Thinking back to my first marathon, I can’t believe how little I knew. For the entire race, I drank only water at aid stations, using no other fuel. It didn’t occur to me that having proper fitting run gear could make such a difference in performance. I wore an Anne Klein 3/4 sleeve t-shirt I routinely wore to work and a random pair of shoes I picked out mostly by color.
That was a long time and many marathons ago. Luckily, I finished and had a good enough experience that I signed up for another marathon, and then another. I actually got slower before I got faster. I made a lot of mistakes, and I had a few very rough races along the way.
Eventually I gathered up enough advice, read enough books, and learned a lot through trial and error, that I was able to take more than an hour off of my marathon time and qualify for Boston. I learned it is possible to run a marathon without hitting a wall with the right preparation and fueling. But I sometimes wonder how things might have gone if I’d had some guidance beyond a generic training plan and whatever articles I read on the internet for those first few marathons. It’s definitely one of my primary motivations for becoming a run coach. To help others make better decisions, find joy in training and racing, and to get more from their investment in running.
Back in August, I started working toward coaching certification through Road Runners Club of America. The program emphasized some of what I have gathered from years of training, racing, and reading books by some of the greats, but I learned new things too. The online courses covered a lot of ground: physiology, training, working with new and experienced runners, common injuries, nutrition, coaching styles and communication.
We got time to think through our personal coaching philosophy and practice writing training plans. My group really lucked out because NAZ elite coach Ben Rosario was in our co-hort. The teachers called on him often, and he freely shared some of the practices behind his team’s success. It was like having a bonus teacher. To complete the process, I had to pass an exam and get first aid and CPR certification. The email from Randy at RRCA saying, “Congrats, Coach!” was sweet indeed.
This run coaching journey actually started via my design and consulting business, Yes and Yonder (YAY). The City of Bloomington hired me to lead a retreat for their department heads representing all major branches of the city government (Mayor’s Office, Parks, Police, Fire, Sanitation, etc). Our goal: a little team building and a lot of strategy and ideation to plan for the next five years.
My project partner Devta asked about adding a mid-day movement break, like a walk or some stretches. Those days can be oh-so fulfilling, but also often entail a lot of sitting. I wholeheartedly believe in movement as a path to be more creative, but I didn’t feel comfortable leading something physical. It felt out of my scope. Yet, it planted a seed.
Why couldn’t I combine my love for running with my current business? I saw leadership retreats popping up where people climb a mountain or go for a run. I decided then I’d get certified and see where things landed. Maybe I could offer team or group run retreats.
I still haven’t fully shaped those offerings for YAY, but along the way decided coaching individuals would be personally fulfilling. It is something I can see doing into retirement, so why not get started now?
Starting in November, I’m offering one-on-one coaching to small number of athletes. If you’re interested in being a pilot athlete, please get in touch. You can also check out what comes with monthly coaching here. Whether new to running, preparing for a first marathon, or returning to the sport as a master athlete, I’m excited to help people find joy and strength through running. Here we go! Coach Sara, reporting for duty.