A Question for the HS Teachers who Coach and Train

One thing to avoid is having your runners doing a workout that you need to do. Some coaches who run a lot will try to rationalize that they and their kids can be doing the same thing. Seldom is that the case.

I do not believe that you can workout (hard day) with your kids.....you just can't effectively coach at the same time. Easy runs are great, because you get an opportunity to talk with kids in an easy way and figure out what's going on in their lives. Just be prepared for some painfully slow miles, unless you only run with your top group, in which case you are short changing the slower kids on the team (unfairly in my opinion).

You can easily run in between groups of runners on easy days too, to check on multiple groups.

I would usually end up doing my hard runs after their practice was over or on weekends.

You have to really balance your time...ie, don't waste time posting on this message board. Plan during your planning time.

I lived the life you're anticipating for three years and it didn't work out, at least for me. I was juggling too many things--teaching, coaching, training--and they all ended up suffering. I was physically exhausted by the end of spring season each year, it negatively affected my mood with my students and athletes on the team just from being so tired. The walls felt like they were closing in, like I had no time to relax. Had I been training recreationally, say 4-5 days and 30 miles/week, I think it may have been doable, but I wanted to compete (and still do to this day). For me that means hitting 80-100 consistently in training.

I lost the teaching job four years ago, mainly because my dept. head thought I was too wedded to coaching sports and unwilling to focus on teaching. However it was a blessing in disguise. Changed jobs to a much less stressful one, now coach only one season a year in a different school district, and training is back to what it used to be w/o feeling fried all the time. I may get back into teaching and coaching someday, but only after retiring from racing.

You should try looking up Steve Moreno who went to Cal and runs for Adidas Transports or some club like that. He ran the marathon trials last year. Last I heard he was planning on being a teacher (but not a coach as well), I'm sure he has insight on this topic.

I agree with you that I should not do hard workouts with the team, as I would want to pay attention to what is going on and be able to supervise the practices. I suppose I could do my own workouts or runs once practices were over.

Is ex-coach right to say it isn't possible to do all 3 at well? Should I maybe only try to teach and train, leaving coaching for the future when I am no longer attempting to run at a high level? I'd like to do all three, but not to the point where I'm not doing any of them well.

It is pretty hard. Cross and track don't put nearly the demand on your time as other sports where you have to coach the varsity and sub-varsity at different times. The first year will suck because you're still trying to figure out how to manage it all but as you get more efficient with your teaching you will get more time.

What I try to do is peak for races from late Dec to mid Feb. During the summer we have xc practice a few days a week but it's all just road running. Even though I take care of my baby daughter during the summer I run with my team and put my daughter in a jogging stroller. This gives me a little easy distance each day and then a couple of nights a week I hit the track after my wife comes home. I maintain about 65 to 75 miles/week during the summer. (Not bad for living in south Texas) This gives me a good base to carry me through xc season when my training suffers. I squeeze in runs whenever I can from Aug. to Nov. just trying to keep my mileage above 60 which I usually can do. I run with my team on their long runs once a week. Sundays I get my long run in. Saturdays I usually don't run because by time I get home from the meet temperatures are well into the 90's. I just have to find at least 4 other days to run a min. of 10 miles.

By late Oct. my team is tapering and I have more time to train. Then the day after the end of the season I start training hard. By late Dec. I'm peaking at over 100 miles. Track starts in mid Jan. but at that point I'm in shape to do some Jan and Feb. races with minimal training.

I don't know if it is fair to say that you can't do all three well at the same time. I think I do all three well. However, I am not an elite athlete, nor am I teacher of the year or coach of the year. I'm a local runner who wins modest road and trail races. I'm better than someone looking to just win an age group award but I'm nowhere near an Olympic trials qualifier. I have had success as a coach but haven't made it to state. I have won recognition for my teaching abilities.

If you had to eliminate one of those three things, I would probably eliminate the coaching. Teaching pays the bills and you sound like your in your 20's so you are approaching your peak physical abilities.

Forgot to specify I was coaching all three seasons as we have indoor track up here too. Two week break from coaching at Thanksgiving, three week break around St Patrick's Day--not counting pre-season meetings and planning of course. Aside from that, booked solid from August to June, including the December, February, and April vacations. I look back on those three years now and just shake my head.

Could you do it if you were only coaching one or two of the three seasons? Maybe. Given a choice, definitely coach in the fall and skip the winter, see where you're at come springtime.

Coaching can be absolutely rewarding and very special, but doing all three really well is VERY difficult. I'm sure many/some have managed to juggle all three successfully, but if your own running is very important, I would also suggest that you do not pick up the coaching just yet. Being a good coach requires a tremendous amount of time and effort beyond the practice hours.

Ex-coach, just curious, what is you new career?

I agree. And don't forget the occasional 18-hour days during the spring when you're up at 6, leaving school at 7:30 for a meet that starts at 9 and ends at 10:30 p.m., which gets you home at midnight. Even if you manage to sneak out for a run during a break, it'll probably be a shuffle.

If you're gonna coach, figure your best racing seasons are August (after May-July solid training) and February (after November-January). Might narrow you down to being primarily a road racer.

As a recent college grad, where I ran xc and track at the D1 level - I can definately related to this dilemma. I teach English, and coach three seasons and now I'm taking over head coaching responsibilities for outdoor track. I run with my kids on the easy days in track, and I supervise many groups at once on work out days. I've actually never felt better running in my life. After putting in 90+ miles a week in college - this has been the best year of my life. Being an inspiration and motivator to hs kids beats any individual running accomplishment. I love running and still put in 70 or so miles a week, but my focus is the kids I coach. I don't believe you can focus on your own running, teaching,and coaching at the same time. Teaching comes first, then coaching, and then my own running. Which now in my life, I finally have a balance. And for that I'm grateful. Running is so much more meaningful when you look at the impact you are having on young teens. I still win the occasional road race, but winning a state xc or track title with my hs team would mean so much more.

It is ver difficult. It takes serious time management and ...... the ability to run through the drag days when you are just mentally and physically exhausted. I've found that if i can maitain a decent base I can usually race well in May-June after outdoors, build a big base in the summer and do some early fall road racing. However, I often find myself wondering how good I could be if I had the time to really train like I meant it, especially since my college career wasnt up to snoff with injuries senior year. In my fifth year of coaching now, and I can't imagine stopping after building the team up to where I want it finally. So if you really want racing to be your number one priority, maybe you could just be a part time volunteer coach. I got a head coaching job right out of college so right away I was totally swamped.

Time management is the key. Fred Kieser, who finished 14th in the trials marathon, is an outstanding XC-Track coach for St. Joes in Cleveland. It can be done. While I'm not even close to Fred in terms of time, I'll still knock down 100-120 a week coaching XC-indoor-outdoor, plus lifting. AM run before school, run with the kids, then go out and run right after practice for 60-90 minutes. It puts you in the dark during January, but that's the price. Lift during lunch, grade after dinner, PLAN in the summer. I had all the excuse in the world until I met a HS coach from Minn.; his stories about getting out behind the plows at 4:30 in the morning, 8 below, Etc. made me rethink what I wanted to do. Self discipline is a choice; just make sure the loved ones are supportive (mine are), and make it happen

I know many other teacher/coaches who still train at a high level.

For myself, I find that my motivation drops when the season starts. I am not saying you have to be this way to be a good coach, although it may sound like I mean it that way. It's just that, when the season begins, I am so into how my athletes perform, that my own training/racing is put on the back burner. Please don't get me wrong, you can be a good, caring coach and still be a competitive runner.

Maybe it's just that I am in my 40's and have been running/racing for over 30 years. Maybe it's because I took over a top program and felt pressure to keep it that way.

Also, in your first year or two of teaching you will be busier than you can imagine with your new profession. I recommend waiting a year to coach, if that's possible.

Anyway, good luck and the fact that you run/race, at any level, will help your athletes relate to you and you will be able to relate to what they are going through.

As TMK mentioned, plan on AM runs. There will be plenty of times you will have a solid workout planned for yourself and be wiped out after the kids practice. You will need to have some type of workout in the bank on these days and it will take true discipline to get the intensity completed consistently. I also agree with others that if you try to workout with the kids on hard days, you are cheating them and probably yourself.

As TMK mentioned, plan on AM runs. There will be plenty of times you will have a solid workout planned for yourself and be wiped out after the kids practice. You will need to have some type of workout in the bank on these days and it will take true discipline to get the intensity completed consistently. I also agree with others that if you try to workout with the kids on hard days, you are cheating them and probably yourself.

I want to add that I agree with what one other person said, do not run/train with your team. Many caoches rationalize their own training by saying they are helping their kids. But, think, who are you running with? Not everyone, so someone is being neglected. You cannot caoch/give advice to kids if you are running your own workout.

another perspective wrote:

Coaching can be absolutely rewarding and very special, but doing all three really well is VERY difficult. I'm sure many/some have managed to juggle all three successfully, but if your own running is very important, I would also suggest that you do not pick up the coaching just yet. Being a good coach requires a tremendous amount of time and effort beyond the practice hours.

Ex-coach, just curious, what is you new career?

For now I fix computers in a different school district, where I'm an assistant coach for the indoor season only. No planning, no correcting. I can actually read books for pleasure now. Previously I was head coach all three seasons, incl. the only coach for both boys' and girls' cross.

I would say that a person needs to be extremely motivated, disciplined, and willing to live under a tight schedule in order to pull off the triple being discussed here. You're talking about a truly monastic existence, doable for some but not for everyone. I like a little margin in my life, time to relax, reflect, and pursue other outside interests. I'd also say that doing two of the three is absolutely within the realm of possibility for the motivated individual.

Another question I have is if there are any good books to help me with coach high school kids. I think they would be extremely helpful, especially in regards to helping bring along kids who are just starting running, among other things.

The great former coach of Villanova, Jumbo Elliot, once said, and I believe, you can only do 2 things well in life at once. You could be a great coach and teacher but your running will suffer. You can be a great coach and runner, but your teaching will suffer. I guess you don't have a girlfriend since you didn't mention that time drain. You can only do 2 things well at once!