Living and learning go hand in hand.   Opinions evolve as does your experiences grow.   When I first started running, I knew of a couple of people that had running coaches.   I thought to myself….. What a waste.    I know.  I know.   I’ve evolved now.   I understand that there is more to running than putting on running shoes.   I also understand that you don’t need to be an elite runner to have a coach anymore than you need to be a professional bodybuilder to have a personal trainer.   I didn’t think of it that way.    I apologize to my hopefully new running coach.

I get it now.

No, I do not have to be an elite athlete.

No, I do not need to plan to “win” any races.

(Although, lets be honest for us mere mortals showing up at the starting line is a win).

No, I do not need to think that I am suddenly a top of the packer.

What I am though is someone who wants to improve.

I am someone who is smart enough to know that there is a whole Hell of a lot of things that I don’t know.

I am someone who has a full race schedule coming up that found a little overwhelming.

I am someone who is striving to do better than I did yesterday.

That is all.

No more.

No less.

My epiphany came when I realized that a cookie cutter plan would not work for me.   I have had personal trainers in the past at the gym.   No one though twice about that.   This is no different.   Instead of teaching me routines to use at the gym though, she will help me get the most out of each run.

I will say that after our initial chat today that I am frightened especially when she said she will build my running up to 40 miles a week.   WHAT!?!     She, as most coaches, takes this seriously which I should hope so since this is her job.   She knows what she’s talking about too having just completed her 3rd Boston Marathon and now a week later getting ready to run Big Sur Marathon.    I hope I am up for the challenge.

It will be nice for change not to have to figure out if I am following the right plan as she will create a plan just for me:)    It will be nice just to focus on the task at hand.

If all goes well we will start in the beginning of May which is only a week away.   She seems to think that with my past results it might be possible for me to get a 4:30 at the Marine Corps Marathon, but that seems out of my league right now.   I guess that’s why we are starting the training now.

Wish me luck.

Have you ever had a Running Coach?