillow talk is like after, say, a poor workout or race. Who gets the couch?