Training Zone
Which Expert do You Need?
endurance athletes often assume that when it comes to expert help, the first person they should go to is a coach. However, a running coach may not be the person you need, depending on your goals. Sometimes, it might feel like you need a coach, but really you need someone to talk to about race nerves or to help you develop better fuelling habits. And all the nutrition help in the world won’t do any good if you’re chronically overtrained or dealing with health issues.
You may need a sports psychologist if… you get so nervous on race day that you end up sprinting for the port-a-potty instead of the finish line.
Runners rarely seek out a sports psychologist without prompting from a coach or dietitian, but often, a psychologist can be one of the most helpful experts in your corner. You can be perfectly prepared on a physical level for your goal race, but if you don’t have your mental game dialed, it might be time to seek help. A sports psychologist or similar professional may also be ideal if you have body image issues versus fueling questions: often, athletes seek out a dietitian when they would greatly benefit from talking about their emotional relat ionship to food wit h a professional.
You may need a running coach if… your training isn’t leading to the results you want.
A coach can help create a training plan that’s tailored to your needs right now. This is especially important if you lead a busy life and are chasing a big goal in your race. While you can easily start training for a race without a coach or training plan, the more serious you get about the sport, the more help you’ll need to get to the next level. A coach can also be a great cheerleader, especially if your family and friends aren’t overwhelmingly supportive of your running passion.
You may need a dietitian if… you have chronic digestive issues or you’re trying to lose weight while training for a race.
Body composition and digestive issues are two areas where a dietitian can keep you on track with your training and help you avoid following the latest social media weight loss tips. A licensed dietitian will provide an expert nutrition plan that’s optimized to your running goals, with the right kind of nutrition to sustain effort levels and make you less prone to injury and sickness. The same is true for any digestive issues you might have. (Tip: look for a dietitian with a sport-specific background for optimal results.)
You may need a physical therapist if… you have had a niggling pain or minor injury for months.
Are you chronically just a little sore on that right knee after runs over 60 minutes? Still dealing with that hockey injury from three years ago? A running coach may be able to give you suggestions, but a physical therapist will focus on that specific issue. He or she can help you improve your overall performance by helping you move beyond just nursing your way through workouts and races.
To figure out which expert you need, take stock of where you’re at currently. “One exercise t hat may help is an athlete spending a few days writing down each t ime t hey have a quest ion in their heads,” says run coach and aut hor of The Happy Runner David Roche. “If most of the questions are about training or recovery or races, a coach is a g reat opt ion. If t hey’re about mindset , nut r it ion, or injur y, another expert may be the best f irst option.”
Molly Hurford is a fitness and nutrition writer, ultrarunner, endurance coach and occasional yoga instructor. She's also the author of the Shred Girls series.