How to Choose the Right Run Coach for You
There’s a whole trove of run coaching information all over the internet, but we get stuck wondering what to do with all of it and where to begin. The information is good, but hiring an actual run coach can make a huge difference in your running skills. Hiring a run coach can help you perform better by correcting your running form, teaching you the right running techniques, creating a bespoke run program, reducing your risk for injury, and helping you run faster and stronger. Let us help you how to find the best run coach that fits your needs!
What is the role of a run coach?
A running coach is more than just ordering athletes and runners around.
A running coach is so much more than this. Run coaches are runners’ and athletes’ partners in Sports. Running coaches help you improve and develop your running skills and meet your athletic goals while keeping you safe from injuries. A run coach from Run Ready can work with you individually or work with a group of athletes and non-athletes to prepare you for a competition or a marathon.
How do you become a run coach?
Just because you’re passionate about running doesn’t instantly make you or qualify you to become a run coach. Run coaches actually require more than just passion for running. To become a run coach, you need to become accredited by Athletics Australia and obtain a Level 1 Community Athletics Coach or Level 1 Recreational Running Coach course. If you’re targeting to become a track and field Coach, you have to undergo training and education up to Level 4, while recreational running coaches have to finish up to Level 3. Once you’ve completed all the courses and obtained your coaching certification, you can use that to create run training programs that you can use as a run coach.
What are the benefits of personal run coaching?
Like other athletic and running coaches, we want you to enjoy running while achieving all the goals you’ve set for yourself. Our running coaches are committed to pushing your limits, challenging you, and bringing out the best in you. Hiring a run coach can be intimidating because you’ve only seen elite athletes having one! The truth is, a run coach is for everyone. How does a running coach help you? We’re listing down the ways an expert and qualified run coach can improve your running in no time.
- Minimises risk of injury
- Creates a tailored run program to match your pace and running goals
- Helps you and keeps you accountable for your efforts
- Becomes your personal cheerleader and motivator
- Becomes a reliable and trusted source for proper running techniques and tips
- Improves your over-all running performance
How do you choose a run coach?
As a seasoned run coach and experienced runner, I know how hard it is to find a good running coach and what to consider in finally choosing the right one for you. Keep these tips in mind when going shopping for a run coach!
Check and verify if you have the same values.
Having a coach who doesn’t share the same values and views as you can cause more damage than good. You might end up not being able to settle on training times, rest days, or recovery periods because you don’t have the same outlook.
Don’t choose someone who offers a one-size-fits-all solution or training program.
A personal run coach should be able to curate a bespoke run program that will perfectly match your needs, goals, and current running abilities. It’s important to note that every runner is unique; hence the need to have someone create a training program. Every little detail and issue will require a unique solution.
Look for someone who can communicate well.
Coaching is not a one-way street. A good coach should know how to communicate effectively with his runner when it comes to goal-setting, teaching techniques, giving feedback, and providing you with support throughout your journey.
Check their credentials.
Hire a run coach that has strong credentials and extensive running and coaching experience. Australian run coaches should have the right coaching certifications from Athletics Australia. If you want to improve your running skills, a knowledgeable and experienced running coach can provide you with and teach you the right information and technique necessary.
Cross-check your needs.
To determine which run coach you should be looking for, you should be able to determine and figure out what you need in a running coach. There are different kinds of running coaches, such as run club and run group coaches, personal run coaches, online run coaches, and beginner run coaches.
Getting a run coach can be expensive if you don’t look in the right places. Run coaching costs can vary depending on the abilities and qualifications of the coach, the location, and the frequency and duration of your run coaching sessions. Run coaching sessions can be charged weekly or monthly. If you want to know how much our personal run coaching costs at Run Ready Melbourne, contact our run coaches to know more.
No, run coaching is not exclusively for professional and elite athletes. A run coach can be beneficial for running enthusiasts, beginners, amateurs, athletes of all kinds of sports, or anyone who wants to improve their running skills.
If squeezing run coaching sessions is burdensome or difficult for you, you can avail of online run coaching services from our expert run coaches. An online or virtual run coach can help you fine-tune your running skills by creating a custom running program that you can do even without the physical presence of your run coach. We keep in touch with our clients through emails, messaging, and apps so that we can check your run progress and tweak the program to adjust it for you.
The time you need to work with a running coach will depend on the goals you want to achieve and how frequently you can train with a run coach. Some runners would prefer short-term run coaching, while others prefer to have a running coach for a long-term period.
