Coaches are not just for elite or highly competitive athletes anymore. They are for athletes of all ages and vary from mentors to highly technical coaches.
A mentor is someone who has been participating in the sport and is willing to pass their experiences and information on to you, at little or no cost. Being a mentor is a positive and rewarding experience as you encourage your student, and pass on your knowledge and wisdom. Mentoring is certain to infuse your own running and bring back that ?loving feeling?. The down side of being mentored is that the parameters of your mentor?s knowledge may be limited by their own experiences. They usually speak about what has or has not worked for them and may not be able to make alterations to account for your individuality.
If you require more personalized information and training, a coach is a definite plus. Although there is cost associated with a coach, it is possible to find one that will match your budget and personality.
Some coaches will be available to answer questions and provide guidance once or twice a week on a track night, or for a long run. Although you may get some personalization, direction is usually more general and directed to the group as a whole. Check out
www.triandrunsports.com or email Sherrie McKinney at
sam@lks.net for guided group runs in the Quinte area.
A Personal Trainer will cost you by the hour or by the program but if you can find one with running experience they can provide individualized programming for running, stretching, weight training and nutrition. You have the flexibility to structure your contact with your Personal Trainer to fit your budget and time schedule, whether you meet multiple times each week, weekly or monthly. Your Personal Trainer may even accompany you on some or all of your runs, and run with you during your goal race. The only down side to a Personal trainer as a coach is cost. It may be worth your while to pay more up front with multiple visits per week to ensure a good knowledge base, then wean yourself down to weekly, then monthly. The upside is personalized, hands on training, usually based on a physical assessment.
An online coach is available 24/7 to answer questions and provide individualized running programs and occasionally strength and nutritional direction. Dealing online gives you the option of being coached by some of the hottest names in your sport such as Jeff Galloway, Mark Allen or Julie-Ann White without having to relocate to their centres. In most cases you pay a monthly amount, which can be costly, and your programs are based on self-completed questionnaires without the benefit of hands on assessments. Companies like the Peak Centre for Human Performance in Ottawa combine the two concepts by providing periodic hands on assessments mixed with online training with a personal coach.
In the long run, utilizing a coach or mentor will benefit your physical and mental fitness and help you realize your goals.
