For two decades I’ve coached athletes who are trail and ultrarunners, skiers and cyclists, and I’ve grown a lot in when it comes to my knowledge and experience. The ongoing search for new methods and skill development is the cornerstone of being a successful coach, and even with a dedicated attempt to stay on top of new research and trends in the field, it’s almost impossible to keep up. Athletes continue to educate themselves about their sport more so than even a few years ago, which is a testament to both the accessibility of trail and ultrarunning knowledge and their interest and passion for becoming students of the game. And because the bar continues to rise, the role of a coach continues to evolve. Having a sound understanding of exercise physiology and nutrition, knowing how to develop programs, race strategies and gain an understanding of the demands of events are still profoundly important, but coaching beyond these traditional topics is more important than ever.
Helping an athlete hone their fitness and skills in the sport of trail and ultrarunning is an art as much as it is a science. It’s not enough to know how to dissect a training file, help plot short and long-term goals and develop strategies that meet nutritional needs of a trail or ultrarunner. For the coach-athlete relationship to thrive, both parties need to be willing to develop two key attributes: trust and communication—and the latter must be honest and frequent. A willingness to be vulnerable and ask questions are integral to success, and when the training is demanding or there are a lot of hurdles to overcome, trust and communication matter most. For communication to be as effective as possible, having a well-rounded understanding of who the athlete is, and what their daily life looks like outside of training sessions, is paramount. In return, when an athlete offers insight into what makes them tick, situations that decrease their motivation and demands on their resources outside of running, the relationship has the potential to bloom. In these situations, it becomes a humanistic endeavor and a relationship that could last for years—or even a lifetime.
How do coaches and athletes create this bond? It often starts by asking sincere and in-depth questions. Every coach should know why their athlete sought out help, and what their strengths and challenges are physically, mentally and emotionally. Athletes must also ask their coach what they want, clearly state their needs, fears and victories, both large and small. Admitting mistakes can also be incredibly powerful in building trust. While athletes might skip a workout or overlook early signs of injury or being overly fatigued, both parties need a safe, supportive space as they work to solve problems, which will elevate trust and take the relationship to a new level. This might sound like “relationships 101” but it’s easy to overlook the basics of anything, including coach-athlete communication. In my experience, when there is a willingness to invest time and be vulnerable with each other, the possibilities are nearly limitless for coaches and athletes.
Athletes and coaches should also establish boundaries and know when to pull back or even pivot in another direction. Humans grow and evolve, and even the most enthusiastic runners may move away from the sport of trail and ultrarunning. There are times that careers or needs beyond sport must take the place of the time and energy in order to be successful in trail and ultrarunning. While it may be one of the most difficult to pilot, supporting an athlete who is ready to move away from coaching, or perhaps to a different coach, is incredibly important. A good coach will look beyond what they can offer and always place the best interest of their athlete ahead of their own. This end-stage move often necessitates the most honest and vulnerable conversations of all, and the result can be one in which everyone feels fulfilled, supported and more empowered moving forward.
Coaching and being coached should be an ongoing, give-and-take relationship. It can give back to everyone in ways that are difficult to encapsulate, far beyond planning workouts and executing a perfect race day. When we invest in each other as people first, there are no limits on the richness that may emerge.