The rise of online communities, social media, and easy access to expert advice has blurred the lines between self-coaching and being coached. If you're gathering tips from podcasts, asking questions in running forums, or following influencers for training hacks, you might wonder: Am I truly coaching myself?
The answer lies in understanding the core of what self-coaching really means.
What Is Self-Coaching?
At its heart, self-coaching means you are the head coach. You design your training plan, make adjustments based on how your body responds, and hold yourself accountable. It’s about being the strategist, the motivator, and the analyst all in one.
But does that mean you have to operate in a vacuum? Not at all. Gathering information from various sources—whether it's expert articles, experienced runners, or training podcasts—is simply research. It’s data collection to inform your decisions. The key is that you are the filter. You decide what to apply, what to tweak, and what to discard.
Think of it this way: a head coach of a sports team might consult with assistants, review stats, and seek expert opinions, but they make the final call. That’s exactly what self-coaching is.
When Does It Stop Being Self-Coaching?
The line between self-coaching and being coached shifts when certain dynamics come into play:
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Someone Else Designs Your Training Plan: If a coach provides a personalized plan tailored to your goals, and you follow it without significant modifications, you're being coached—even if there’s minimal interaction.
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Regular Feedback and Adjustments: Having consistent check-ins where a coach reviews your performance, provides insights, and adjusts your plan based on your progress is a hallmark of traditional coaching.
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Decision-Making Authority Shifts: If someone else makes the key decisions about your training—such as when to push harder, when to rest, or how to approach race strategy—you’re no longer in the driver’s seat.
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External Accountability: When someone else is responsible for tracking your progress, holding you accountable, and ensuring you stay on track, that’s a coaching relationship.
The Gray Area: Hybrid Approaches
Many athletes fall somewhere in between. Maybe you follow a generic training plan but tweak it based on how you feel. Perhaps you consult with a coach occasionally for high-level guidance but manage your day-to-day training yourself. These hybrid approaches are valid and often effective.
The important thing is recognizing who holds the ultimate responsibility for your training decisions. If that person is you, even with input from others, you're self-coaching. If you've delegated that authority to someone else, you’re being coached.
Final Thoughts
Self-coaching doesn’t mean isolating yourself from valuable resources or ignoring expert advice. It means owning your process, being intentional about your decisions, and holding yourself accountable. Crowdsourcing information can enhance your self-coaching, but the defining factor is who makes the final call.
So, are you truly self-coaching? If you’re the one designing, deciding, and adjusting based on what you learn, the answer is yes—even if you’re tapping into the collective wisdom of the running community.