The value of a training coach?

[Truck24hr]

Curious of your guys thoughts here. I'm considering a coach for for my training. I ran a 60k last month and failed miserably. I did finish, but not in the required time.

That experience made me question all the training I've done. So I've been wondering about hiring a trainer. Just looked at Uphill Athlete and it's not cheap. This is important to me though, and I don't expect expert advice and planning to be cheap.

I'm sure I could take the time and plan out my own training, and follow through, but I don't want to get 12 weeks deep and figure out it was all for naught.

I've got a late March marathon scheduled, and am planning on signing up for a 100 miler next October.

Thanks guys

 

[1jeds]

I've done both - "self coached" AKA reading a lot of books and listening to podcasts to create a plan mainly when I was road running, then switched to a coach for 3 years when I moved over to trail/ultras. The coaching I used was another big player in the space, comparable pricing to Evoke, who I also looked at when searching around.

I recently moved back to being self-coached as I feel like I have a pretty good grasp on what needs to be done, how to periodize ultra training, and felt I wasn't getting $350/month worth of value. I do not need any help with motivation or accountability, which is usually a big plus of a coach, as well as an objective view of the training.

It sounds like you're starting out, so consistency is going to be the biggest factor. Actually, it never stops being the biggest factor. I'd recommend trying out some of the Evoke training plans for trail - they offer a few different options. If you want to take it a step further you can do a phone consult or have them create a custom plan for a fraction of the cost.

Training plans Archive

evokeendurance.com

 

[aks]

As a personal trainer. Yes a trainer is worth it......if.... you don't know how to train, what to do, you need accountability, you don't want to study and schedule a program yourself, how to workout correctly, etc.
My schooling is honestly just all knowledge you can pick up yourself.
I use the example of painting a house, you can do it yourself, its just painting, but an experienced painter will have tips and tricks that may take years to pick up. But if you do enough studying and time painting. You can do it also.

With all that being said...... I basically motivate and spot people for a living lol

 

[DLSJR]

Curious of your guys thoughts here. I'm considering a coach for for my training. I ran a 60k last month and failed miserably. I did finish, but not in the required time.

That experience made me question all the training I've done. So I've been wondering about hiring a trainer. Just looked at Uphill Athlete and it's not cheap. This is important to me though, and I don't expect expert advice and planning to be cheap.

I'm sure I could take the time and plan out my own training, and follow through, but I don't want to get 12 weeks deep and figure out it was all for naught.

I've got a late March marathon scheduled, and am planning on signing up for a 100 miler next October.

Thanks guys

I’ll ask my daughter and her husband what they do. They’re both ultra trail runners, though my daughter hasn’t run longer than 50K so far. Her husband has run a couple 100 mile races, in fact he finished such a race a couple weeks ago in 22 hrs and 19 minutes IIRC. He’s qualified, but yet to be drawn for the Western States 100 so he runs portions of the trail every year to pace friends that are entered. We’re fortunate that we live near that race. I’ll ask them what they do and recommend.