How To FInd A Coach

“It’s raining out.”

“I am too tired.”

“I did speed work yesterday, so what should I do today?”

“How do I improve my marathon time?”

The excuses and questions are the same. But what if there was someone motivating you to run in the rain, bike when you are tired, tell you what to do after a speed workout, or write up a workout plan for you to set a new marathon personal record time?

Enter, a coach.

“A coach keeps a person accountable, motivated, and hopefully introduces variety and a little fun into a sport,” said Beth Baker, a running coach and owner of Running Evolution outside of Seattle, WA. “The thing I do is keep people distracted and get them out of their head so they can go further without thinking about it.”

Finding a coach, though, can be as challenging as finding a mate — but without the help of Cupid.com, Match.com, speed dating, or any other match-making tool.

Getting Started

The first step to finding a coach is accepting that you actually need or want one to help you reach your goals.

“I read a lot and became a decent self-coached runner,” said Dave Webster, a marathon runner in Bend, OR. “I got my marathon time down and made the long-coveted trip to Boston. All this was before coaching. I felt I was a self-coaching success story. I didn’t think I would benefit from a coach. I was wrong.”

Disciplined in his training and well-read on training techniques, Webster didn't believe he needed a coach or the expense of one. However, in September of 2008, Webster attended a weekly performance running group led by Max King, an elite runner from Bend.

“After a few months of Max’s workouts, I set a new half-marathon PR,” Webster said. “I started thinking that Max might be able to help me get faster. I signed up for coaching with Max starting last June.”

Where to Look

Once a person makes the commitment to hire a coach, the Internet provides a wealth of resources to find the right one. Local running clubs, running shoe stores, and businesses such as Baker’s are good starting spots for finding a coach.

“Good reviews are a good tool. And these days, it’s so easy to Google them and make sure they (coaches) are accountable, credible and simply show up,” Baker said.

The "Job" Interview: Name, Certification, Experience

To narrow down a list of potential coaches, begin by looking for someone with a national certification in coaching, personal training or other sports-related field. United States Track and Field (USATF) is a certifying body for coaches in track and field. Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) also certifies coaches in running and offers links to local running clubs.

In addition to evaluating a potential coach’s credentials, one should also consider the person’s experience — both competing and coaching.

“(Max has) his own running experience, of course, but he’s also observed the collective responses of all the people he’s run with and coached,” said Webster, who has improved his marathon time by 11 minutes since he began working with King. “A problem or issue that is new to me might be something he’s seen a hundred times. I was slow to recognize the value of his experience, but now I trust him like crazy!”

A Match Made in Heaven?

Evaluating a coach’s experience and credentials is equivalent to reading a resume. It may sound good on paper, but does his or her personality fit?

“You should be a person to the coach, not just another source of income,” said Kelli Hansen, a runner and triathlete who has worked with Baker for two years. “Beth knows about me, my son, my husband, my friends, family, my job, and my co-workers. She genuinely cares about me as a person and as a runner. She knows what I am capable of, when to push me, and when to back off a bit.”

A good coach motivates, teaches and holds his or her athletes accountable. When a person does not want to run in the rain, the coach acts as a cheerleader encouraging the person to do the speed work, go for the long run, or push the limit a little more.

“She (Beth) has a great can-do attitude and she supports your goals 110 percent,” said Hansen, who has completed five triathlons, two half marathons and a marathon since beginning her training with Baker. “She even can get you to consider goals you never had for yourself. She will believe in you more than you believe in yourself, and she will encourage you every step of the way.”

King motivated Webster through his self-confidence. Webster’s performances have not only improved because he is physically stronger, but also because his confidence has increased.

“His coaching has improved my confidence enormously,” Webster said. “And, I no longer spend any mental or emotional energy on my workouts. Where I used to worry constantly that I was running too little or too much or too slow or too fast, I am now free to just run.”

Additionally, a coach teaches his or her athletes why speed work is done on a particular day, or why one includes a “taper” week before competition. While it is nice to have someone tell us what to do, understanding the “why” behind the method or training program is important as well. Part of teaching is also flexibility. If his athlete is injured or something comes up, King can adjust a training schedule as needed.

“Sure, the workout plan in Runners World may not be much different than what you are going to be doing, but having a coach means that you’ll be able to change aspects of the training plan as unforeseen events come up,” said King. “You don’t get that flexibility from a magazine.”

Ultimately, a coach holds the athlete accountable. Whether it's filling out a running log for a coach or following a training plan, the athlete reports to someone. Simple excuses such as “It’s raining” or “I am too tired” are more difficult to use.

“Having someone who holds you accountable, without nagging, is helpful in a coach,” said Hansen. “It is a fine balance, but Beth does it. She is endlessly positive and perky, which is incredibly helpful — especially when it is rainy and windy.”

Photo by Hannah Coleman on Unsplash