Frequently Asked Questions
What does an in person run coaching session entail? I’ve never heard of something like this.
Think of us as your on demand run buddy, form corrector, personal cheerleader, and training plan manager. We meet you at an agreed upon, convenient time, at a public location deemed safe (and typically populated) by us and you, We then put you through a proper dynamic warm up and explain the game plan for the day. The rest is on us! We run/walk alongside you and manage pace, rests, intervals, and form correction so that all you have to do is focus on putting one foot in front of the other. We read your body language to determine how much effort you’re putting in, and help you manage your breathing and heart rate accordingly. We also make sure you’re drinking water, especially if it’s a hot day. We finish by putting you through some cool down stretches and debriefing about the workout - what went right, and what we want to work on for next time. You then head off to the rest of your day, usually with some great endorphins!
Running is simple (and free). Can’t I just go run alone?
A lot of things are simple and could be done alone. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always get us out the door, at least not consistently enough to see progress. I believe that what we offer far exceeds just getting you more confident in your running. We are your biggest fan, your push on the workouts you don’t feel like doing, the solution finder to your pain points, and most importantly we’re your ears when you need to vent about your week.
What makes this better than joining a running group?
One of the best things about running is the community it fosters - locally in your neighborhood, and globally when you step up to that race start line. While so many run groups promise to be welcoming of all fitness levels, any true beginner knows the feeling of trying to keep up with the very back of the pack. There’s no worse feeling than being out of breath and still struggling to stay with everyone so that people aren’t waiting for you too long at the end. The community aspect feels hard to reach when you’re in that state of suffering. Hiring a private run coach accelerates your progress by completely tailoring each workout to you. For every struggle or issue that arises, you are met with a personalized solution in realtime. Once you’re confident, we happily encourage you to join the local run crew!
Can you guarantee me a Boston qualifying time or PR?
No, we can’t guarantee that your race is executed flawlessly, as a lot of factors go into that happening. That being said, we are 99.9% confident that fitness-wise, you will be ready to meet ANY physical goal we put the work in for together, based on a timeline we’ve thoughtfully orchestrated. I can’t think of a single runner we’ve worked with who hasn’t gotten the finish time they wanted.
How long are the sessions?
1 hour! 2 hours available upon request (i.e. long runs).
Do you run with me the whole time?
Yes! We plan and run the entire workout with you. We also warm up and cool down with you.
What if the weather sucks when we’re supposed to run?
We aren’t just coaches of your running, we’re coaches of your will power. Unless there’s thunder and lightning, or a meteor is headed our way, we’re going running :)
I can’t run for even 30 seconds yet. Can we start with walking?
This is the exact reason we’re here! Showing up is the only thing we ask of you in the beginning. We will work through a strategy for getting active, walking at varying speeds, and then eventually introduce running through the run/walk method. You’ll be running a mile straight in no time!
Can I also hire you guys for strength work?
Absolutely! Many of our clients enjoy doing both strength and running with us, as we can tailor the strength workouts to the run performance, as well as keep a close eye on any aches and pains with extra bodywork and form correction. Take the thinking out of your training plan by letting us handle it all.
What if I get hurt and can’t work out?
Our job as your coach is to troubleshoot and create an interim training approach. If we can’t run, we walk. If we can’t walk, we go to the gym and focus on upper body and core. If we can’t do any of that, your purchased sessions are good for a full year and we’ll pick back up as soon as you’re cleared!