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Shoutout to MTA Coaching

By on January 25, 2020 in Coaching, Success Story

Here is a nice FB post from Academy member Anissa W. about the progress she made working with her MTA Coach. ❤️

“Today is the last day of my coaching with Coach Dominique Hamel and I wanted to share my MTA coaching experience.

I signed up with her about 15 months ago because I was scared of hurting myself because I had no idea what to do to train for my first full marathon. She not only got me through my first marathon injury free, she also helped me transition from run/walk to just running.

After that first marathon I wanted to do another and I wasn’t ready to give up my coaching, so she coached me through a second marathon. Then my husband signed us up for the Dopey Challenge at Disney and she coached me through that too. It’s been quite a journey Coach!! Three full marathons and 2 half marathons and numerous 5ks.

Thank you for being a part of it! If anyone is considering coaching I would highly recommend it and I especially recommend Coach Dom.” 💙🏃🏼‍♀️ -Anissa W.

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3:12:02 Marathon at Age 51

By on November 11, 2019 in Coaching, Success Story, update

This is an awesome email I received from a coaching client who just ran the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon last weekend.

“I coached myself for 17 years–and thought I was pretty good at it over the course of 3 marathons and 30+ half marathons. However, using an free online training plan for the marathon through the winter, I ended up with a 3:29 marathon at the end of March this year–well shy of the 3:25 qualifying time for a 51 year old male. And, of course, the actual time for entry needed is even faster. I made some adjustments and ran a second in mid-May, only to finish feeling weak, dizzy and in pain with a time of 3:33!

However, in just 3 months, Coach Joel helped me deliver a 17 minute PR in the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon and guaranteed me a place in the 2021 Boston Marathon with a 3:12:02. I must admit there were times my neighbors must have thought I was losing my faculties. Like when I was skipping backward down the sidewalk rotating my arms wildly clockwise and then counter clockwise. Or, how about running all out for 70 meters and then just standing there stock still for 2 mins and 45 seconds before repeating?! Yes, there are some seemingly crazy drills, but Coach Joel clearly knew what he was doing!! Continue Reading →

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Ask the Coach Episode (Part 2) + Books!

By on August 20, 2019 in Books, Coaching, Listener Question, Podcasts

*[Audio Content Available For Members Only. Click Here to Join Now]

In this episode we answer questions sent in by Academy members about finding time for strength training, when to stretch, how to avoid cramping at the end of a marathon, and more, as we bring you part two of our Ask the Coach Q & A.

In the quick tip segment Angie shares the top book picks from her summer reading. Continue Reading →

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Best Money I’ve Ever Spent . . .

By on June 21, 2019 in Coaching

Just thought I’d share this really nice comment Angie received from one of our coaching clients named Mike Irwin. Mike is a Canadian and we actually had lunch with him when we drove through British Columbia last year.

Hey Angie, I wanted to thank Trevor and you for pairing me up with Coach Dominque. I’m a totally different runner now and I’ve finally gotten to the point where I run continuously after starting out as a Galloway runner. It’s the best money I’ve ever spent. I’m still dealing with a 58 year old body, but a 58 year old body that’s way fitter then it’s ever been! -Mike

We are so thrilled to hear that Mike is benefitting from MTA Coaching! Here are a couple points that stick out to me from his comment, Continue Reading →

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The road to Boston is paved with MTA coaching

By on May 8, 2019 in Coaching, Guest Perspective, Success Story

A couple of years ago during a business trip, I went to see the Boston Marathon finish line. I did not step on or pass the famous blue and yellow street decoration. I will run through it at another time, I told myself.

I repeated the same scenario last summer during a family vacation to Boston. At that time, I was going through a mix of emotions. I felt confident that my qualifying time from the November 2017 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon would be strong enough to get me into the 2019 race.

However, on that Boston trip, I was only a month out from emergency abdominal surgery. I had not been cleared to resume full activities at that time. Gentle jogging was as hard core as I was able to get at that point. Would I be able to regain the speed, endurance and fitness that I had developed since I began running in 2011? Would I still find the joy in the struggle? Would I still answer the alarm at oh-dark-thirty for training?

It did not take me long to answer my own questions. Continue Reading →

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Meet new MTA coach Nicole Hart

By on March 29, 2019 in Coaching, Guest Perspective, Interview

By Henry Howard

Running was the furthest thing from Nicole Hart’s mind until her mid-20s. She started running at age 26 when she met her Army husband.

“He was really fit and active and I decided I wanted to be that too,” says Hart.  

But her “why” goes deeper than that. Much deeper.

When she was in nursing school, Hart experienced tachycardia symptoms, and was diagnosed with Wolffe-Parkinson White Syndrome. After seeing a cardiologist, she had the problem surgically corrected by ablation at age 24. Continue Reading →

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How We Help Runners Achieve Their Goals

By on January 23, 2019 in Coaching

We all have the tendency to imagine that a future version of ourselves will be more disciplined than the present version of ourselves. Why is that?

Studies have been done in which people were asked if they would rather have fruit or cake one week from now. They usually say “fruit”. But a week later, when a slice of chocolate cake is offered along with an apple, test subjects were more statistically likely to go for the cake.

This is called Present Bias, the belief that what we want now isn’t the same thing you will want later. The future version of ourselves that we imagine always has more willpower and a flatter stomach than the present actual version.

Author David McRaney says, “When you are making plans your better angels point to the nourishing choices, but in the moment you go for what tastes good”.

The trick is to realize that you can only control the now you. Make the future you thankful for the action that the present you takes.

This could mean signing up for your first marathon or half marathon, hiring a coach, joining a yoga class, or cutting out sugar from your diet.

You’d be amazed by what your future self can become! This video explains how our MTA coaches help runners go from the present version of themselves to a stronger, faster, more confident version. Continue Reading →

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What Happens When You Take Action

By on January 12, 2019 in Coaching, Success Story

Here is a wonderful note we received from a client Angie worked with named Elliot Shelton who ran a PR at the CIM Marathon in December. I love this story because he took bold massive action and wasn’t afraid to set higher goals.

Dear Angie, I wanted to take a moment to thank you and Trevor for the incredible difference you’ve made in my life. About 3 1/2 years ago, I was unhappy with the direction my life was headed. I was about 30 lbs overweight, had not exercised regularly in years, and had few interests outside of work.
 
I decided to take action. I started a couch to 5k plan and a month later decided to set my goals higher and I committed to running the San Francisco Marathon the following year (without really knowing what I was getting myself into). Continue Reading →

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Shout Out to MTA Coach Dominique Hamel

By on October 24, 2018 in Coaching, Success Story

Here is an email we received recently from a coaching client named Gordon Pape -an architect from Toronto who completed the 2018 Chicago Marathon in 4:26:37 at the age of 58.

This kind of feedback is what get’s us fired up here at MTA! If you are considering hiring a running coach, perhaps this letter will give you an under-the-hood look at the coach/client relationship. Continue Reading →

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Powered by the MTA Community and Coaching

By on October 10, 2018 in Coaching, Guest Perspective, Interview

Mitch Goldstein after the Berlin Marathon

By Henry Howard

At Mile 18 of the Berlin Marathon in September, Mitch Goldstein came up with a new mantra to keep plowing forward: “There is no wall.”

“It seemed like it fit well in Berlin especially and it mostly worked, just not quite enough,” says Goldstein, who ran just barely over 3:30 in the race.

Goldstein, who ran in high school and for the last nine years consistently, has worked through various mental walls and hurdles thanks to his experience, dedication and the power of the Marathon Training Academy (MTA). Continue Reading →

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