OLYMPICS LIZ: STOP NICKING MY IDEAS
Running legend McColgan hits out at fitness influencers
SCOTS running legend Liz McColgan has slammed social media fitness influencers for copying her training programmes in a bid to attract clients.
The Olympic great has revealed several online personal trainers have contacted her posing as clients asking for fitness tips.
McColgan, now a running coach based in Qatar, has sent them training plans which they have then passed off as their own in an attempt to drum up business online.
The Dundee-born Olympic silver medallist, 59, said she has become frustrated at the number of incidents and took to Instagram to call out | those involved.
The former 10,000m world champion said she would be happy to help people develop their coaching skills if they were honest about who they were. She said: “I am so fed up of social media/Instagram influencers/PT instructors who are not upfront and say who or what they do and who contact me for training for programs then all of a sudden are using my sessions for coaching private clients and running groups as qualified coaches.
“They do not even try to find out why the training plan is devised as it is, they just copy my sessions.
“If they were upfront and said they wanted mentoring or help with coaching career, I would be happy to help.
“A good coach is one who shares knowledge for others to develop as well as ongoing learning for their own development. Honestly, they should just be upfront. Runners out there, you should actually ask your group leaders, ‘How qualified are you?’ Rant over. Happy running.”
During a glittering career, McColgan won the London, New York and Tokyo marathons and two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.
She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 1991, awarded an MBE in 1992 and was inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.
She was hit by tragedy last year after her husband, former longdistance runner John Nuttall, 56, died suddenly of a heart attack in Doha where the couple lived.
I would be happy to help as a good coach shares info
MCCOLGAN REACHING OUT TO INFLUENCERS