Seeking coach or input on anyone's experience with online coaching

I have used McMillan running plan. I found it easy to understand and if you actually use the recommended paces from the calculator with the workouts you will see results. The only time I did not see improvement was when I tried to use my "goal" time in the calculator rather than "most recent race". I actually don't use the calculator paces for easy days, long runs, or recovery jogs, I just go by feel for all run except track workouts, progression runs and tempos.

I found it took about 6 months to see results, but they were pretty dramatic (4 min PR in the 1/2, 2 min PR in the 10K).

I also have use these plans to come back from injury and lay-off, it is hard (because he tends to be pretty conservative), but it always has paid off in the end to be patient.

just me wrote:

I have used McMillan running plan. I found it easy to understand and if you actually use the recommended paces from the calculator with the workouts you will see results..... I actually don't use the calculator paces for easy days, long runs, or recovery jogs, I just go by feel for all run except track workouts, progression runs and tempos.

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This was helpful.

Can you give us an idea of what your easy days, long runs, and recovery runs ended up being (relative to the calculator paces?) Did you usually end up slower/faster than or within his calculator guidelines?

need guidance wrote:

I'm looking at sub 15 5k in the Spring. My pr is around 15:20, but I've yet to hit anything this cross season that would indicate that.

What is your e-mail and how fast is your mile?

There was a guy known as JK that could coach online but I heard he died.

My training program is only $50 a month? What is your e-mail?

clarity wrote:

just me wrote:

I have used McMillan running plan. I found it easy to understand and if you actually use the recommended paces from the calculator with the workouts you will see results..... I actually don't use the calculator paces for easy days, long runs, or recovery jogs, I just go by feel for all run except track workouts, progression runs and tempos.

...

This was helpful.

Can you give us an idea of what your easy days, long runs, and recovery runs ended up being (relative to the calculator paces?) Did you usually end up slower/faster than or within his calculator guidelines?

I am pretty much a "train by time" person so all my paces are approximate (except when I run on marked courses, and it is great to see that most of the time I am pretty close to what I approximate).

I am a 48 year old female. I generally train about 65-70 mpw for anything up to 1/2 marathons (I might get up to 75 about 3-4 weeks out from the 1/2 depending on what the rest of my racing schedule is looking like). For marathons I average about 75 and peak at 85. When I am in my highest mileage weeks I am generally doing 2-3 "workouts" per week. One is a fartek 1`-2` leg turnover workout, one stamina/speed (long intervals/short intervals) and possibly a long progression run (break long run into 1/3rds, finish at 1/2 marathon-10K pace) or fast finish last 4 - 10 miles at target 1/2 marathon or marathon pace. When I am in my "hardest" weeks all of my runs other than my "workouts" are somewhere in the lower (slower) end of the "easy" run range. During base, I am generally in the upper to sometimes a little faster than range of the "easy" run range. My second runs (on workout days) are easily in the "recovery" range. When I am feeling even the slightest bit tired, I err on leaving my watch at home and just running - I assume I am in the recovery range during these days.

Seriously, the only time I worry about how fast I am running is during workouts and races. Generally in workouts I am holding back at the start (targeting the slower end of the range) and then finishing at the faster end of the range, when I am in the best shape I am able to run the last of the "intervals" even faster than the prescribed pace, but I never try - I just don't look at my watch for the last couple 800's.

NG- Not only would I be happy to help as a coach, if you are considering a relocation after college, our club, run portland (portland oregon)has a group of 8-12 men on any given group run in this 15.00-15.30 range. Might be a good fit.

Feel free to email with any q's.

Best,

Sean

Just me - thanks for the explanation... very helpful!

So how fast are you from 400m up to the Half Marathon? What are your goals in 2011, do you need a coach also?

Thanks for all the information on the McMillan program. It's helpful to see that others had success with it. My mile Pr is only 4:30 but haven't raced it in about two years now. That is one thing I think i need to work on is my speed. Sean your group looks very interesting from the website, and although I won't graduate for at least a year that is something I would definitely consider.

Master Lady's -- I am really not fast (can place in the top 10 women in local/smaller races - usually win my age group) -- I just like to train and compete - oh, and I am a huge track and field fan. 400-5K are my weakest events, probably because I started running late in life (late 30s) and never really developed ANY real leg speed. I am still coached by Greg so I am not really looking for a coach right now, are you a coach? If you are, I have quite a few friends who might be looking I would be happy to share your name with them - I always tell people to interview coaches (at a minimum by phone) before they fork out money on one - it takes a lot of commitment to train properly and good chemistry with a coach is important, no matter what level of competition.

Only real goal, for me, is to run Houston next year and qualify for the Gansett Marathon (http://www.gansettmarathon.com/) - as a matter of principle I would rather run this race than Boston these days.