How Many Coaches Run with Their Athletes?

my coach is tall and skinny, weighs more than when he did he in college but that's because he's full of muscle.

Who cares what a coach looks like as long as his athletes improve? My HS coach ran NCAA D1, but was already balding and slightly overweight in his early 30s, still he coached many runners to state appearances. Get over yourself, improve your own time so that you don't need to come on here bashing those who contribute to the sport only to make yourself feel better.

Ah, another superior Aryan, young person who will never age, lose hair or gain weight. Boy are you in for a surprise.

If someone is willing to put in the time to help kids be better runners, then you should either keep your mouth shut or show us you can do better.

By the way, I am in my 60's, 5'7" and 140 lbs and still have most of my hair.

Another High School Coach wrote:

Ever notice how many coaches are fat, overweight, or no nothing about running?

You're the idiot.

My coach is about 6' 5" and is 65 years old and still runs(not with the team)The last 5k I think she did, was in 29 minutes running with 2 of her dogs. She also competed in the 1972 winter Olympic trials in cross country skiing and is probably the best coach you will ever find. But at our meets some times theres USATF people doing the timing and it seems every gun man that they have is grossly over weight.

I run with the kids almost every day. The only times I don't are when I am injured or they have a very specific workout on the track. The other coaches on our team do the same whether it is throws, jumps, or sprints. I think the athletes have a greater connection and respect for you when they see you doing the same thing as them.

You can still be a successful coach and be out of shape. Look at Gags, he is not in the best shape but does a great job with his athletes. There are plenty of other lesser known examples.

I've always run with the team, and both of my assistants do, as well. My run just can't be the focus of the run; I have to make sure that my run is so that I can accompany them rather than just so I can get a run in.

laxmack117 wrote:

My coach is about 6' 5" and is 65 years old and still runs(not with the team)The last 5k I think she did, was in 29 minutes running with 2 of her dogs. She also competed in the 1972 winter Olympic trials in cross country skiing and is probably the best coach you will ever find. But at our meets some times theres USATF people doing the timing and it seems every gun man that they have is grossly over weight.

Your coach is a 6'5" female?!?

I was going to ask if your coach is DF if you meant 5'5" ...

I run with my team very often. In XC, basically every day. In track season, I coach sprinters, so much less, but I do warmups/cooldowns with them as well as strength training.

As others have said, don't ever let your training be the focus of the workout or your team won't perform at its max. Too many coaches think coaching is a great way for THEM to get their training in. You have to fit your training around your team's.

johnny rotten wrote:

I've always run with the team, and both of my assistants do, as well. My run just can't be the focus of the run; I have to make sure that my run is so that I can accompany them rather than just so I can get a run in.

Absolutely, you run so that you be there to accompany them. And what good does accompanying them do? It suggests to the kids that you attach the same value to running that you're asking them to attach. On a recovery day, it's a great way to have a low-key conversation with a couple of kids who may need your input. It keeps kids from thinking, "Yeah, coach stays back and sips lemonade when he asks as to go run." It also derails a lot of undesirable behavior (cutting prescribed routes, hazing, running too fast/too slow, walking).

Most of the same ends can be accomplished by riding a bike with your runners. I ride the bike some these days as I simply can't run as much as I once could, but the kids seem to have a keener sense of appreciation when I'm running with them.

From a liability perspective, you really need to be doing one of the three following things: running with kids, biking along as the kids run, or meeting the kids along the prescribed route at multiple points. Failing that, you are wide-open exposed if something should happen.

Other people may feel differently, but I'd feel strange (and less motivated) taking training direction from someone who has clearly lost the battle of personal fitness. I realize not everyone has that propensity, but I do.

One of my biggest pet peeves is overweight coaches, this is not good and their should be standards or guidelines by state assoc. Coaches need to know they set the example and when your telling kids to eat right, train this way or that, then you can hardly walk cause your too overweight, then this is a problem.

I personally run with my kids on easy days when not injured, which I am now so I get on the bike and am able to keep an eye on most on a run. I get about 50-70- kids out for CC. I am 52 and do tons of bodyweight stuff and do quite a bit of cycling. My main goal for kids is that they become good people and live a healthy lifestyle. I am 6'1" 155lbs. As I get older I see that running may be less and less so the mtn bike works great. When I am on the bike I am able to talk to kids more so this is the direction I have been going over the years.

That's a great way to put it.

One of our coaches is still young enough and fast enough to be able to run with everyone on the team, from fast to slow. He generally runs with our varsity guys or varsity girls.

I can still run with our varsity girls and most of our varsity guys, but my days are numbered there, and I enjoy getting to run with different groups of kids from day to day, or not at all.

Our 3rd coach had knee surgery last year and is basically unable to run further than 2-3 miles, so he drives around checking on kids with 6 gallons of ice water. That means that we are really pretty well everywhere with them, and on workout days we are able to reach them all throughout the workout. He's also able to be there when they get back in order to get them started on their mobility work, core, weights, etc.

I've always liked the fact that we're all participating in the sport. I don't think I could coach basketball or football for that reason. Plus I'm terrible at both.

college d1 coach ran almost every run with us senior year, except workouts. he was in his early 30's at the time and a 2X individual qualifier in cross. good coach, but i think it messed up the team dynamics a bit. too much micro management.

I agree. My HS coach would often make fun of other rival HS coaches who would show up to meets/invitationals and run workouts/runs with the team. The attitude is if you;re commited then run on your own time. Kids will never learn to be leaders or always do the right thing if you're constantly there hovering over them. Now on the other hand if your team is composed of lazy bums who can't break 20min and cut/walk workouts then yes you should run with them.

I always do the 15 minutes warm up run, stretching and other warm up exercises with my runners. Can't do sessions as I need to be timing and encouraging them to perform and put in 100% effort.

Do 15 min warm down to discuss how session went etc.

Still do my 5 mile morning runs every day and twice weekly gym circuit session to keep in top shape.

I believe in looking and being fit and healthy as it promotes it to my athletes and gives a good impression.

Hey stop talking about Tinman.

hawkrunner wrote:

too much micro management.

Micro managment? Really? So football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and basically every other sport all have coaches who micro manage too much? Running should be no different in that a high school coach should be out there on the roads and trail either running, biking, or following in a car. Its their job to make sure "Practice" is being accomplished the way they want it to be. However, they should be sure to get around to all runners on the team during the run even if it means running to the back and running with the slower athletes. A good coach doesn't necessarily have to run but I would say at least bike with their athletes.

born and raised wrote:

hawkrunner wrote:

too much micro management.

Micro managment? Really? So football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and basically every other sport all have coaches who micro manage too much? Running should be no different in that a high school coach should be out there on the roads and trail either running, biking, or following in a car. Its their job to make sure "Practice" is being accomplished the way they want it to be. However, they should be sure to get around to all runners on the team during the run even if it means running to the back and running with the slower athletes. A good coach doesn't necessarily have to run but I would say at least bike with their athletes.

read my post...i said my COLLEGE D1 coach did this.

You dont have to run with them to have a succesful program, or to help them develop as athletes.

I will say this though: The coaches that are able to run with their kids can have a better bond with them. Im sure its not universal. But the conversations that come with that are priceless.

MG could hammer the college kids back then.