coaches bullying?

Ask Brian Sell and/or the rest of the Hanson's group.

You're pretty much describing Bill Bowerman to a T

Do you want to be serious or just a weekend warrior?

To be the best you can be takes a shit load of work. When we look at our PR, we go for even the smallest improvement, so it's only logical to do even the smallest things to ensure those improvements. You're the one that decides if you want to take your talent to the limit.

I think you have a great coach. It's kind of sad that you can't do this small thing; he's spending how much time ensuring you're at peak fitness?

Nope. If you don't like it- quit. I feel bad for the coach having to resort to that behavior to turn you into what you should already be. Just quit. Right now.

I should have beat-the-shit out you more.

Goddamned puussy!

Great to see that there are still these type of coaches still out there.

Your coach is simply telling you what you have to do to be good at this sport (hint-a ton of dedication and commitment). That is his job. Be thankful he gives you that info. If you don't follow his advice and go out and get lapped in your next two mile guess whose fault it is?

This is fairly typical of how things flow. In the 1960's you had hard nosed no nonsense coaches. It produced great athletes in the 70's. It also produced a group of athletes that couldn't handle it and they blamed the coaching. This led to the "less mileage, no push" approach of the 80's and the major decline in distance running of the 90's. Now you have some young coaches that realize that the 90's produced shit and the pendelum is swinging back. Coaches are more demanding and the results are coming. This will also produce a group of athletes that can't handle it and want to blame the coach. They will be the producers of shitty performances in the next decade. Welcome to the silly circle of running.

We want to obviously be the best/champions/number one of course. Just that at times it gets a little too overbearing and stressful physically and mentally.

Yes we realise thats hes a great coach- its just hard having no other life except running at times!

After your athletic career is over, you can be one of the "feel good" coaches and keep the slippery slope going.

You should change your name from The Puma to The Pu ssy.

Sorry to break it to you kid, but that's what it takes to be a good distance runner. Maybe you should find a team sport, like soccer, or badmitton.

To the OP - at least he isn't pissing on you in the shower!

okhere wrote:

You're pretty much describing Bill Bowerman to a T

Ok so thats why I put in 85 plus mpw including some doubles - all to be ahead of the rest and bring home the medals for my club!

A 6 mile run at 6am in the cold and rain is not everyones idea of enjoyment- and shows dedication eh?

Oh man - this could get good.

That kind of unyielding obsessiveness isn't what it requires to be great, it's what's required to burn out.

None of those 70's runners obsessively tracked their caloric intakes and all that other shit, and I bet most of them were willing to go out drinking on the occasional weekend.

If you're not in an Olympic development club it's probably excessive for the pussified and regionally competitive club.

It is only bullying if there's a threat. He's just telling you what you should do to be a better runner, what a coach is supposed to do. You can choose to train/live however you want. I doubt he's with you 24/7. Go ahead and stay out late, skip long runs, etc. and compare your performance. Grow up.

For as much shit as Texas Runner Girl (I know I didn't spell it like she does) gets around here, she usually has some of the most fair and well thought out posts...

My $.02? You're coach's job is to have you competing to the best of your ability. If you're not, he wants to know why. Is it his training or your lifestyle? He wants into your personal life because he wants to know if he's doing his job right. If you're working out and racing like shit, are his workouts and training schedule too hard or not hard enough? Or are they just right but you're not recovering and fueling properly? Running isn't a game, it's a lifestyle. You have to ask yourself if you want to be as good as you can possibly be. If the answer is yes, then every little thing your coach is asking you to do goes into that equation. Everyone probably needs a degree of balance to keep from mentally/physically burning out, and that degree varies from person to person. But if this is a pretty serious club, and your coach is doing his job right, then he even wants to know what that balance is for every individual. Don't like it? Find a coach that will pat you on the back for just showing up. Just don't expect him to care about you as a runner nearly as much and understand that you'll have to be happy with marginal gains.

I wish my coach put forth a little more effort into me.... I'd say you're one of the lucky ones!