Coaching Certification Course

Monday, May 21, 2012 · Mike Davis

I’m sitting on an airplane heading back to Logan after spending 3 days in Denver Colorado going through Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) coaching certification course. I have been working with runners for a few years now both informally and formally, and while I have had experience in coaching I have long wanted to go to this particular course. My goal has always been to help novice to more experienced runners improve and find empowerment through their running. In order to do that, I am always looking for opportunity to study and learn more about technique (coaching and running), and program building. Just as important I want to understand the physiological and physiological effects that runners go through. More than ever I realize that I will never be satisfied with my current knowledge level and whether it be through reading, talking with others or formal classes, I will continue to seek improvement.

This particular course provides me with certification that is not easy to come by, but more importantly it provided me with increased knowledge and self-evaluation. For example; I’ve been writing training plans for runners for some time now and I have done so based on philosophy and knowledge. However, while my plans have been solid for the most part, throughout the past few days, I’ve seen where I can improve and better serve those that I work with. The instructor and I had a couple lengthy conversations and he liked my training plan technique, but he challenged me to make it better. When I set aside my ego I was able to see the value in change. So if you enlist my services in the future you will we be a benefactor of what I think is great improvement.

A really neat bonus that added a great dimension to the class was a fellow student by the name of Lorraine Mary Moller. Most people probably have no idea who she is as I didn’t prior to the class either. Lorraine Mary Moller represented New Zealand in 4 different Olympics as a marathoner and won the bronze medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She is a running coach in Bolder Colorado and yet she attended this course. She was fascinating and had many great stories that gave us a lot of insight into the competitive world of marathon running. I plan to post a picture of her, me and her bronze medal. Wonderful women that continues to help many runners.

So the course was fantastic and I believe it will help me to serve the running community. As time goes on I will introduce some of what I learned and incorporate minor changes. We are working on the web site and in the not so distant future you will see some small and big changes.

Have a great week!