If you follow me on Instagram, you may know that I am training to become a running coach. If you had asked me 4 years ago if I would ever see myself being a runner, let alone a running coach, I would have falling off my seat laughing. Nope, back then it was certainly not something I ever saw myself doing, yet here I am – funny how life changes.

In 2017, I found an online marathon coaching certificate that I really wanted to do. At that time I was thinking more for my own knowledge rather than being a coach, but after being a clinic instructor at the Running Room, I found something that combines two of my favourite things – running and telling people what to do.  It wasn’t until 2018 that I signed up and got cracking on the workload (and let me tell you, this course is full on comprehensive, with an exam, case study, first aid course, and coaching a volunteer client!).

Over the past 10 weeks I have been training with my fabulous client.  It has been INCREDIBLE watching her fitness and running pace improve.   We’d meet each week to run, and during those runs I would jabber on constantly (she was no doubt fed up with all my chat), but we’d talk about pace, aches, foam rolling, tricks I use to help me through difficult runs, and race day prep.  I’m sure my husband was glad that I had an outlet to get all these running facts out, rather than boring him with them.

Race day was today. I was so nervous, like a proud parent taking their kid to a school sports day – only in this scenario, the kid picked me up and drove me there, and she is also around the same age as me – but you get the gist.  Although I have run many races in the last 3.5 years, I have never been at the start of a race as a spectator. It was strange not taking part in the race as a runner, but I still had that nervous pre-race energy.  Once the horn went off and she crossed the start line, I was so excited for her; she had worked so hard for this. I was ecstatic seeing her come through the trees down towards the finish line with her batman cape billowing in the wind (it was a superhero themed race).  I couldn’t have been more proud; she really crushed it, and got a huge PB!

Now the race is over with, the training doesn’t stop; we have 2 weeks of recovery running.  No matter the race distance, recovery is so important – this is the time for your body to recuperate after all the hard work it has put in.  Once the recovery training is over with, I’ll then submit my 12 week training pack, and hopefully come December I will be a certified running coach.  I’ll be able to take clients on, ranging from Learn to Run, right up to the Marathon.  So if you are thinking of getting a coach in 2019 to crush your race goals or to help motivate you to get back into running, then give me a shout. I will post coaching details online later this year, and don’t worry if you don’t live close to me, there will be remote coaching available too.

Happy to answer any coaching questions, give me a shout.

Coach G

Want to read more?

• Check out my other movement, nourishment and wellness blog posts.
• Join my VIP mailing list focusing on movement, nourishment and wellness, by signing up here.
• Follow me on Instagram or Facebook.