Run Coaching
Whether you’re returning from an injury, training for your first 5KM or you’re a seasoned athlete looking to shave some time off a 100 mile event, there’s some quality work we can do together.
What to expect
A race distance is the same for everyone who signs up, but each individual's journey to the start line is completely different. This is the cornerstone of why having a coach may be the right decision for you.
It’s my job to help understand your life and then build a training plan that will not only push you to be stronger and achieve more, but make sure it’s not pulling you apart.
I help you understand the process, but more importantly how to love the process, even the bits that are hard. In fact, I’ll help you understand that hard is something we should move towards and not try to avoid.
Whether you’re returning from an injury, training for your first 5KM or you’re a seasoned athlete looking to shave some time off a 100 mile event, there’s some quality work we can do together.
Run Analysis & Race Preparation Consulting
Your run analysis will start with a brief run session on a treadmill that we will film so that we can review your current running style and technique and possibly find areas for improvement. There are some textbook norms we want to compare against but we all have our own particular features and quirks that we can work to optimize. Most of us have never seen ourselves run before, so we review all videos together and discuss how adjustments can and will lead to different results. We also review your current running shoes and discuss what's available and why you might potentially benefit from switching up or adding to your shoe collection.
Race preparation can take place at any time in the build up to your event. We discuss everything from kit choices, crewing details, how to predict your finishing time and how to deal with the mental battles. These conversations flow for around an hour and I'm happy to discuss any concerns you may have.
These services are available as an individual product or as a group package.
KIITD Badges
Starting in 2021 we commissioned a local artist to design a badge to celebrate our client's running successes. As most clients run in the Edmonton River Valley, we used details from there with the main feature being the White Tailed Deer which we often run into. Each year we design a new badge with the latest animal that our son Oliver has taken a shine to.
Run Coaching FAQs
-
We use TrainingPeaks to build/review your training plan. All clients start on a 3 month training package as this time frame allows us enough time to start seeing changes and improvements from your current status. You will get the most out of your training plan by providing me with routine check-ins about how the workouts and runs are feeling. I will always reach out to you to check-in at least once/month but I am available by text or phone at almost anytime if you have issues, concerns or just want to talk things through. Your words and feedback are the most important part in creating a successful training plan.
No two training plans are the same. Even if you are training for the same race and live in the same house, you have your own job to do and your own rate of progress. I will work with you to develop a plan that builds on your strengths and develops the areas of weakness.
If possible, a great addition to your training is a sports watch such as Garmin, Polar or Apple. This way your workouts and runs will upload directly to the TrainingPeaks App. If you are using Strava, we can also review your progress there.
-
I try to include as much as possible. I have over 20 years of experience racing and have now worked with 100s of clients. There's a great chance whatever needs resolving has been worked through before.
As well as the comprehensive run training program we will discuss what strength work to include and tips to help you avoid injuries. I'm also happy to coordinate training with your strength coach if you have one. One of my biggest goals for you is to ensure you get through training injury free. If an injury does sideline us, we discuss the quickest way to rehab. I offer sports massage, and I also work with a group of highly trained Physiotherapists and Kinesiologists that I am happy to refer you to and work in conjunction with to get you feeling your best.
We can discuss kit choices, including shoes as I used to work in a running store and I keep up to date with the latest offerings from manufacturers. Closely linked to this, we can review your current running shoes, and if you're in Edmonton we can do a running gait assessment to see if there's any areas we can make adjustments.
Nutrition is the grey area, we can talk about ways to tackle training and race day nutrition. I'll share with you what's worked/not worked for me in the past however day to day meal planning and general health nutrition is a very specialist field. I have a network of great nutritionists/dieticians should you need a referral.
-
You don't need any. Whilst I do coach clients that are training for anything from a 5KM personal best to 200 miles races, one of my areas of expertise is working with people just starting out. I still remember how it felt before my first 10KM event, and I love walking others through that process with new runners. Whichever stage you're at there's room to do things differently to get different results and push you to achieve your goals.
