Coaching from Julia and Alan Webb

Barrister wrote:

I am just curious as to what in their background makes them quailified to be coaches besides being fast runners. Just because they are/were fast doesn't necessairily mean they can coach. Sure they know a lot about hard work and dedication, but do either of them have any specific education, training, or certification? Not knocking them but more looking to see what coaching expertise they may have besides having run fast. Some fast runners have been great coaches, and others, not so great.

To me education, training or certification mean nothing, an athlete could learn more in 20 years competing than on any course. However, having only achieved a peak for a couple of years and then going rapidly downhill I would suggest he failed to understand something about his own running at least and would think the only thing he has to pass on in confusion over which training method to follow.

ukathleticscoach wrote: To me education, training or certification mean nothing, an athlete could learn more in 20 years competing than on any course. However, having only achieved a peak for a couple of years and then going rapidly downhill I would suggest he failed to understand something about his own running at least and would think the only thing he has to pass on in confusion over which training method to follow.

You make a good point and are correct with some coaches. You are not a good coach because you take some classess and get a certification. I think good coaches have bit of everything. Experience running, as well as some education, etc. to get a better understanding about how the body works. An example of someone I know is Paul Greer of the San Diego Track Club. He was a 3:39 1500 meter runner in his prime (1992 Olympic Trials 1500 meter qualifier). Paul has a very good intuitive sense for coaching and he has added onto his experiences with additonal training, education, etc. to supplement. He coaches all types from beginners to Olympic Trials qualifiers.

Alan's experiences are something else and you make a good point on him as well.

Day 1: Run. Eat McDonalds

Day 2: Run. Eat Carrabbas

Day 3: Run. Eat Panda Express

Day 4: Run. Eat Chick-Fil-A

Day 5: Run. Eat Ramen Noodles.

You, too, can train (and eat) just like Alan Webb

Neely Spence majored in coaching while at Shippensburg University and a few of her injuries over the past couple of years have not been training related. Her two serious injuries were more of freak accidents which include breaking her foot during a race in Scotland (this one took her out of the trials) and her knee cap breaking open in Dec 2013 due to her knee cap never fully turning to bone as a child. Her husband (Dillion Gracey) coached for three years at Shippensburg University is now the assistant coach to Steve Magness at the University of Houston.

To use the rationale that athletes who can't stay healthy have no part in coaching is a ridiculous statement. Everybody's body has a point where they can't increase intensity or volume without injury either due to age or other limiting factors. The experiences that a professional athlete gains through trying to push through those limits and injuries is extremely valuable when it comes to coaching. I know Neely and Dillon both personally and encourage you to have a conversation with them sometime before making such ignorant comments about their coaching capabilities. They have been very successful at coaching some of the elite HS athletes in the Shippensburg area which has been very impressive to watch. They also coached on of my teammates to a 2:25 marathon (A 7 min PR) this past fall at the Philadelphia Marathon.

I don't know much about the Steph Rostein and Ben Bruce's coaching services, but if your opinions about them are based off the same lack of knowledge about Neely and Dillion than I'm sure they are very good coaches as well.

The only person not qualified to share advice to the public is you!