How Athletes Can Actually Get the Most Out of Their Coach
…and maybe not blame them for everything.

Let’s be real. If you’re investing in a coach, you want results. That’s fair. But if you’re not getting what you expected, here’s a little gut-check: are you doing your part?

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It starts with doing your homework. Not all coaches offer the same services. Ask questions upfront. What platform do they use—TrainingPeaks, Final Surge, sticky notes on the fridge? Does your watch sync with their system? Do they communicate via email, text, app, carrier pigeon?

And let’s talk about communication—because honestly, this is where most of the breakdowns happen. Your coach cannot read your mind. (I promise. I’ve tried. It just doesn’t work.) The more information you give, the more personalized and effective your training becomes. Feedback matters: how a run felt, your energy levels, random life chaos, sore glutes, all of it.

Some coaches provide monthly plans, others bi-weekly. At Runners of the Corn Coaching, I deliver workouts weekly. Why? Because life happens. Maybe next week your kid has a tournament, your dog ate something suspicious, or work has you running sprints from meeting to meeting. If you tell me in advance, I can shuffle things around to keep your training on track. Weekly plans also let me adjust based on how your long run went. Crushed it? We level up. Struggled? We dial it back to avoid injury. But again—I need you to communicate that.

Speaking of injury—let me plug something selfish here: more coaching.
I keep my coaching fees low on purpose. Why? So you can invest in the other pieces you need—like a good strength training program. I’ll give you advice, sure, especially if you ask (again: communicate!), but I’m not going to write you a full lifting plan. You’ve got room in your budget—use it!

Example? I’ve got a big race coming up. But between some past health stuff and maybe getting a little too wild on a hilly course, I had to scale things back. Instead of sulking, I laced up the gloves and got back into boxing—something I hadn’t done in years. It was fun, it challenged my core, and it made me feel strong again. That’s the kind of creative cross-training that keeps you engaged and injury-resistant.

And lastly—if you’re not happy with your coaching (even if I’m your coach), say something. You’re not going to hurt our feelings (okay maybe a little, but we’ll live). You don’t have to come in hot. Just say, “Hey, I’ve been struggling with motivation. Could use a little extra encouragement lately.” Boom. That’s it. That helps us help you. If a workout doesn’t make sense? Say, “Explain this to me like I’m new.” You’re paying for support. Use it.

Coaching is a partnership. When both sides show up, communicate, and stay flexible, that’s where the real magic happens.