I just spent the last two days taking the Road Runners Club of America’s Coach Certification Class.
It was awesome.
First, Patti & Warren Finke, the instructors, are long-time runners, marathons, ultra-runners, and coaches. Patti is an exercise physiologist, and has been the American age-group record-holder for 50km and 50mi. She has been an Oregon Road Runners Club Age group runner of the year three times. Warren has raced in over 170 marathons and ultramarathons–winning more than 20. Twice he has been the U.S. track record hold for 100km.
Obviously, both are well qualified.
But their presentation is what really made the classes enjoyable. The first day included a lot of lecture on topics like nutrition and physiology. The material was somewhat dull but they kept the class entertaining with antidotes from their 60+ combined years in the sport.
One of my favorite stories was about a competitor in the Race Across America bike race who started hallucinating in St Louis that his crew was a bunch of aliens trying to abduct him. This racer later confessed that even after his crew caught him and got him to sleep a couple hours, that he thought all the way to Atlantic City that his crew was a bunch of aliens.
The second day was a bit more interactive as we broke into small groups and worked on developing training plans for Josefina, as interestingly played by Patti.
One of the side benefits I had not expected–and wish I had been able to take better advantage of–was meeting several other (better) bloggers.
Rebecca, me, Adam, and Ann
Rebecca from Michigan sat next to me the first day and works with Girls On the Run. If I remember right, she works with over 80 different clubs in a 3 county area in the Detroit area. I’m hoping to pry some more information from her as I try to get my program going.
Adam’s blog, The Boring Runner is tragically mis-named. I wish my blog was half as entertaining as his. Dude can run, too.
Unfortunately, I had less time to talk with Sporty Girl of Sporty Girl Jewelry Fame but she was extremely nice & she makes really cool sports-themed jewelry.
The long lectures on Saturday, coupled with the fact I hustled home to my family right after class instead of going to the restaurant, limited how much I got a chance to hang out with anyone. I wish there had been a casual get together Friday night or a group run one of the mornings. But I guess there’s always Twitter.
Again, the class was really amazing, I think I learned a lot–we’ll see when I take the test. If I pass (and I complete my CPR & First Aid class later this month), I’ll be a certified Running Coach. I have a few goals in mind of what I want to do with that but even if I go no further than the experience I had this weekend, it was worth it and something I would recommend for any runner. If you live in the Portland area (or Kona) , you might want to check out Team Oregon‘s training groups.
No related posts.
That sounds like an great class! two things now you have turned me on to;
The Boring runner, I was flirting with listening to it, and now based on your comments, I definetly will
The water bottle that you reviewed a few weeks back(cant remember the name) I want one!!
Keep up the GREAT Blogging, and Running!!
~Norm
Thanks, Norm–I’ve got some changes for the blog I’m hoping to implement sometime soon–new address/look & hopefully better content.
I thought I recognized The Boring Runner as having a podcast but didn’t see it show up on runningpodcasts.org but after your comment, I googled again and found he did do 4 episodes last summer but looks like it has podfaded.
After a little reflection, I think part of the joy I got out of the class was being locked in a room with 30 other running geeks who I had some strong connection to and the second day when we did some group activities, there just seemed to be a ton of energy. Makes me understand the power behind the Loco Movement.
Anyhow, thanks for the message, I’ll talk at you soon.
Seriously…this class was phenomenal and I too encouraged every runner to take this class if it comes to their town. I think it will just make you a better runner whether or not you decide to Coach or not.
I too enjoyed the energy and I think the majority of people wanted to be there, I was questionable on some PT’s but overall, I think we all wanted to up our A game.
Patti and Warren were phenomenal. I wonder if they do all the trainings because they really made it!
And feel free to contact me anytime regarding the kids program!