Does My Coach Have Moral Grounds to Do This?

Listen, pal. It's not about "moral grounds." It's about the classy thing to do. I give you my time and expertise for free. I think you can admit that my coaching played a role in your winning the prize.

I probably shouldn't have brought up your splitting the prize with me. But, if you'd have had any class, I wouldn't have had to; you'd have thought of sharing it with me before you thought of sharing it with your girlfriend.

You're right that you don't owe me anything. But, guess what, I don't owe you anything either. Have fun with your girlfriend at the dinner. Then have fun either finding another coach or going it alone.

I wouldn't split the prize (he likely wouldn't want to join you for a romantic getaway anyway ... or would he?), but I think a nice thank you gift is in order at least.

You definitely don't have to share with him from a legal standpoint. If the guy is spending legitamate amounts of his time helping you out, though, it would be nice of you to help him on occasion (he's not asking for a salary, he's requesting a cut of winnings he helped you earn). It's ultimately your choice, but no matter how much of a saint he may be in offering his time for free that doesn't make it ok to take advantage of him.

If this guy's been coaching you for 4 months for nada, then you owe him something. You should be able to see that for yourself without asking for help here. Do the right thing.

BTW, if you don't think his services are worth your occasional consideration then perhaps you should part ways and just go it on your own. If you're none the worse for it, then you made the right decision.

if the initial implication truly was that he was simply helping you for the love of the sport, then up until now you owe him nothing. however, since he gave you the passive-aggressive signal that he hasn't been doing this simply for the love of the sport, get some expectations written down. sign them. have witnesses sign them. it will protect both of you in the future; it's always good to know what's really expected of all parties.

Has his coaching made you better? If it has you ought to consider giving him some of the fruits of your labor. You're probably a jerk if you don't do anything to show your appreciation for his help.

You owe him nothing. If he said he's in it for the love of the sport then that's what he's getting back when you do well in a race. Are you his only runner or does he have several people who train with him? If he has more than one runner, have any of them mentioned anything similar happening to them?

That's my stance, now just out of curiousity, when you won this race did you beat anyone you'd never beaten before. Was this a 20 second improvement over a course you'd run before or was this the first time you'd run this race.

Don' share it with him. You would maybe have improve your 5K without him. Improving of 20" from 17'00 to 16'40 or from 13'20 to 13 doesn't need the same talent for a coach. So he is not a great coach

He also said he did it for the love of running. So when you want money for love...

You're kinda like that guy in the office who has help from others on a project, when the project is a hit, it's all about you and when the project is a dud, well that's when everyone else gets the "credit".

Moral grounds ??? I think that this is called courtesy.

question? was your coach implying that you should invite him to go to the spa and dinner with you? if this is the case i think you have bigger problems than a "moral" dilemma. thats just weird. i love my coach...but i wouldnt go to the spa or share an expensive dinner with him...take your girlfriend, please!

Is your coach Tinman, by any chance?

Share it with me! I'll got to the spa and dinner with you

Sounds like a control freak who you should run from..get rid of him

Jerk Complex wrote:

You're kinda like that guy in the office who has help from others on a project, when the project is a hit, it's all about you and when the project is a dud, well that's when everyone else gets the "credit".

Moral grounds ??? I think that this is called courtesy.

It's nothing like that at all. You're assuming too much. The original poster didn't mention what exactly his coach has been doing.

How much credit do you want to take away from the athlete who put in the work, ran the race dropping off 20 seconds on his PR, if the coach was just scheduling workouts or something? Sure that deserves some kind of recognition, but I wouldn't treat him to $150 Spa/dinner thing. I'd buy him a watch or $50 gift certificate to a running store or something.

What does he want to do after the big dinner? Catch a movie and go back to your place? Seems inappropriate to me.

$300 worth of prizes for a 16:40?

You should be embarrassed to accept it...don't redeem this prize until you've at least broken 15:30.

Dude isn't even giving the coach a "reach around" ... c'mon he should at least throw the coach something.Granted, the original poster has let all of this "glory" go to his head and he'll almost never have the chance again to take home anything worth $300 for a 16:40 ... sheesh 16:40 isn't even a solid 5k split in a 10K.

Maybe the coach really needs 50 bucks or so to make the grocery bill.

Here's a guy (the coach) who really helped you out. Does your new PR really mean something to you?

I am surprised (pleasantly) that you made US$300 for running a 16:40.

Yes, I would give an appropriate gift to the coach of about US$50.00.

tyler?