‘
Many clients also
have a personal
trainer that they
see at the gym,
but I don’t see
them as
competition.
or lose some weight, but this
isn’t the case for every runner.
Many are motivated by the
sense of achievement that they
get from being able to run longer
distances or faster times and do
22 FM
things they’d previously thought
they couldn’t. It’s important to
understand what your client’s
goals are so that you know how
you can best support them.
Runners know they should be
doing strength and conditioning
to help strengthen and stabilise
their running muscles and to
keep injuries at bay. Just flick
through a running magazine and
you’ll see articles extolling the
virtues of weight training for
runners, with example routines.
But runners are often unsure
about what exactly they should
be doing when they step inside
the gym, how to do it correctly
and what weight and number of
reps is best.
www.exerciseregister.org
Like most people, runners
could benefit hugely from some
one-on-one guidance and a
personalised routine to work on
their weaker areas.
If you’re going to help them
work on their problem areas,
stay injury free and become a
stronger runner, you may need
to brush up on a few things like
common running injuries and
how to prevent them. Tight
hamstrings and calves, and
weak glutes, are often problem
areas for runners. And they’re all
things you can help them with.
I’m a coach in running fitness,
as well as being qualified as a
Level 3 personal trainer. I coach
runners from beginners to those
training for a marathon. Many of
my clients also have a personal
trainer that they see at the gym,
but I don’t see them as
competition.
I’m working with them in the
park and at the track on their
running. I help them with their
speed workouts, their running
form and I write their training
plans for races they’re training
for. But I understand that they
want to do their strength work in
the warmth and comfort of the
gym, and I encourage them to
do so.
If a client you’re working with
also has a running coach, this is
a positive for them and you
shouldn’t see it as a threat.
Far from being nervous about