So why work with a coach when there are plenty of (free) training plans out there? The question answers itself. In 5+ years of running, had I picked a plan and followed it fully? No. And even if I had picked a plan and followed it, would I have had full confidence it was a good plan for me? Probably not, I would have been constantly second guessing the plan, dipping into other (easier) plans, and never really being sure about what I was doing.
But I can only imagine because the truth is I never had a full plan, just some weekly mileage goals. I enjoyed long, slow runs enough that I could pile on the mileage and tell myself that was “good enough.” And besides, all that speed work in plans sounded like—work!
Sure, I notched plenty of weeks with 40 and 50 miles. And after four years of coach-less running I managed a sub-4 hour marathon. I enjoyed it all and don’t regret those years (and two further years of coach-less running). But at some point I wasn’t growing as a runner, I wasn’t reinforcing good form and habits, and I was spending much more time training than I needed for the results I was getting.
So I made the jump and started working with Jimmy. He did two main things for me:
1. Having a coach finally got me into an actual training plan with the full range of mileage and speed work that every serious runner simply has to do.
2. Most importantly, having a coach relieved me of the effort and uncertainty of making training decisions on my own. I could just trust each week’s training plan as Jimmy set it out, hit each day’s runs with clarity and confidence, and be motivated to put in the hard work (and, yes, it is hard work!) even on the tough speed work days. Having Jimmy as a coach allowed me to focus confidently on just the things that would actually help me improve as a runner.
And of course there’s nothing like being accountable to another actual human being to help stay motivated. As far as style goes: Jimmy is pretty much 100% positive, low-key, flexible, super encouraging, and specific without being micromanaging. My occasional missed runs and such were no big deal to him, we just chalk it up and move on. I always looked forward to communication with him.
I should mention that Jimmy didn’t press me on everything I needed to learn, and he did not insist that he had all the best ideas or anything like that. He left lots of room for me to learn things on my own, experiment, pick up things from others, and try different things. That being said, Jimmy has read and thought about a ton of the running and training literature. He also rubs shoulders with all kinds of active competitive runners. So working with Jimmy gives you access to a really wide body of experience and knowledge.
When you think about all the hours of training we runners do, the expense of shoes and gear, and the potential for just a better running experience, surely the modest cost of coaching is well worth it! And especially when really wonderful coaches like Jimmy are ready, willing, and able to help you.
Update:
For two years after formally working with Jimmy I continued to train and then recently ran a solid Boston Qualifying time. I mostly followed the Jack Daniels “Marathon Training Plan A” plus 2-3x/week core and leg workouts. I firmly believe my training season with Jimmy gave me the mindset and experience to make effective use of a published training plan.
On paper there’s no mystery to such plans. But in practice I think it takes some years of experience to get good at different kinds of workouts, to gauge how your body is responding at different points in the training, and to fully believe in your training. Having at least one coached season gives you a solid foundation in all that, as well as a baseline of effort and results to compare with in later seasons.
Even after our formal work together Jimmy stayed in touch and kept encouraging me. When I finally BQed he was one of the first people I told!
Russell Yee,
Oakland, California
First marathon: 4:54, age 49
Most recent marathon: 3:26 (BQ -9 min), age 57
Russell Yee 