Should you hire a running coach?

Honestly, probably not. Now, that doesn’t mean that hiring a running coach can’t be a game-changer. IT ABSOLUTELY CAN.

But having a running coach isn’t a necessity.

I’ll keep it real with you, what the vast majority of runners actually need isn’t a 1 on 1 running coach, it’s access to a coach and the support of a team.

Why? Because running is all about learning how to change your perspective around your pre-defined limits as well as redefining what success and failure mean to you.

A running coach will give you a training plan and hold you accountable for your training. Maybe they’ll hop on a call with you and talk you off ledges or help you build confidence.

A GREAT running coach will help you define your process and outcome goals, what your pre-defined limits are, understand the fears and doubts you have, build self-assurance, and re-define your relationship with running. But when you do that with the support of a team? THAT is where real change happens.

Most people really don’t need a running coach. They don’t. You can absolutely get by with free or cheaper running plans you can find online.

But there comes a time in a lot of runner’s lives when they plateau, need a change, or sense that what they’re doing isn’t working for them anymore. Running is complicated and while so many of us are able to better our bests on our own, having someone to guide you towards your next breakthrough and a team you can learn with and support along the way can change your life.

Sounds trivial, but it’s true.

With an annual membership to the Badass Lady Gang training team, not only do you get a running coach but you get a team to train with.

What that means:

1. Accountability. You have someone who not only expects you to do the work, but will talk to you about what happened when you crash and burn, give in to fear, or celebrate you when you have the best workout of your life.

2. New Skills. Coaches aren’t just incredible runners who want you to run like them. The best coaches have taken the time to develop a training style and philosophy. It’s important that you see eye to eye and trust them intrinsically. My coaching is all about developing your mental game. I want to develop the skills of accurate and positive self-talk, how to redefine your limits, work on body image resilience, and self-assurance as a runner. That means I want you to understand how a training plan works so that you can feel confident adapting when life throws you a curveball. With me as your coach, you’ll be doing the physical work necessary to run down your goals, but you’ll be doing the mental work that won’t just apply to running. You’ll take those skills with you into your everyday life!

   **A note on my athletes— If you’re looking to run an OTQ or run sub 7-minute miles in any distance, I’m not the coach for you. Check out my coach Rebeka Stowe. I work with everyday athletes. Everyone from first-time runners, runners who aren’t enjoying their weekly runs anymore, runners looking to break 2 or 3 hours in a half marathon, first-time marathons, to runners looking to BQ. THOSE are my people. The Badass Lady Gang is life with a side of running. If that doens’t resonate with you, I’m not the coach for you.

3. Injuries. It doesn’t matter what distance you’re training for, most of us are going to get hurt. Coaches will help you incorporate a strength training practice to strengthen your problem areas and do everything they can to help you prevent injuries. (Now that being said, it’s up to you to actually do the work. DO YOUR STRENGTH WORK WHETHER YOU HAVE A COACH OR NOT. If you think you won’t get hurt, you’re wrong. You will. We all do. My running plans all come with in-app strength training plans with video. Do some bodyweight work 2-3 days a week if you don’t know where to start. REHAB PREHAB PREHAB.) My coaching comes with a strength plan designed by Physical Therapist Raechel Bugner. It’s just an added perk.

4. No Guesswork. The best part about having a coach is that they take the guesswork out of everything. No more, “Should I do this because I don’t think I can do that?”, “I don’t want to do that”, or, “Why am I doing this?”, because you have someone to go to for answers. They can help you understand what to do when you have to adjust your training when life happens. They do the mental gymnastics of putting together your custom training plan for you so your only job is to show up ready to work. The best coaches don’t just fix your plan. They teach you how to adjust your plan with their guidance.

5. Personal Bests. The most common reason runners bring on a running coach is to run down a personal best. If you’re looking to run a PR or tackle a distance and finish strong, hiring a running coach is a great way to make that goal a reality. Simple as that. For the Badass Lady Gang, we love PR’s, but we love personal best effort more. I want you to define what that means to you and practicing it every single day.

There are so many reasons to hire a running coach but it’s expensive as hell! And, most people don’t actually need one. That’s why I created the BALG Team and our different training experiences.

By women, for women. That’s what we’re all about.

But do what’s right for you.

Hiring a running coach can help you break through barriers and build new skills but your coach isn’t going to run for you. You have to do the work. What you put into it is what you’ll get out of it.

Kickass, take names.