Comments on: Throw Out Your Stock Training Plan: The Top 4 Reasons You Need a Coach

By: Five Running Tips for Beginners

Five Running Tips for Beginners — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:55:31 +0000

[...] race is as much an art as it is a science. This is one of the reasons I’m not a fan of cookie-cutter training plans that aren’t based on your own personal history. Custom training plans just work [...]

By: Fitz

Fitz — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 16:07:39 +0000

Hey Bill, thanks for the comment! I know what you mean – we have similar times and I always am far out of the ranges described in these plans. Running is so personalized that stock plans almost always need to be changed for them to be of any benefit.

Good coaching can be hard to find, but here are reputable coaches that I either personally know or trust: Greg McMillan (www.mcmillanrunning.com), Lowell Ladd (www.2lcoaching.com), and Bryon Powell (www.irunfar.com). And I also offer a few different coaching options depending on what you’re looking for.

By: Bill

Bill — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 15:24:07 +0000

I’ve never found any value in those plans as they assume parameters that are the same for everyone. I’ve also always laughed over the years at the descriptions in most plans for mileage or background. I’ve read many books that read advanced 5k sub 17:00: runs 7 days a week, 50-70 mpw, etc. I could never look at those since I ran 15:41 for 5k and 1:13:50 for a half both on 30 mpw. If you line up my times I should use an advanced plan but if you go by mileage I barely hit intermediate. I am a high quality, low mileage runner and I’m sure there are people on the other end who run 50 plus more miles then the plans suggest. I agree about a good coach but they are hard to find.

By: Fitz

Fitz — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:58:34 +0000

True, they can be helpful, but they’re cookie cutter plans in a world where no two people are the same. I have a philosophical problem with that, especially when custom programs can be designed for a fairly low price (see my coaching page, for example).

By: Nishita

Nishita — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 16:30:45 +0000

I agree with all your points here, but these stock running plans have made running easier to slide into (for non-athletes). I tried the Couch to 5K and am now doing the One Hour Runner plan…I don’t have access to any coach or any kind of guidance, so I find these plans quite useful.

By: Fitz

Fitz — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:30:21 +0000

Hey Andol – I’d be glad to help. I do offer several different coaching packages you may be interested in, check them out on my coaching page at http://www.strengthrunning.com/coaching. You can also email me at support@strengthrunning.com and we can work something out.

By: andol charles

andol charles — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 01:08:12 +0000

hi my name is andol charles and i will need some help to improve my time my races are 8oom and 15oom

By: Fitz’s Training Journal: August 9 – September 5, 2010

Fitz’s Training Journal: August 9 – September 5, 2010 — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:40:47 +0000

[...] and workouts for the next three months (just a rough outline – or else it would just be a cookie-cutter plan). Having a renewed outlook on your running and being reinvigorated to train are important for [...]

By: Friday Links | Runners Passion

Friday Links | Runners Passion — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 14:01:57 +0000

[...] Throw Out Your Stock Training Plan: The Top 4 Reasons You Need a Coach: This post over at Strength Running discusses why stock training plans that you will find online or in running books will not work for most people. They are inflexible and don’t take your individual strengths and weaknesses into account. I agree that a coach can be valuable to many runners or you should learn how to create your own training plans. [...]

By: Fix your running form and run like Chris Solinsky

Fix your running form and run like Chris Solinsky — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:46:11 +0000

[...] running form is probably the most overlooked aspect of the sport. Beginner runners sign up for cookie-cutter training plans that have tempos, long runs, and interval workouts but there’s no mention of the right way to [...]