When I first stepped into coaching, I thought the hard part would be programming. Building workouts. Structuring plans. Understanding biomechanics and effort. Turns out, that was the easy part.

The real work?
The human part.
The part no certification, no seminar, no shiny CEU course lays out clearly.

Coaching isn’t just about running paces or strength cycles. It’s about holding space for people’s lives while also guiding their athletic goals. And the longer I coach, the more I realize the truths no one warns you about when you first step behind the curtain.

Here’s what coaching actually looks like once you’re in the trenches.

You’re Coaching the Human, Not the Sport

Athletes come with training goals—but they also come with the rest of their life on their back. Nervous systems stretched thin. Hormone chaos. Job changes. Caregiving. Grief. Identity shifts. Medical trauma. Exhaustion they’ve normalized.

Coaching becomes less about “hit this pace” and more about “let’s figure out what your body is trying to say.”

Split times matter. But the why behind them matters more.

Self-Doubt Isn’t a Problem. It’s a Compass.

Every coach—yes, every single one—has moments where they question themselves.

Did I program this right?
Did I miss something?
Am I actually helping?

Imposter syndrome creeps in because you give a damn. Because you want to be deliberate, not performative. Because you’re evolving.

Self-doubt, when handled well, becomes a sharpening tool—not a setback.

The dangerous coaches are the ones who stop questioning themselves.

Listening Is the Real Skill

If there’s one superpower coaching requires, it’s this.

Athletes rarely say things outright.
They hint.
They soften.
They downplay.
They apologize for struggling.

And sometimes they have no idea what’s actually under the surface.

Listening means hearing what they say… and noticing what they didn’t. Tone, patterns, pacing issues, confidence dips, nervous system fatigue—they all tell a story.

Programming is science.
Listening is art.
Coaching is both.

You Can’t Want It More Than They Do

This one hurts.

You’ll pour yourself into an athlete—support, education, strategy—and still watch them hit walls you can’t break down for them. Not because you failed, but because readiness isn’t something a coach can force.

You can help them.
You can empower them.
But you cannot drag them.

The boundary between support and over-functioning is razor-thin… and if you don’t learn it, burnout is waiting.

You Will Accidentally Hurt Feelings—Repair Is Part of the Job

Honest feedback is part of coaching. But honesty doesn’t always land softly.

Even when intentions are good, you will sometimes say something that stings.

Being a great coach isn’t about never messing up. It’s about repair.

Clarifying.
Apologizing.
Checking in.
Owning your part without collapsing into guilt.

Athletes trust coaches who are human—not perfect.

Coaching Is Emotional Labor—Build Systems That Protect You

You’re in relationship with every athlete you coach. That’s powerful… and draining if you don’t have boundaries.

This is why so much of your work now includes:

Form awareness
Training for peri/menopause
Micro-adjustments
Energy availability
Strength cycles for busy athletes
Cultural identity-aware coaching
Confidence and mindset support

Coaching isn’t just programming. It’s nervous system work, mindset work, and emotional regulation work—for them and for you.

Systems matter.
Boundaries matter.
Your longevity matters.

If You Coach Long Enough, You Will Change Too

Your athletes will become mirrors.
You’ll see your own tendencies in their patterns.
You’ll grow softer in some areas, sharper in others.

Coaching teaches you about biomechanics—but it also teaches you about yourself.

It’s a craft. A calling. A relationship. A reflection.

And when you do it with heart?
It becomes the most meaningful work you’ll ever take on.

Want Support as You Grow as a Coach?

If you’re stepping into coaching, expanding your skill set, or craving more grounded leadership—there are two great ways to go deeper with support that actually understands the realities of this work:

Start Where You Are: A Grounded Guide for New Run Coaches
Build confidence, clarity, and structure in your coaching with a practical, soulful roadmap for stepping into the field with intention.

Mentorship Coaching with Me
For coaches who want personalized guidance, support, and strategic development in the real-world, real-human side of coaching.

Related Reading:
The Irony of Running Advice and Coaching Ethics