So I am training for the Chicago Marathon this fall, which will be my fifth one (but first in several years). My marathon times range from 3:22 to 3:34 with fairly low mileage (I don’t think I’ve ever cracked 40 miles in a week during my training programs). Due to the pandemic I have focused almost exclusively on running and have significantly increased my weekly mileage (45-50 a week, with at least one 10+ miler every week). My goal is to qualify for Boston, which based on my two fastest times (albeit when I was younger) should be realistic (my qualifying time is 3:25). All that said, I think I want to get a marathon coach this time—given my fitness level I think this may be my best opportunity to qualify, and I want to maximize my chances.
I think basically I am looking for somehow to help me structure a training program that is 100% personalized for me—I do nearly all of my running early in the morning given work/family commitments, and track workouts really aren’t convenient (I’m not even sure if they are necessary, but once again that’s where a coach would come in). Virtual coaching is perfectly fine, although I would love to be able to have an occasional phone call.
I would appreciate any and all recommendations. And if your thinking “Why are you posting this here instead of Letsrun?†let’s just say the politics of that website just don’t work for me. Thanks in advance for your assistance!
You don’t need a coach, you just need to follow a plan. I’ve had good experience with Higdon, there are a few different options so you can choose what works for you. Hanson is another option, that might be worth looking into. People might be predisposed to different plans, but I honestly think >90% of the battle is just sticking to a plan.
You do need to be prepared to run more miles for a BQ though, imo. Happy to give more guidance based on my own experience if you have specific questions. Good luck with BQ.
why a coach? its not that difficult. go to a book store buy a marathon training book and go running. with all due respect you are not training for the bloody olympics.
Thank you for the replies. Allow me to clarify. I don’t NEED a coach, but I WANT a coach. As I mentioned in my original post this will be my fifth marathon and while I have generally been pleased with my results given my low mileage (and 100% understand I will need to run more, which I am already doing in my base training), I am looking for guidance to help maximize my chances of running a BQ. Could I do it myself by just following a Higdon plan? Sure (and I am reading his book right now). That said, this may be my last marathon for awhile and I just want to make sure I’m not leaving anything on the table in terms of preparation. BTW, I’m a longtime triathlete and find it surprising in a sport where MOP’ers think nothing of spending several thousand on a bike and race wheels that the notion of springing once for a coach is somehow considered extravagant…
why a coach? its not that difficult. go to a book store buy a marathon training book and go running. with all due respect you are not training for the bloody olympics.
Coach here… no, I’m not taking new clients and won’t be for a long time, so you can eliminate that bias.
“Why a coach?”
Why an accountant, not turbotax?
Why a counselor and not a self-help book?
Why a doctor and not WebMD?
Why hire any professional? Because they can plan for you, provide support, and be a subject matter expert on-demand.
To OP, there will be someone along here soon who DM’s you an offer of their services.
I came to triathlon from running. I did Hanson’s program for 4 marathons. I did get faster and liked the simplicity of that plan. However, my goal was to break 3 hours and I wasn’t successful. I hired Janet Cherobon from VDOT coaching (Jack Daniels) and she coached me to sub-3 in my very next marathon. That next year I went on to PR in 5K, 10K, 10 mile, and HM. I highly recommend her. She coached me “virtually†with emails weekly, but also text and phone “as needed†which wasn’t often. I am loving triathlon training, but I really miss those days with Janet. Feel free to DM if you want any more info. or want to discuss.
why a coach? its not that difficult. go to a book store buy a marathon training book and go running. with all due respect you are not training for the bloody olympics.
Coach here… no, I’m not taking new clients and won’t be for a long time, so you can eliminate that bias.
“Why a coach?”
Why an accountant, not turbotax?
Why a counselor and not a self-help book?
Why a doctor and not WebMD?
Why hire any professional? Because they can plan for you, provide support, and be a subject matter expert on-demand.
To OP, there will be someone along here soon who DM’s you an offer of their services.
Look, I get it. You (and many other coaches) have knowledge, experience, expertise, etc. that others do not have. And, some people will pay for that service. Go for it. Provide that service and make a living. However, in the grand scheme of things, do you seriously think being a coach to amateur athletes and weekend warriors is on par with an accountant, counselor, or doctor?
I do not think that is his point. I think his point is you can read books and train for a marathon yourself (just like you can do your own taxes, read books on therapy, or try to self diagnose using the Internet), but a marathon coach/accountant/counselor/doctor has the training and experience that will likely lead to a better outcome. As for me, I have coached myself to four fairly respectable marathon times, but I feel like working with an experienced, knowledgeable coach would give me a better chance of getting over the hump and qualifying for Boston. For example, part of the reason I have previously been wary of running a lot of miles in my marathon training is because I have had injury problems pretty much as long as I have run (including when I ran competitively in high school and college). I think a marathon coach could help me safely ramp up my mileage without hurting myself.
…do you seriously think being a coach to amateur athletes and weekend warriors is on par with an accountant, counselor, or doctor?
If you have had the same experience as I have had with coaches in my life, I can understand why you would feel this way, and even think that coaches are pretty bottom rung when it comes to contributors to society. Just leeching money from wealthy folks who want white glove treatment or providing a low-value recreation service.
My answer to your question is absolutely yes. And I have data to back it up.
Look, I get it.
Do you really? Or are you just trying to make it sound okay when you tell me it’s okay to make a living? Sympathy feigned or genuine is unnecessary and condescending here.
You (and many other coaches) have knowledge, experience, expertise, etc. that others do not have. And, some people will pay for that service. Go for it. Provide that service and make a living.
Should I shine your shoes while I’m busy earning my living?
Perhaps you can suggest a higher societal value service that I can offer so I can go beyond just making a living.
However, in the grand scheme of things do you seriously think being a coach to amateur athletes and weekend warriors is on par with an accountant, counselor, or doctor?
It’s easier to see how insulting this question is when I imagine it directed at someone with less thick skin than me. You devalue 9 years of post-high school education and a year of clinical internship that has allowed a colleague of mine to be meaningfully transformative in the lives of the clients she serves.
You’re talking specifically about my wife now. Congrats. You’ve rubbed me the wrong way.
**Do you want to rescind and apologize for the condescension hurled at all coaches, including my wife? **
I’ll politely accept an apology, or a more polite reframing of your inquiry that is more targeted at why I might draw such analogies and deem them fair and reasonable or redirects it some other way. I think that might be the most useful approach.
Try A personalized plan that adapts to you after each training session. AI can give you just as good or better feedback than a coach that may or may not know you that well. I ran a 2:22:07 using 2PEAK
There are plenty of good options when it comes to running coaches. You can look locally and maybe you even have a Chicago Marathon Coached Training Group. We have one of those where I live. If you are more interested in one on one than start at McMillan Running. Greg McMillan is the best resource period for age group running and specifically BQ.
I think logella has a point. If you’ve lived a little, you probably have spent years honing your professional skills and educated yourself along the way to improve your position/income/title or even wellbeing. I sold food and wine and can honestly say what I did wasn’t on the level of accountant/doctor/counselor. People came to me for advice every day. They also came to me and made their own decisions. Either way was fine by me. It’s just food and wine.
Looking at your reply it appears you have thinner skin than you realize. And based on your handle and signature, you might have a pretty high opinion of yourself. It’s just exercise, in the end.
I am absolutely, infinitely, fallible. As are the best in my field. But no more so than an accountant, counselor, or MD.
It’s just exercise in the end" The scientific literature is not on your side here. And it matters to readers, especially those just lurking here and reading.
“Therefore, this evidence-based Consensus Document proposes further work to encourage and develop more frequent use of personalized exercise prescription to optimize lifestyle interventions for the prevention and treatment of hypertension.”
Both large breadth and magnitude of positive health outcomes come from coaching (the kind that uses science). It’s extremely well-evidenced. It’s becoming part of the medical field.
Changing someone’s long-term health outcomes with ongoing support and education is about as high-value as it gets.
I could care less if an apology is issued to me. But let’s at least be intellectually honest and rescind or revise statements like
in the grand scheme of things, do you seriously think being a coach to amateur athletes and weekend warriors is on par with an accountant, counselor, or doctor?
because, it matters. That dogma needs to die.
Here, I’ll do it:
“Could you tell me why you think being a coach to general population folks is on par with being an accountant, counselor, or physician?”
Sure. Because exercise & nutrition are preventive medicine and a personalized and educational approach is well-evidenced to create better outcomes than when folks are left unguided.
I have used coaches in past marathons and have gone it myself. My suggestion is to find a local coach. I have had less success with going with those big national coaches than I have with finding a good, local, marathon focused coach. They might even recommended some local races or courses to help you prepare. The pros of getting a coach is accountability, the cons are the lack of flexibility (you are paying them to tell you what to do).
I’m sure you know this, but if you intend to run Boston you need -5 minutes so a 3:20.
Those bastards lowered the qualifying times again, which is the second time in my “marathoning” career. Some people may be able to pop BQ times off without an effort, but I’ve struggled mightily. We are very similar age and ability – 3:16:42 PR 15 years ago 43 seconds away from BQ.
I’m with you regarding the positives of coaching. My swim coach improved my IM swim and made me more confident in the water. I used a coach for speedwork and it got me to actually run fast as normally I run at a casual+ pace. Coaching also can leverage your triathlon ability/cross-training – swim coaches with no tri experience tend to love kicking.
Having run Chicago twice it is not my favorite race, but enjoy yourself.
I’m sure you know this, but if you intend to run Boston you need -5 minutes so a 3:20.
Those bastards lowered the qualifying times again, which is the second time in my “marathoning” career. Some people may be able to pop BQ times off without an effort, but I’ve struggled mightily. We are very similar age and ability – 3:16:42 PR 15 years ago 43 seconds away from BQ.
I’m with you regarding the positives of coaching. My swim coach improved my IM swim and made me more confident in the water. I used a coach for speedwork and it got me to actually run fast as normally I run at a casual+ pace. Coaching also can leverage your triathlon ability/cross-training – swim coaches with no tri experience tend to love kicking.
Having run Chicago twice it is not my favorite race, but enjoy yourself.
Best of luck.
Wait—is the 50-54 year old qualifying time no longer 3:25? I am 49 now but will hit the big 5-0 just a few weeks before Chicago. My first two marathons were Chicago (I also did New York and Marine Corps) and I’m a fan—but then again I love the city as well as flat as a board marathon courses
The scientific literature is not on your side here. And it matters to readers, especially those just lurking here and reading.