I love to help people, I really do. Maybe it’s because I went through what they are going through, and I always wanted someone I could reach out to that could relate. I am sure that they were out there, but I didn’t see them. There are plenty of “coaches”, but not many who have been overweight and can really understand what it means to try and lose weight and start running at the same time. So, I started this blog.
The great part about letting people know that you are there to help, is that they will actually reach out to you and you get to connect with them and share in their journey. But I want to offer people a little advice on WHAT help they are asking for.
Here are some examples of the questions that I get. “I want to run faster, how can I do that?” or “I can now run 5k without stopping, should I work on speed or distance?” The questions aren’t completely bad, but it leads me to answer their question with a question. My question always is “Well, what is your goal?” For me to really be able to help, I need to understand what someone is trying to accomplish.
As an example, if you want to run faster, what distance are you trying to run faster over? If you are trying to run a faster 5k, then I may suggest 400m repeats at a pace slightly faster than your goal pace. However, if you are trying to run your first marathon, I may suggest that you focus on form and nutrition so that we avoid hitting the wall, and in this case, not slowing down too much will equate to a faster race. See what I mean?
The question of focusing on speed or distance depends once again on your goals. Is it simply weight loss that you are after, or running a blazing fast mile? Are you attempting your first marathon? The answer to these questions will allow me to create a plan that will help you achieve YOUR goal.
Imagine creating a trip from your house by randomly picking streets that connect to each other and at the end of that process you discover that your vacation will be spent at a landfill. You created a plan, and you will arrive at a destination, but is it the destination you wanted to arrive at? Of course not. It’s the same with creating a plan for anything in life, before you work the plan, have a clear goal in mind.
This brings up another point as well. To get the best advice, you need to have a thorough understanding of your current situation, so that you know where you are starting from. If you have just completed your first 5k and want to run a marathon, I would offer very different advice to you than someone who has run three half marathons and wants to run a marathon.
So, whether it’s me, or another coach, do yourself a favor and clearly explain where you are starting from, envision a goal that you are working towards, make it specific, and then look for advice. This is what a good goal may look like. “I have just completed my first 5k race in 30 minutes, I run about 10 miles per week, and I would like to run a half marathon in six months.” That one sentence alone will give a coach a lot to work with and get you a better plan and better results!
I hope that this post and this blog helps you achieve your dreams! To receive new post notifications, newsletters, and post previews, please SUBSCRIBE!
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