Of course, this sort of advice isn’t the exclusive preserve of elite runners – in fact, would-be runners are faced with a barrage of advice from websites, books, magazines and (yes) newspapers. But sorting out the good advice from the bad or the merely irrelevant is a daunting task.
“I had to be confident in who was providing the feedback,” says 36-year-old communications professional Sarah Pollard, explaining her decision to work with Ms. Arsenault. “In this case, someone who could filter out a lot of the ‘advice noise’ recreational runners are exposed to.”
While there’s no guarantee that fast runners will also be great coaches, there is an implicit warranty attached to their advice – that, for one person at least, it really works. So there was no better advertisement for Mr. Laan’s services than his convincing first-place victory at last year’s Goodlife Fitness Toronto Marathon.
“I was inspired then when I saw him finish, with no one else even close to him,” recalls Gillian Howard, a 31-year-old from London who hired him as a coach shortly after watching the race. Under his guidance, she has focused on running more efficiently, adjusting her stride to land more on the forefoot and leaning forward slightly from the ankles.
The result? “I’m learning a lot,” she says, “and loving running more than ever.”
Running 101
Elite runners Marilyn Arsenault, Jerry Ziak and Brandon Laan offer guidance to runners ranging from complete beginners to Olympians. Here are some of the most common topics they address.
Technique: There’s no single “right” way to run, but there are plenty of wrong ways. A coach can suggest small modifications that will make you more efficient and less injury-prone.
Pace: A common mistake is to always run at the same pace. It’s better – and more fun – to incorporate a wide range of speeds, from short sprints to relaxed long runs.
Distance: Mr. Laan often finds runners place too much emphasis on a single long run – running 35 kilometres on a Sunday morning but only 15 kilometres the rest of the week, for example. It’s better to spread training out more evenly.
Injury prevention: The “little things” – mobility exercises such as legs swings and joint rotations, and body weight exercises to develop muscles that running neglects – are often forgotten, but they play a key role in staying healthy.
Special to the Globe and Mail
