A couple of weeks ago I went to Boston for a Road Runners Club of America coaching certification seminar. This is the first of a series of posts about my experiences. I wrote the posts as I was going through the classes, but I haven’t had time until now to post them.
Oh my God does my brain hurt
If I hear “splits” one more time, think that’s what’s going to happen to my head. I just wrapped up a weekend of RRCA coach training in Boston. 16 hours over two days of lecture and group sessions on the RRCA methodology of distance running.
I’ve been wanting to take the training certification for about a year now, but they rarely do them on the East Coast so I had to wait and wait. When registration opened for this session way back in May I jumped on it and signed up immediately.
About RRCA
Founded in 1958, the Road Runners Club of America is the oldest and largest national association of running clubs, running events, and runners dedicated to promoting running as a competitive sport and as healthy exercise. They are to distance running what the USATF is to track and field events or what the USAT is to triathlons. However, they aren’t quite as powerful and they don’t play on the international stage like those other organizations, but, in America anyway, they are the torch barer for road running.
The RRCA coaching program is designed to provide training for individuals so that they may work as coaching professionals for the sport of distance running. It covers all levels from beginner to advanced runners.
Why the training?
For a little over 3 years now I’ve been assistant coaching through my coach, Jonathan Cane of City Coach, who, in turn, manages all of the running and triathlon training programs for the running store I use to work for, Jackrabbit Sports. It’s been a great learning experience, but I wanted to take things to the next level and taking a certification program seemed like the best route to follow.
All of my coaching knowledge has come from either personal experience, going through the training that Jon has given me, managing the programs that he’s put together or from reading books and blogs. This has made me great at dealing with people, helping them get through a run and instilling confidence that they can do whatever it is that they’re attempting.
I’m also good at answering general questions about injuries, training strategies, race tactics and the like, but there are wide gaps in my ability to do anything bigger. I can’t really assess someone and then confidently structure a program for them based on their ability. I’ve helped a few friends in the past, but I always swiped a plan from Hal Higdon or Jack Daniels and tweaked to what I though would work for the person.
How’d it go?
In short, it went really well. It was a lot to absorb in two days, but I think most of it stuck. Thankfully I wasn’t coming in without any experience like some people. However, I haven’t taken a lecture-style class since college so it definitely taxed my attention and mental focus.
I’ll follow this post up with a couple more and discuss the two days I spent there. Stay tuned.
