We are all apprentices
I have run the Lighthorse Ultra a couple of times before this year’s race (April 27, 2019). Last year I went into the 6-hour event with a slight Achilles niggle and decided that just over four hours was enough for the day when it started to complain. In the past, I may have pushed through, however previous race experiences have taught me it’s not worth it, so I stopped before doing any more damage.
The previous year I ran the 12 hour and other than a bad patch for a couple of hours, overall had a pretty good day. I have always thought that every race offers us an opportunity to learn, and I certainly did learn from these two different race experiences.
This year I went into the race with a different goal. With six of my coached athletes entered in the various events, I decided to enter the 12-hour so I could spend some time running and chatting with them – hopefully to advise and encourage them, but also to learn.
I feel as a coach, it’s important to always strive to learn, both about training and coaching, but also about the athletes we coach. I was hoping to learn some things that I may be able to then apply when coaching them in the future. What pleased me was that each runner would teach me something that could then apply not just back to them, but also to others (as well as myself).
I also spent a few laps running with various runners who I am not coaching, from the speedy runners at the pointy end to some walking and coming back from injuries. As well as spending time with other runners, I spent quite a bit of time chatting to support crew and volunteers. While I didn’t have the sort of breakthrough run that we quite often refer to in ultramarathons, that teach us a lot about ourselves, I can honestly say it was a very rewarding and educating experience.
It doesn’t have to be during races and it’s not just for coaches. As Confucius once said, “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” The trails and roads are our ‘room’, and there are many smart runners out there. I feel all of us as runners can gain so much from paying more attention to those running around us. It’s not just about how far or fast they run, or how much they train – ask about what motivates them, why do they run, what got them into running and how do they measure success.
What do they feel are their main obstacles standing in their way of their goals and how can they get around them.
My goals in coaching align with what I strive for in running…success comes more from growth than attainment.
Growth is much easier when we can learn from others.
“𝙒𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙛𝙩 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧.”– Ernest Hemingway
Glen Smetherham, Head Coach
Consistent Running Online Run Coaching
