Running Moms Don’t Need More Motivation, They Need a Better Training Strategy
5 Misconceptions About Using a Run Coach as a Mom
Do you feel stuck at the intersection of big goals and limited time with a speed bump of guilt thrown in for good measure? Find yourself eagerly supporting and instrumenting everyone else’s endeavors: driving kids to practice, buying gear for the next sport season, or pivoting when a partner's work schedule changes but try to fly solo when it comes to your running goals. Most moms would agree they’d be more likely to reach their running goal if they had a plan to follow that was built for them, based on their current fitness/ experience level and scheduling needs as well as support to adjust their training when a niggle pops up or kids get sick. Yet, they talk themselves out of working with a run coach for any number of reasons. As a run coach and physical therapist, I work primarily with busy moms to help them achieve their running goals, and I see so many of the beliefs that keep moms from working with a coach be the biggest reasons they would benefit from having one. If you’re a mom and runner that has wondered if coaching might help you or you feel a little stuck in your running, keep reading, and let’s debunk some of those beliefs that might be holding you back together.
“I’m not fast/serious enough to need a coach.”
Sometimes coaching feels like it’s marketed towards runners with goals like qualifying for Boston or running certain race times like a sub 4 marathon or sub 2 half. This can subtly make us feel like we need to “qualify” to work with a coach. We start to wonder if our goals are serious enough or if we are fast enough for coaching. In reality paces/distance are all relative. Coaching isn’t only about results, it’s about a process to help you train efficiently and establish a routine that really works for you. Having this process in place will give you confidence and fitness freedom and to set the goals you are excited about.
One of the coolest things about running is the variety of events available and honestly you don’t even need to sign up for an event to set a goal. It really can be about what you're excited about and what fits with the current season of life you’re in.
Many of the athletes I work with are coming off of an injury so that initial goal is to get back to training pain and injury free. It’s so fun to see what sparks their interest from there; I’ve had women go from that on to training for their first half marathon. Using a coach can help you find a process that works for you and feels sustainable and it might surprise even you what you think about going for once you have a process that really works for you.
“I should be able to figure this out myself.”
With so many resources and apps out there that I should be able to find a plan that will work or piece something together. The challenge with DIYing your plan isn’t a lack of information but how to actually apply and figure out what is best for you.
Becoming a mom changes a lot: Our physiology, schedules, capacity to recovery, and our bandwidth for decision making all shift are all impacted by parenthood and are different for everyone. How many parenting experts do you follow or books have you read? What happens when the information conflicts or you try it but it doesn’t seem to actually work for your kid. Or maybe it worked for one kid but not the other. Like parenting, running and training come down to actually applying and doing the thing and this can take some trial and error. Coaching isn’t about taking over, it’s about shortening the trial and error phase of figuring out what will work best for you and your training as a mom. It leverages the experience of someone who has helped others do what you want to do and actually helps you apply the principles to your unique situation.
Getting help isn’t weakness, it’s resource management and being efficient instead of muddling through trial and error.
“I’m barely getting training in as it is, I don’t have time for coaching.”
Coaching can feel overwhelming when you are already feeling time pressure with your running. Figuring out when to squeeze in coaching sessions, checking in, and maybe feeling added pressure to get workouts in when things get crazy can feel intimidating when you’re already busy.
In reality coaching saves you time by making sure your training is effective and including things that will move the needle for you. It also cuts down on time spent deciding what to do everyday or adjusting a plan that wasn’t really built for you in the first place. A coach who gets what it’s like to train as a mom isn’t there to judge when you miss a workout but wants to be in your corner when the schedule gets hairy and help you shift things and decide what to prioritize or adjust.
Imagine having someone to turn to when sick kids throw a wrench in your peak week of training and then just getting to see the new plan on your phone instead of going back and forth in your head about how to make up for lost miles.
“Running isn’t my job, it seems excessive to spend money on coaching.”
Moms feel the pull to put everyone else first. We might not hesitate to make sure our kids have what they need but think twice about doing something for ourselves. I am reminded of this whenever I put underwear away and realize a good majority of mine have been in my life longer than my husband.
It can also feel a little wild to invest in an activity that really is just for fun and maybe one you’re not even sure you’re all that great at yet. But if we stop for a minute: Have your kids played a youth sport? Wasn’t investing in a league and coach one of the first steps? Did you even think twice about getting a new bat and glove or shin guards?
We don’t even hesitate to invest in our kids being active, learning lessons through sport, working on new skills, and making it enjoyable. Imagine the signal you’d send if they got to see YOU model working towards your own goals and being active in this same way.
“I don’t want to waste my money or a coach’s time when I miss workouts or end up getting injured.”
Struggling to make it through a training cycle and fear of another injury getting in the way of actually doing the work a coach puts together for you might feel like a barrier.
If you’ve struggled with consistency in the past, especially if pain or injury were part of the reason, you would likely get the most benefit of working with a coach, particularly one who comes with a background of being a physical therapist.
Pain or injury are just signs that you need to be more aware of how you're progressing your training loads, integrating strength and mobility work into your training, and have the flexibility in your program to adjust to any small niggles before they limit your progress. In my experience runners need someone to guide them when an extra day off is actually going to help them move forward.
Having a coach who can talk through your training and injury history and truly find the right place to start for you and your body are key and something that is really hard to get out of a pre made plan or a training app. Those things just aren’t designed to really get a sense of where you are as a runner and can lead to pain or injuries even though someone feels like they are just following their plan.
Which of these beliefs have you held?
Running and being a mom can work together and even benefit each other. The right support makes goals more realistic. More on your plate doesn’t make it impossible, it just means you need to be more purposeful with the time you have to train. Pain doesn’t mean anything about you as a runner, just that you haven’t found the approach that works for you.
If you’re ready to make a change in your running and want support, book a strategy call, and let’s talk about how joining Run-Resilient could help you take the next step towards your running goals.
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Katlyn
