Do you have a coach? Follow a training plan?

RayCun

We should run a poll to see if you have a coach or follow a program!

Timmaay's too lazy to do this himself


If you follow a plan, pick a second option to say where you get it...

RayCun

I use a generic plan (book/internet)

sorry, made the last poll private by mistake

dna_leri

I use a generic plan (book/internet)

I'm always on a plan, my plan, from a combination of book/internet, with input from club coach.

druss

I follow a training plan set for me by a coach. It's mainly an online interaction, but I have to say I'm very happy with results so far.

I did my first run through a training programme recently. I used to do a few ( a very few) ad hoc training runs on my own if I wasn't playing football in a particular week. Then I went on one run at lunch time with a few colleagues and blew up half way round. It was a relatively short distance and not (as it turned out) even a particularly fast pace, so I was feeling a bit humiliated! I had rather arrogantly assumed that I was far fitter than I was.

To rescue my own pride, I signed up for two road races and was pointed in the direction of the online coaching. I comfortably exceeded my expectations in the two runs to date, lost some weight and feel a lot better but needless to say I caught the race bug and want a bit more. I may just be a plodder, but I have aspirations to being a slightly better plodder.

I'm going to start into another plan now, with a much extended aerobic phase to get me fired up for some early 2013 races. I've sent off my proposed race dates, goals, training availabilty and other info and then try to follow the schedule as closely as possible.

A club might be beneficial in the longer term and provide a different push factor, but for now this works for me.

Oregano_State

Usually make it up, but follow a plan for some races

I've only recently gotten back into running with the aim of racing, and as of now haven't joined a club and am coaching myself. I'm following a plan that I've made myself based on articles on the internet and my own experience, but I picked the 'I make it up as I go along' option as I've had to seriously alter this plan based on niggles I've picked up and my body adjusting to ramping up my training over the past few months.

It seems to be that I plan about a week ahead at the moment. But obviously I base the following week on how the previous one went.

hardCopy

I use a plan set for a group by a club coach

I generally try to work off a generic plan but I rarely have as much time between races as the plans would call for so I jump in part-way through as best I can.

I've used a few of Hal Higdon's plans as well as a modified Ironman plan from Be Iron Fit to train for a HIM. For GaelForceWest I used a half marathon plan with extra hills and cycling thrown in.

Muppet Man

I use a generic plan (book/internet)

Generally follow a plan for races above half marathon distance. Either some PD variation or Hanson's 16 mile training plan

tHE vAGGABOND

Im in-between, I have a somewhat generic plan [in hindsight], but one made for me by a good coach based on my goals, and my weaknesses and my goal races, and with my request for varied sessions so I stay interested

But after getting the plan I had little or no interaction with him. Not ideal, but I was well on for 3.30 in Berlin before that late injury, so it was working.

I also dipped in and out of the club marathon training group, who had a very good coach.

Next time, not sure, I think I would like the human interaction and feedback of a real coach.

robinph

Usually make it up, but follow a plan for some races

Just do whatever I feel like at the time. There would on occasion be some specific sessions done on club training nights which may be directed to a particular race that most of the group is probably doing, but don't think that my participating in those sessions counts as following any particular training plan.

rainbow kirby

At the moment I'm just doing what I feel like and what I feel like the body is ready for - I'm only about a month back on the road after an injury so not really even thinking about racing.

pconn062

I'm a case of "none of the above". I sometimes follow plans but a lot of sessions are recommended to me by a coach. I'm not really full time coached but I speak to my coach on a regular basis and he generally advises me in terms of sessions, races to do, races to try and peak for. But I don't get a week by week plan, more general advice on mileage and some key sessions to do. We also train together a bit.

myflipflops

Usually make it up, but follow a plan for some races

I've been making it up as I go along. Half the time, I'm not even sure exactly what type of run i will be doing when I start. I will see how the first couple of miles feel and then make a decision. I will plan the odd session and long run but not often at the moment. It is a situation that is working for me although I will look to put together a more set training plan soon.

I reckon I would only consider a coach if I was running about 15 minute 5k pace. I am happier looking after myself up to that point.

Basically, I firmly believe in running to how you feel. I'm sure Daniels and McMillan and the rest of the plans are great in their own way but set plans don't know how you feel or what you are capable of. They also lead people away from allowing scope to change plans as they get better. This is incredibly important for beginners and inexperienced runners.

ecoli

I use a generic plan (book/internet)

myflipflops wrote: »

Basically, I firmly believe in running to how you feel. I'm sure Daniels and McMillan and the rest of the plans are great in their own way but set plans don't know how you feel or what you are capable of. They also lead people away from allowing scope to change plans as they get better. This is incredibly important for beginners and inexperienced runners.

I think this is a very good point, a person who see's good results off a plan will generally stick with with it but there comes a point when training the weaknesses that you have been working on over the number of cycles of a training plan start to become strengths and as such you need to start adding different stimuli in order to avoid plateauing

They also leave no room to amend to taking personal factors into account (injury, time commitments, access to facilities ec.) and dont encourage the athlete to, as Bowerman put it "become students of their event"

Personally I have done all of the above. I found training myself initially I stuck to sessions I liked and was good at, coaching then helped get me out of my comfort zone. Since then I have coached myself and normally have a general plan however I am flexible to an extent with the specifics of quality days simply to allow for access to track/hills etc with work but also to allow me train with other people when I can. I think this can also be a factor to help get you out of your comfort zone as you can often find you can push yourself harder with visual targets (without pushing too hard as to ruin the purpose of the session)

At the moment though I am pretty much running to a plan though this is just as a result of training getting lax after HM and needing to enforce some discipline on my training and get me back into a routine. Something which has worked a treat

myflipflops

Usually make it up, but follow a plan for some races

ecoli wrote: »

I think this is a very good point, a person who see's good results off a plan will generally stick with with it but there comes a point when training the weaknesses that you have been working on over the number of cycles of a training plan start to become strengths and as such you need to start adding different stimuli in order to avoid plateauing

ClaraLara's training log can be held up as an example. 2 hour half marathon runner to 3.08 marathoner in 20 odd months is outstanding. It would not have happened on a very rigid plan.