How's Your Marathon Training Going?
Marathon training is in full swing as runners around the world prepare for in-person and virtual races this fall!
How’s it going for you? Do you have a training program, and are you hitting your workouts and long runs? We hope so!
We checked in with two runners, Paola and Nick, who are training for the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon with the help of NYRR Coaching Lab by Runcoach, an app that provides a personalized training plan, a dedicated coach for one-on-one guidance, and access to NYRR coaches for insider training tips about the TCS New York City Marathon.
These runners are excited about using a training tool as they toward November 7. Read their stories and learn how you can sign up for NYRR Coaching Lab by Runcoach and start training with the support of a certified running coach.
Paola Garcia
Paola will be running her first TCS New York City Marathon on November 7.
How has your training been going?
This is my first time training for a run while following a customized program. I started running more consistently at the beginning of the pandemic and I even completed five half marathons "just for fun" by myself. However, the runs did not have a structure and I was not getting my performance goals or PRs to where I wanted them to be.
Now, having the support of an actual coach, honestly I’ve never felt better
How is the app helping you compared to training on your own?
It’s 100% better than training on my own. With this program I’ve gone from running 20 miles per week and feeling tired to now running 28-30 miles per week and my body feeling great and ready for more miles.
Having a customized plan is amazing, and being able to reach out to a coach to ask questions makes the program worth it.
What features stand out to you?
Being able to input options like the number of runs per week, rest days, etc. and then have the app customize it all is, for me, one of the best features. I also love looking at the calendar—both future assignments and past workouts with the “completed” check mark—gives me accountability and reminds me to stay disciplined.
The Manage feature helps keep me on track as a reminder to stay focused, and being able to reach out to my coach and get questions answered is amazing.
I’m excited to continue the training and crush the TCS New York City Marathon!
Nick New
Nick ran the 2020 Virtual TCS New York City Marathon; this year will be his first time running the event in person.
How has your training been going?
So far it’s been great. The [NYRR Coaching Lab by Runcoach app's] blend of personalized workouts and resources is really helpful.
The expertise and the structure keep me focused, motivated, and dedicating my effort toward the right things to improve my running. The variety of different workouts also helps make the training more interesting. Marathon training is a commitment, so every little thing I can do to make the journey more successful is a win!
I wanted advice on how to adapt pacing to heat extremes, and was easily able to chat to the coaches via the app. They gave me some simple rules to follow.
How is the app helping you compared to training on your own or with other programs you’ve used?
In 2020 I did three virtual half marathons and the Virtual TCS New York City Marathon, all following NYRR’s virtual training program. I am a convert to virtual training programs! Without the structure and access to coaches, I would not have been able to complete the training without getting injured.
For this year, I looked into a lot of programs and signed up for Runcoach. The app dug into my Strava history, found my paces for different distances, and set me up for success over a 20-week plan.
What features stand out to you?
The most impactful feature is access to a team of coaches who can answer questions. Even when I message them at the weekend or late in the evening, an answer often comes within a few hours. It’s not a canned reply—it’s someone who knows what they’re talking about. I’ve been able to discuss things about workouts with coaches that have helped me feel more secure in putting the effort in.
The app has a great algorithm that sets up workouts and paces, and it adapts to races and events you put in. It does most of this from Strava, but you can manually edit it, which is a cool feature. I also like how I can edit my workout days easily—my schedule isn’t fixed, so I have to move my long run days, etc.
Another feature is the video resources for warm-up drills and post-run stretches. The inclusion of cross training and a better warm-up and cool-down structure is a game changer.
I feel far more supported by a team of expert coaches than I would expect from a virtual program. Thanks, NYRR—I am looking forward to hitting my goals and feel confident and really supported.
