I’ve had this on my mind for the last few weeks. I’ve spent most of my running life self coached, on occassions dipping into the world of being coached.
I also don’t think there is a right answer for everyone for this, we are all different and what each of us need is hugely different.
I’ve had 3-4 technical sessions (which were really valuable and proved very helpful in developing myself as a runner) with 2 separate coaches, the last being a couple of years ago with Helen Hall which I’ve previously written about. In terms of written training, feedback and communication I had a coach for maybe 4-5 months a couple of years ago – which didn’t really work out and more recently have been coached.
I was curious how this would work for me. I suppose my intention was to use somebody else’s experience, objectivity and knowledge to help move me forwards. What I had hugely underestimated is just how much value I get from writing my training and engaging in how to move myself forwards. When my right lower leg tendon injury happened I had to scrap any planned running that had been written for me & go back to writing out my rehab and how it would be structured. I loved it, I loved the detail, the planning, adjusting / changing and tweaking. As I came back to full fitness I could see that this essential part of my running was about to be handed back to somebody else (which I had chosen to do). This didn’t sit well with me, not because the sessions were badly written or the coach was unhelpful, but because it was something I loved doing and love to do. The challenge of reaching the goal in mind, having negotiated and traversed all the obstacles in the way all part of the experience that I wanted to have. I realised that the running, whilst key was only part of a far wider and larger process. One thing I have really taken on board for myself is that every aspect of how I train should be enjoyable (which isn’t necessarily easy) and it then made no sense for me to deprive myself of this wonderfully rich learning opportunity.
Equally I wanted to have the opportunity for complete flexibility, the ability to road test sessions that I’d want to program for athletes I work with. I’ve recently been giving the juniors an 11 minute cutdown alternation session. I’ve not done this and want to know what it feels like, how can the timings be shifted – what needs to be shortened / lengthened or is it all OK? There is an unnecessary tension if you have competing interests in terms of a a program written by someone else with specific development goals in mind Vs me seeing a chance to try something out that allows me to grow as a coach.
Having made the decision I got in touch with the coach I had been briefly working with – who sent me a great email back letting me know that they had also gone back to being self-coached! Something in the air.
Will it work – who knows and that is the point. Fail / learn / go again / succeed / why? and so on. All of which I can’t wait to do again.
BreatheToMove 