I began training back in February, tried the McMillian customized training for 100 Bucks. He gave me a 13 week plan, I made it thru it, injury free, solid base, improved fitness. I also incorporated some total body fitness classes into it, things like plymetrics, sprints, upper body stuff, lunges, squats, things that had my heart rate going. I ran tempoed some 5k's around 18 min. pace in the middle of the 13 week plan. The plan eneded. I took a week off. The plan counted time ran, not mileage. I liked this, was very different from what I had done in college and since then.
My buddy who "coaches" and who I had been previously injured with offered some coaching. I paid 30 buck for his plan, a 7 week one. I was reluctant and told everyone I knew about my reluctance. But, I gave him the benefit of the doubt and gave it a try. 2 weeks into it, I agree to place one of his marathon women. My original plan was to pace the first 10k. We came thru in 6:18 avg. for the 10k. I felt great, decided to keep going. My coach was head with her taking over the pacing. I began to feel good and I came thru the 2nd 10k in 6:11 pace. I think I finished a little under 1:22, something like 1:21:47 or something, Im not sure. This was my first "half" w any medium-hard effort.
I continued the training as normal, probably hitting 50 miles the week after. About 8 days later I get a pain in my leg, a prexisting injury he says. I believe it was b/c I ran the half at the pace I did, when I did, 2 weeks back from a "break."
As my coach, should he have instructed me to drop out at the 10k? I am thinking he should have. Would Al Sal let one of his athletes get in over his head in a race, or even pacing, if it was not the time? Even if they were feeling "good." I believe that was part of it, and then after than I should've taken a week off with that effort, which I feel was at the wrong time. I had been training for 5k's and 10k's, not a half.
Could the coaching have been better? Does he sound like a good coach? Im thinking I should've continued with McMillian!? I guess you get what you pay for.