Online Coaching

I would highly recommend Tom "Tinman" Schwartz for online coaching. I am currently training under him for my first marathon and have never felt stronger and been more consistent with my training. He knows exactly how much to train to elicit adaptation without going over the edge, which is a tough art to master. If you have any questions you can email me, or visit his site at www.therunzone.com to ask Tinman directly.

runguru.com

jackie rzepicki and clint verran's coaching service--it works great for me and makes my life so much easier and is not very expensive.

I second using Tinman, I have a buddy that is coached under him and she seems to be doing quite well.

How do I contact them? do they have a web site?

Sorry, forgot to include the email. His email is runfastcoach@gmail.com

I use RUNGURU.COM too

Jackie and Clint are great. They have helped me a great deal.

CDdistance wrote:

I would highly recommend Tom "Tinman" Schwartz for online coaching. I am currently training under him for my first marathon and have never felt stronger and been more consistent with my training. He knows exactly how much to train to elicit adaptation without going over the edge, which is a tough art to master. If you have any questions you can email me, or visit his site at

http://www.therunzone.com

to ask Tinman directly.

Please explain how Tinman & Clint Verran are going to analyze the OP's running form from Boise, ID and Rochester Hills, MI? If the OP has lousy running form, no amount of online training will guarantee him a Boston qualifier. Distance training is not that difficult; it just requires balance. OP, go down to your local library and check out a few books. If you feel the need for a coach ask at your local running club. You can't train someone you have never met from half a continent away.

These online coaches are just glorified cheerleaders....trust me on this.

Online coaches may not be able to be "there", physically watching the athletes. That is one complexity of coaching without being able to be there. That doesn't mean it can't work. They can help the learning curve go faster than the self-education you recommend. Some folks may just be dispensers of schedules, but, I think there are different orders of coaches, online or not. I know Tinman personally and think he is more than willing to help people grow in an understanding of the sport, not just cheer them on, not to mention help them get faster. As far as Verran, I can't comment one way or another.

A coach doesn't need to be with you on a daily or even weekly basis unless you are an elite runner, honestly someone like Tinman and Verran can help any competitive recreation runner from a distance, feedback through email or telephone is really all a recreational type runner needs, I have had a few online coaches and improved quite well with them, the key is to find an online coach that actually know's his/her stuff (sort of speak) not some nobody that's start's a website and offers online coaching, Tinman and Clint Verran are definitley two of the better online coaches available, either would help you improve

EFFECTIVE running form is 60% of running IMHO. Name one stud runner who doesn't have fine running form. You are only giving the client 40% of what they pay for when you don't critique their form.

Also, must people who use online coaches are the "instant gratification, coach me to a marathon within 1 year" newbies anyway....and they need running form analysis more than anyone.

Well I can assure you that I am not in the novice coach me to a marathon within 1 year club. One thing I would like to mention is that I have had previous coaches that focused on all the little things such as drills/form improvement without emphasizing the actual training. I already had very efficient form, but they felt that it was necessary to excessively work upon form while neglecting other aspects of training, either not enough mileage or not enough recovery depending on the coach. All a runner needs is consistent core/upper body work to maintain good form, and maybe read some books on the subject as you suggest if they are new to the sport. Watching a Ryan Hall video is a beneficial visual aid for form as well.

"EFFECTIVE running form is 60% of running IMHO."

Yeah right, heard of Paula Radcliffe? Boston Billy didn't exactly have the best running form. Did you see Joan Benoit last weekend? Form will improve simply through training/more miles/repetition, but no one should strive towards some "ideal" and doing so may actually decrease economy.

To the guy that says running is 60% form:

Way to pull a number out of your ass, and a bad one at that. The Kenyans and the Japanese are probably way ahead of us right now because they spend way more time doing form drills. Right.

To the guy that is looking for a good runner with bad form:

Watch Zersenay Tadesse run.

I think its obvious that having a live coach is better than an online coach. There is no real substitute for that. However, if you can't have a live coach an online or a "coach by mail" is way more effective than coaching oneself. If anyone could replicate the training of a knowledgeable coach by "reading a few books", why doesn't everyone know everything about running. To say that any number of books on training can replace years and years of coaching experience is asinine.

Also, if one could read everything they need to know about training then they could read about form and form drills as well. If need be, make a video tape and send it to coach.

Bottom line is, this guy isn't trying to run 2:10, he wants to qualify for Boston. While he might lose a little by not having a real coach, he will gain a ton over trying to coach himself.

While you are at it look at Alberto Salazar....hell, Wanjiru isn't exactly gliding along but he finished a step behind Lel and a minute in front of Hall, both of whom run like they are a metronome.

you can always tape your self running and send it to the coach to analyze it.

I also think Tinman is a good coach.