Last June, just as marathon training was starting to kick in, I decided to get a coach. I had been thinking about it for a while, but then the opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t resist.
Meet Erin. She lives in Wyoming. She’s a marathoner and a mom…OF 12 KIDS. No, that’s not a typo. Twelve. In the past three years, she’s gone from being 75 lbs. overweight to running a 3:17:00 marathon. She’s…say it with me now…a badass!
I happened upon her blog about a year ago when I was researching running shoes. She’s a Brooks-sponsored runner, and when I googled “Brooks shoe reviews” her blog came up. I was immediately intrigued…how does she train with 12 kids? I’ll leave it to her blog to answer that question, but I loved reading about her training. I’m a total gadget geek – as my running BF Mary could tell you (Holla Mary!) I’ll be the one say things like, Wait! That split was too fast, we should pull back, or Hey! We had a 1000 foot elevation change! Or If we get started at 4:15 and run a 10:00 pace we should be able to pick up Jen at mile 2.5 at approximately 4:50…you get the idea. Well, I get sucked into Erin’s posts because she writes about her splits and her training details and such. She’s total numbers nerd and I say that with undying love and admiration.
So one day, she writes a post about now being USATF certified coach, and that she’s taking new clients. Now I’m not a spontaneous person, but that very second I wrote her back, we worked out the details, and here I am…53 days away from the marathon and my training is going very well. Truthfully, probably better than I could manage on my own. I know I could “do a plan”, but I wouldn’t be as fast, focused, or as happy as I am now, I’d bet ya.
The “virtual” aspect of this was perfect. I didn’t necessarily need a coach that would meet me at the track 2x per week, or consult with me just once and be done. I needed someone who could come up with a marathon training plan based on my goals (finish uninjured and smiling) and hold me accountable throughout the plan. We’ve had a few phone check-ins, but mostly we communicate via email and through a Google Docs spreadsheet that she created for me. The plan is on the spreadsheet, then I record what I did and how I felt each run. I’m running 4x per week, and cross-training on the other days when I can. It’s turned into a really wonderful diary of my training – something that I can look back on and see how far I’ve come when I’m feeling unworthy. She coaches me through my “maintenance” injuries – tight hamstrings, plantar fasciitis, hatline acne (JK on the hatline acne, but seriously. Hatline acne sucks.) and is giving me advice as I seek out my perfect running shoe. And because she’s a mom, she totally gets that sometimes, the plan has to change due to kid/family stuff. Awesome!
One of the bonus parts is that she’s running the NY marathon also – which means that we will get to meet in person! I’m so excited – other than the marathon itself it will be a highlight of the weekend.
I know that by the time November 4th rolls around, I’ll be well prepared. She helped me strike the right balance in training between over-training and under-training, finding that “sweet spot”, that so far, has worked well and is going get me across the finished line. BOOM!
Check out Erin at www.seemomrunfar.blogspot.com. Run on, friends!
Very cool! And good luck in your marathon!!
Thank you for reading!
this is awesome Nancy!
You are too sweet! And you are doing awesome in your training. Fellow number geeks – unite! 🙂
Can’t wait to meet you in NY and give you a big hug!!
Just stopping by after following some breadcrumbs here. Erin is a beast of a runner and angel of a person and an inspiration, so great choice. And saw your twitter profile; cool combo of: teacher, runner, writer, and coffee drinker. I am running new york as well. See you there.
Awesome! Good luck!!
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