Why I decided to become a running coach!

So… why did I decide to become a running coach? Or ‘Coach in Running Fitness’, as it’s called by United Kingdom Athletics.

Well, the short answer is that I initially didn’t plan to! I had been running for a couple of years under the guise of my own coach, Kerry Newell, and I decided that easy runs were boring and Strength and Conditioning was painful… so I always ran quick and never did S&C. Guess what? By ignoring my coaches advice, I got injured. Lots.

So I decided the best way to understand the reasons behind specific sessions / runs, and the benefits of complimentary training like cross-training, yoga, and S&C, was to do the Leader in Running Fitness and Coach in Running Fitness qualifications. Because what I needed in my life was definitely more things to do of an evening / weekend….

What changed?

A couple of months after deciding to embark on this journey I joined London City Runners - taking part in their regular Wednesday Track sessions. I love these sessions - seeing 100+ people on a track in one night committing themselves to hard training in all weathers, just so they can go and smash their next race. So I thought, ‘why not begin helping out?’

My desire to help out on track Wednesdays (disclaimer… my job is very hectic, and I’m often required to go to Parliament last minute, meaning I’m not able to help at London City Runners as much as I’d like!) quickly led into the idea of privately coaching athletes.
I’ve always been obsessed with my PB’s, position in races, and generally wanting to be quicker, and know that many other runners, no matter their ability, are similarly-minded. The ability to work with such runners, particularly when I have such a great resource as the DRT Performance Lab, is what inspired me to establish DRT Coaching.

Reflections on the Leader in Running Fitness course / qualification

I completed my Leader in Running Fitness qualification in January 2023, after studying the online material, attending virtual workshops, and submitting a video of myself coaching a group of athletes at London City Runners. It wasn’t an exhaustive process, as it is mainly aimed at those who will work alongside a qualified Coach in Running Fitness, however gave a good grounding for the subsequent ‘CiRF’ qualification I’m currently undertaking.

My main reflection, having spoken to a Coach who attending the LiRF course in person as opposed to online like me, is that I wish I did the in-person course instead! The contact time with UK Athletics tutors is invaluable, and you can get everything done (except the pre-course reading which is done on Moodle) in one day.

For me, not having any running friends, the coaching video would’ve been literally impossible to had I not had Natascha and Rich from LCR. You need 1 person on the camera, one Coach in Running Fitness supervising, and a group of 4-5 athletes to do the video. That’s 7 people! I don’t even have that many friends, let alone friends who run!

Reflections on the Coach in Running Fitness course / qualification

Okay, so I’m only part way through this process at the moment, having completed the pre-course online modules and attended the first and second day of training at the Julie Rose Stadium. But, my thoughts on the course so far:

The weekend was led by a couple of great tutors from UK Athletics, however no amount of fun engagement could make up for the fact that it was freezing cold, and the room that we were in didn’t have any heating. Not a great start.
It consisted of a number of talks and workshops, interspersed with various coaching exercises throughout the day to practice what we were being taught…and also to get us warm, cos that room was bloody freezing.

The exercises were a great way to practice our observation and analysing skills, however as a rather avid athlete myself it was slightly demoralising to have one’s running form picked apart by a bunch of strangers! Oh well, one to learn from and take back to the coach… At least i know now!

The day ended around planning micro, meso, and macrocycles - exciting stuff. This is what I’d been looking forward to, and it was brilliant to have a chance to put this into action with the athlete I’m going to be coaching as part of this course, who’s currently in training for the Edinburgh marathon (another nemesis of mine…)

My coaching philosophy

For me, coaching is about helping athletes get fitter, stronger, and faster. I want my athletes to be driven by the desire to improve their personal bests, and be prepared to work hard to achieve it. I am here to support athletes in this journey, write bespoke training plans tailored to their experience, needs and goals, analyse their form and performance in the DRT Performance Lab, and provide tailored Strength and Conditioning plans to compliment their running.

Ultimately, it is for individual athletes to drive their own success. However, I aim to be a partner on their journey, guiding them and providing a comprehensive coaching package that considers the athlete as a whole, and puts their needs and goals at the center of the plan. By utilising data gathered in the monthly / bi-monthly assessments, I’ll create bespoke plans that enable the athlete to achieve their goals, and become fitter, stronger, and faster.

What I intend to offer as part of my coaching package

I’ve given this a lot of thought (and investment!) - specifically thinking ‘What do I want from my own training, and how can I provide this for my clients?’. The answer? a lot!

Obviously, athletes will receive a bespoke training plan every four weeks, that is tailored to their current level of fitness, weekly mileage, and goal. This will act as a guide, however will be updated as and when should injuries arise, or if work means running needs to take a step back that week. This plan will also include cross training (I’m a huge fan of cross-training on the bike as it develops muscles not used in running, and is 0 impact!), yoga / Pilates / stretching, as well as a fully tailored Strength and Conditioning plan to compliment their running.

We’ll have bi-weekly calls to discuss training, progress, any issues etc, and I’ll be available on WhatsApp 24/7 for support and advice.

The best part? The DRT Performance Lab! If you’re based in / near London, you’ll have monthly access to the DRT Performance Lab.
As part of the coaching package, you’ll receive a monthly / bi-monthly lactate threshold test on the Technogym Skillrun Unity 5000 treadmill. This test will also produce metrics such as your cadence, Ground Contact Time, flight time, and stride length, as well as allowing me an opportunity to observe and analyse your running form. You’ll also undertake a short test using the WattBike Atom, which will help inform of any imbalances between your right and left leg.

By frequently gathering and tracking this data, I will not only use it to inform your next months running training plan, however it will also be used to inform your Strength and Conditioning plan, and cross-training activities such as yoga etc.

We’ll also use this time in the DRT Performance Lab to go over exercises in your S&C plan, and discuss anything you want!

Equipment:

• Technogym Skillrun Unity 5000 slatted treadmill

• WattBike Atom

• Rowing machine

• Lactate Pro 2 blood lactate monitor

• Force plates

• Power rack

• Barbell & weights

• Free weights

• Multi-gym (inc. leg press)

To round up

To round up, I set out looking for answers to my own questions, but have come away with a desire to help other, similarly minded athletes to achieve their own goals through a comprehensive coaching package that is fully tailored to them, the athlete.

If you’re interested, keep tabs on the blog and on Instagram, and once coaching slots become available I’ll let you know!