Need a Running Coach? Most People Do.

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By Duston Morris, Ph.D., ABD, M.S., ACE, USAT

When Steve Huda began running nearly three decades ago, he gave little thought to putting one foot in front of the other. "I did what most people do," said Mr. Huda, 53, a computer specialist from Centennial, Colo. "I just went out and ran."

Up until recently, athletic hobbyists might take tennis lessons or attend a swim clinic, but rarely considered learning how to run, an activity they have been doing since they were toddlers. A running injury would simply mean a switch to a less jarring sport. That was before middling runners realized that form matters. Many recreational runners now solicit advice before they cinch their shorts and lace up their sneakers, and the number of retreats on Running Times magazine's Web site has swelled to more than 100, up from
38 in 2000.

There are now nearly 11 million adult runners in the United States, according to the American Running Association; many just want to clear their minds, not win races. "Surveys show that half the people never enter a single race," said Jeff Galloway of Atlanta, the Olympian, author and running coach. "They go out and run for their own sanity."

Impinging on runners' sanity, however, is the high rate of injury. About 60 to 65 percent of all runners are injured each year in five anatomical hot spots: the knee, the calf and shin, the iliotibial band (the connective tissue of the outer thigh), the Achilles tendon and the foot, according to the Sports Injury Bulletin, a newsletter produced by sports scientists in London.

Running is a healthy and a beautiful thing to do, but if you don't know how to do it, you're in trouble. Whether you choose to run competitively or not, a running coach can help you improve your form, efficiency, and teach you the best way to get the most from your running. Like other forms of exercise and fitness, there are so many schools of thought about running. But the truth is that no one runner has the exact same style or form as
another. Take it from me, I have witnessed people who look like they could not run to their mailbox and they surprisingly run faster than others who have great form. Unless your form is grossly incorrect, the best thing to do is focus on training volume, intensity, duration, rest, and muscular balance. These are just some of the things a running coach can provide. Think it cost too much? Then think again. For as little as $52 per month a
PLC running coach can help you improve. For more information, feel free to contact me.