7 reasons to run with a coach

Author: Konstantin Vorontsov - athletic coach.
2017-08-08

Why learn to run when we have been doing it since childhood? No one has ever taught us this. First, we learned to crawl, then to walk, and finally to run. We can be taught to play the violin, ride a bike, swim, play basketball, read, or write, but teaching something we already know seems pointless, or are there some secrets involved? I will share these secrets and subtleties with you today.

1. The Technique of Running – the Foundation of Movement

Like in any sport, running has a concept known as running technique. To master it, it’s not enough to just watch videos on the internet or read dozens of articles and scientific papers on the topic. The knowledge gained must be solidified through practice. Even if you know perfectly well how to run correctly and safely, you will never be able to identify all your technical errors on your own. Only a coach will spot them while working with you.

Of course, you could use a video camera to record yourself while running, but correcting mistakes can be challenging. Most errors in running technique arise from disproportionate development of strength and elasticity in skeletal muscles, ligaments, and tendons in the musculoskeletal system, as well as from mistakes made in selecting equipment. Furthermore, technique also depends on the athlete's fitness level. The higher the fitness and level of the athlete, the fewer mistakes they will have. A coach can help assess this.

2. General Physical Preparation (GPT) – the Key to Developing Running Potential

Having an optimal level of general physical preparation (GPT) allows you to assume that all physical qualities and motor skills will support efficient running technique and comprehensive training of the runner. If you have a good understanding of the theory of physical culture and sports methodology, know what exercises to perform, in what amounts, and in what order, even in this case, you cannot do without a coach.

When performing various exercises, it is crucial to maintain proper technique. Without prior established motor skills, it’s hard to keep track of all the exercises during each training session. Without basic knowledge, it is difficult to account for your individual characteristics, identify the strength levels of various muscle groups, determine flexibility in joints and muscles, and evaluate the overall endurance of your body, as well as speed and agility indicators. A coach manages all these parameters and can best assess your level of preparedness. They understand which muscle groups need more strengthening, which should be toned, how to develop speed qualities, in what volumes, and with what recovery pauses, and how to monitor the recovery process during and after training, etc.

3. The Psychology of Running and Why It Matters

Dozens of books have been written on motivation for success, but there is still not a single one that considers all the questions arising during training. It is simply impossible to address all of this. A coach is not only someone who knows how and what to train but also a psychologist who helps you cope with difficulties, define your personal goals, and find the words to support you in challenging moments. Running is a cyclical sport during which a constant set of movements is performed. Hence, during running workouts, both physical and psychological qualities are developed. With each session, you become a more determined, hardworking, stress-resistant, and persistent individual. Believe me, this journey is hard to undertake alone. Go through it with a coach.

4. You Are What You Eat

Someone wise once said that we are what we eat. Excess energy from the food we consume is stored as extra weight in the body. A lack of this energy leads to dysfunctional failures in the body's systems. Therefore, each of us knows that rational nutrition is the key to success and an essential condition for recovery after physical exertion.

We become stronger after training, but to cement that strength, it is necessary to know what foods to eat and in what proportions. A knowledgeable specialist understands this and can precisely tell you which products to include in your diet and which to avoid. Of course, you can study this issue independently, but in the initial stages and with a serious attitude toward training, you will need a coach; otherwise, you will be overwhelmed by the abundance of information.

5. Sports Equipment – A Great Ally in Achieving Success

If you are a novice runner, you will find it challenging to navigate without the advice of a coach. What distance are you training for? What surface are you running on? What time of year? What time of day? Answering all these questions includes considerations about sports equipment. Nowadays, you can find dozens of articles on this topic online. However, it’s best to seek answers from a practitioner—an expert who has dedicated years to athletics and knows precisely what equipment to wear for competitions and what to wear for training. For example, a coach will consider the specifics of your body's preparation and not allow you to train in a light jacket when it’s below freezing because they know you haven’t built up enough endurance yet.

6. Training Locations as Another Factor for Success

Did you know that considering the places where you train can lead you to greater success? Constant workouts in your favorite location can eventually overwhelm your psyche, reducing the effectiveness of your training. Running on the same surface can lead to injuries over time. The musculoskeletal system adapts to loads in certain conditions, and a sudden change in surface can lead to injuries.

Only constant variations in training locations will allow you and your coach to continue growing and lower the risk of injury. In this regard, a coach understands best when to conduct training in a park, when to hit the road, and when to work on the track of a stadium. The choice of training locations will also affect the set of exercises included in the training.

7. Recovery and Rest

I have already mentioned recovery in the section about nutrition, but I would like to elaborate on it further. Planning and implementing recovery procedures is an essential part of the training process. Even if you are just taking your first steps into running, it might be beneficial to start with a visit to a massage therapist. The presence of muscle spasms is a common phenomenon in modern times. Regular stress, a lack of necessary macro- and micronutrients in the diet, and unbalanced training loads can lead to partial or complete dysfunction of specific skeletal muscle bundles.

A coach can identify this, and either independently or with the help of a qualified massage therapist, address this issue. Additionally, after intense workouts, the coach may advise you to undergo spa treatments, swim in a pool, replace running with cycling, or take a walk in the park, extend your recovery time from workouts, or prescribe a longer break from training. However, these activities should be planned in collaboration with the coach. Extended periods of rest do not always yield benefits, just as not having enough rest can be detrimental. Your coach should know and understand these processes.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that only collaborative, phased, and well-planned training with a coach will protect you from injuries, strengthen your health and well-being, inspire you to pursue new goals, diversify your workouts, and lead you to success. Do not experiment with your body if you do not know how to experiment, and trust your coach as you would trust yourself. Stay healthy!