I'm trying to get faster and get serious about my training. I'm 5'2'', 138 and have already dropped 15 pounds since Feb. 6. I'm able to comfortably run 11 miles under 90 mins. at 45% effort; faster than EZ run but not MP or even HMP.
Are third-party running coaches are worth the $, or are people able to train themselves? (Granted, some have HS and college coaches here too, etc.).
I've considered two options in Columbus: Fleet Feet/Marathoners in Training or CRC (Columbus Running Company). Are either worth it? Am I better just making my own plan (6-7 days of running, 1 tempo or hill day, 1 track day, 1 long run, the rest EZ) and saving $?
When I trained for my first Marathon I had a coach build me a training plan but I was on my own after that (Hansons-based), averaging 37 mpw and I hit a 3:24 with some ease (left knee buckled at Mile 24 and every few minutes after that, but my breathing was not hard even when I finished. I didn't get any cramping issues either. In hindsight, I probably could have nailed sub-3:20 without the weak knee).
I was on Facebook and I get promotions now for ads like Strengthen Your Stride and other running coaches. One of them is a coach who qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials with a 2:53 time. What are your experiences with running coaches, or do most rely on their HS and college teammates/coaches?
Are running coaches worth it? I am looking for one in the Columbus area.
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I'd probably contact Columbus Running Company and see who they know. Some pretty good runners involved with them. In fact I think a couple of the forum posters here are involved ... but the names escape me.
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awesome coaches are beneficial for everybody. good coaches are beneficial most. medicore coaches are beneficial for novices.
if you are stimulated by reading and conversing about different training methods, you will do just as well or better without one, over the long term.
if you are not in tune with your own body, you can definitely learn about yourself by following a coach or even a pre made plan.
structure is important for gathering, analyzing and learning from data. -
I suggest you contact coach JS and tell him not to even bother posting here.
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I’d go with MIT, lots of great people there with similar goals and times. They can get you to where you want to be. Good group runs on weekends, structure, people to train with. It’s a good gang. I hung out with many of the people in it outside of the group training and ran with them. They’re now my best friends even after moving away from Cbus.
I never had a coach or teammate before until last year. Ever since then, my experience with a coach online has been phenomenal. I’ve grown 100% as a runner but 200% as a man from him. It’s worth every penny and more to me. I’d say if you don’t know what to do for training but know what you want to do for performance, meet someone who can help you get there or see if you can pay someone to coach you there.
Worst that happens? You don’t renew your training plan or work with the coach after the cycle or race. -
Thank you for your help Average! I found MIT is more expensive, and CRC is free, but am willing to pay the cost if it is a better program.
I really want to see what I'm capable of with:
1) In-person coaching.
2) Clear, strategic structured plan.
I've run 1:39 for the half and 3:24 for the full just farting around on my own, so this will be an experiment. I'm good at fueling/gels (2 gels at miles 7 and 14) and did well in 2019 without cramping.
Biggest successes are being able to put in the miles each week and adapting to missed training days, and being able to run EZ and not go too fast on EZ runs, thereby saving myself for the 4x1600s and Yasso 800s.
Biggest challenges for me are staying flexible, stretching, hydrating and working out leg imbalances and weak core/hips. -
I have been coached by the controversial JS coach for several months now and I just keep
on break my PR's time after time . I can strongly recommend him if you want fast persistent
improvement.You get in contact at his site coachjs.se -
Becki Spellman (https://www.spellmancoaching.com/) is in the Columbus area. I don't know her personally, but she coaches a friend of mine who has been happy with her.
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Thank you so much!
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I'm surprised CoachJS hasn't responded lol haha
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jecht wrote:
I'm surprised CoachJS hasn't responded lol haha
Oh but he has! -
CRC and Fleet Feet are both very solid programs. Columbus is very fortunate to have such a great landscape for runners, which includes a lot of great trails and parks to do so at as well. Too bad they’re missing out on some altitude/hills lol.
CRC has had a few very competitive runners: Evan Schwartz who now runs for TinMan Track Club comes to mind. Fleet Feet brought up Molly Bookmyer who was a great female runner. Fleet Feet’s MIT programs are very well run. Regardless, you can’t go wrong. There are several private coaches too around the Columbus area who have all coached successful athletes well!
Best! -
The flying Dutchman wrote:
I have been coached by the controversial JS coach for several months now and I just keep
on break my PR's time after time . I can strongly recommend him if you want fast persistent
improvement.You get in contact at his site coachjs.se
Hi Jan. -
They have two solid trails and that's it j/k lol :)
Olentangy
Alum Creek
In all seriousness I LOVE this city. It's an up-and-coming Midwest city.
I found a running coach and she is out of the Philly area (found her off FB, and she's an Oly Trials qualifier and super-cool), but she requires a Garmin. I got a fitbit from work for Christmas so I'll have to figure out what I want to do.
I may stay local but will have to look at my budget.
These coaches aren't cheap: $125/$150/mo. I don't make much, and after expenses/retirement, I have about $390 a month left over. That doesn't take into account groceries. $38k in Cbus is a good starting salary for someone out of college but I've been in the working world since 2006 and am trying to move up. Granted, I just started at the bottom with the new company...
I like saving $ where I can, and getting free knowledge here too. -
I know the CRC team had the Meyers/Myers brothers at one point!
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jecht wrote:
They have two solid trails and that's it j/k lol :)
Olentangy
Alum Creek
In all seriousness I LOVE this city. It's an up-and-coming Midwest city.
I found a running coach and she is out of the Philly area (found her off FB, and she's an Oly Trials qualifier and super-cool), but she requires a Garmin. I got a fitbit from work for Christmas so I'll have to figure out what I want to do.
I may stay local but will have to look at my budget.
These coaches aren't cheap: $125/$150/mo. I don't make much, and after expenses/retirement, I have about $390 a month left over. That doesn't take into account groceries. $38k in Cbus is a good starting salary for someone out of college but I've been in the working world since 2006 and am trying to move up. Granted, I just started at the bottom with the new company...
I like saving $ where I can, and getting free knowledge here too.
To be quite frank, you don't really need a coach. If you are under 40mpw and running 3:20s marathon, just being more consistent will get you faster. Throw in some hilly runs an d you're good to go.
Columbus isn't bad. I live at Miranova so I have the Scioto Mile right outside my door, and I can get on O-Trail as you mentioned, or go west into Grandview, or even split off around hilltop and take the Camp Chase trail to London (only on bike of course, it's like 27 miles one way).
One of my former favorite places to run is Sharon Woods. 3.8 mile paved loop, couple of hills that require my 30 to 60 seconds effort. Good place to do a long run. Highbanks is good too, it is not paved, hillier, and I think you can get about a 10k loop out of it without much trail doubling.
Both Alum Creek MTB trails are fun to run on, just be curteous and get out of the way of the mountain bikers (even though hikers and runners are allowed on trail, some of the MTBers don't like it...they maintain the trails and believe they own them). -
jecht wrote:
They have two solid trails and that's it j/k lol :)
Olentangy
Alum Creek
In all seriousness I LOVE this city. It's an up-and-coming Midwest city.
I found a running coach and she is out of the Philly area (found her off FB, and she's an Oly Trials qualifier and super-cool), but she requires a Garmin. I got a fitbit from work for Christmas so I'll have to figure out what I want to do.
I may stay local but will have to look at my budget.
These coaches aren't cheap: $125/$150/mo. I don't make much, and after expenses/retirement, I have about $390 a month left over. That doesn't take into account groceries. $38k in Cbus is a good starting salary for someone out of college but I've been in the working world since 2006 and am trying to move up. Granted, I just started at the bottom with the new company...
I like saving $ where I can, and getting free knowledge here too.
JS is relatively very cheap and coach fast improvement.A very nice and trustable guy as an extra plus.The charge only 70 per month or 360 per half year or 600 per year.Sometimes he gives a special deal when the runner is short of jacks. Check him up at his site
coachjs.se
JS fan -
The flying Dutchman wrote:
jecht wrote:
They have two solid trails and that's it j/k lol :)
Olentangy
Alum Creek
In all seriousness I LOVE this city. It's an up-and-coming Midwest city.
I found a running coach and she is out of the Philly area (found her off FB, and she's an Oly Trials qualifier and super-cool), but she requires a Garmin. I got a fitbit from work for Christmas so I'll have to figure out what I want to do.
I may stay local but will have to look at my budget.
These coaches aren't cheap: $125/$150/mo. I don't make much, and after expenses/retirement, I have about $390 a month left over. That doesn't take into account groceries. $38k in Cbus is a good starting salary for someone out of college but I've been in the working world since 2006 and am trying to move up. Granted, I just started at the bottom with the new company...
I like saving $ where I can, and getting free knowledge here too.
JS is relatively very cheap and coach fast improvement.A very nice and trustable guy as an extra plus.The charge only 70 per month or 360 per half year or 600 per year.Sometimes he gives a special deal when the runner is short of jacks. Check him up at his site
coachjs.se
JS fan
Stfu Jan Stensson. -
jecht wrote:
I'm surprised CoachJS hasn't responded lol haha
this from the op!!!
js is trolled!! your infamy is ahead of you, js. -
You are so right about the MTBers. I just stay out of their way and try to run at a time when it is not busy.
I used to live in Westerville and would go to Sharon Woods. 3.8 miles, but I'd use MapMyRun and add the 0.2 in the parking lot to get an even 4 miles.
Blendon Woods is nice but the trails are INACCURATE! And they are full of roots. I go there to walk but not run.
The running coach I talked today was an Oly Trials qualifier, but at $150 a month, that's $1800 a year. Yikes! And to pay another $200-$300 for a Garmin? I have a cheap $6 watch I use with start/stop and that's it. LOL
I want to Boston and am willing to work hard but damn that's a bit of $!
