Kalmer ’ s CORNER
Our Modern Athlete Brand Ambassador ’ s Blog
COACHING CHOICES
Whatever your running goals are , one thing that you will need to decide on is what you are going to do to reach those goals – and one of the ways is by choosing the right coach .
– BY RENÉ KALMER
It is a new year and I ’ m sure we all have our own set of running goals that we would like to achieve in 2017 ! Maybe you want to take up running for the first time , or run your first 10km , or line up at the start of your first ultra-marathon ... Or maybe , like me , your goal is to make a strong comeback in 2017 ! Whilst my short-term goal is to keep as fit as possible till our baby is born in mid-March , I have made peace with the fact that running will have to wait till after the pregnancy , and I hope to be back on the road during the second half of the year .
Find the Right Mix
No matter what your particular running goals are , one of the best ways to achieve them is by signing up with a running coach , but it is important to find a coach that suits your needs and that truly understands you . A coach will also have to understand how serious you are about your running , whether you want to be competitive or whether you are just running socially , or if you have a specific goal in mind , like losing weight . A coach also needs to ‘ fit ’ your personality , as this can often be the make or break of a running relationship . That ’ s why some runners prefer to coach themselves , whilst others need the extra motivation and support of a coach .
A coach can help you set goals , or advise on handling setbacks and injuries . The coach should also be able to advise you on new training techniques , stretching exercises , nutrition , etc . Whilst some coaches prefer more road sessions , others prefer training on a track or adding gym sessions . You will therefore need to test the proverbial waters first to see if you are comfortable with what the coach has planned for you .
It is also important for you to decide whether you prefer a coach that trains with you , a coach that trains athletes in a group , or a coach that only supplies you with a training programme but leaves the rest up to you . A person just starting to run might need a more hands-on approach , whilst some runners may prefer an on-line coach or general programme from a website or book .
Thanks , Coaches !
During my 30 years of running , I ’ ve had quite a few coaches . My first coach was Juffrou Maggie , a passionate primary school teacher from Laerskool Horison who introduced me to running when I was nine years old . As the cross country coach , Juffrou Maggie basically ‘ forced ’ the whole school to run the cross country league in order to gain points for the school and win the overall trophy . She had a huge influence on hundreds of school children and taught us about “ No Guts , No Glory !” This past December , my sister Christine visited Juffrou Maggie ’ s guest farm , Oudemuragie , near Oudtshoorn , and dropped off a South African tracksuit to thank her for giving us and so many others the love for running .
Thereafter I ’ ve worked with brilliant coaches such as Gerrie Coetzee , DB Prinsloo and Ernie Gruhn , whilst currently I am coached by Lyndsey Parry , who is also the official Comrades Coach . Each one of them had a huge influence on my career and without them I would have really struggled to achieve any of my accomplishments . Each one had their own ideas , methods , formulas , etc , and I feel that they all played a huge part during a certain part of my career . I am thankful for all of the coaches I have worked with , as they all contributed their wisdom and knowledge in making me a better runner .
Another coach that recently caught the eye is Tannie Ans , who is not only over 70 years old and still coaching , but was in Rio for the 2016 Olympics with her star athlete , Wayde van Niekerk , helping him to win the 400m gold and set a new World Record . Thinking what Tannie Ans has done for Wayde , I am sure you will agree that you shouldn ’ t judge a book by its cover , so choose a coach that brings out the best in you , whether he / she is young or old , near or far …
Images : Courtesy René Kalmer & Christine Kalmer
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10 ISSUE 91 FEBRUARY 2017 / www . modernathlete . co . za