Some Thoughts On Online Coaching

I originally thought the idea wouldn't work.  When I first read that there were coaches out there that coached distance runners through the internet it seemed counter intuitive.  How can an athlete train and compete without seeing his coach everyday?  Well, after a couple years of working with runners online I can tell you that it not only can work, but you can actually train these athletes very effectively.

To be fair, there is a major prerequisite to training on your own.  You have to be highly motivated.  That is the crucial element.  A non-motivated athlete will rarely get out to do a run if there is any excuse to stay in.  A runner looking to be his best will make the online coaching routine work mainly because they have eliminated all their other options.  Remember, mediocrity is a choice, and unless you have chosen to a special athlete, training on your own will be a chore you won't do well.  Almost everybody needs a coach so working with an online coach is better than nothing.  

The best part of training the highly motivated runner online is you can change around a schedule much more easily.  What I mean is that most teams are constrained by school schedules and large teams to organize.  A runner who only has to focus on himself or a small group can much readily change a workout when weather is an issue, or if something important comes up that requires a run to be delayed to a late evening run.  There is also more flexibility on which days to run which workouts.

Alberto Salazar is one of the nations top professional coaches.

I'm not going to sugarcoat the situation, though.  Running with a coach in person will usually yield the best results since the coach can interact with you face to face, see your body language, and know when you need to work harder or back off.  Usually what I find is that the athletes who need the online coaching are ones that come from areas where finding a knowledgeable running coach is difficult.  Perhaps their school doesn't have a dedicated cross country or track coach, or perhaps even their region is an area where the sport is not emphasized.  In these situations working with an online coach is light years better than "going it your own." 

Most recently I coached an athlete on my club team, Southern Athletics, solely via the web.  I have coached adults in the past who were training for half marathons and 10ks simply through correspondence as well.  The fact of the matter is that everyone needs to pursue being coached if their goals are competitive in nature.  Don't settle; find someone who is going to get you to the next level.  For those looking for that help, stay tuned.  The website will be getting a webstore a few other features soon to aid those who are in need of coaching direction.