If you have a passion for running, it may make sense to turn that passion into a business. Before you start, you need to make sure that coaching is really for you. Do you simply enjoy running yourself, or do you have the passion, and people skills, to help other people develop a love for it to?
Becoming a Certified Running Coach
If you want to dip your toe into the water before you fully commit, there are personal training and fitness courses online that can start to give you a better understanding of what is involved and give you a solid foundation. Once you are committed to embarking on a career as a running coach, there are certain things that you need to know.
Why certification is important
You do not have to be certified to coach people to run; but it’s a big advantage if you are. Certification with the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA), or USA Track & Field (USATF) is recommended. There are several benefits to be had from being certified.
- Your coaching methods are based on factual evidence and scientific research.
- Your methods of coaching are safe and up to date.
- You can apply learning directly to your method of coaching.
The importance of insurance
It’s important to know that you cannot be a running coach without having liability insurance in place. It’s important to make sure that the policy you choose is specific to the coaching of running as not every general coaching policy will provide the cover that is needed. It’s usually a good idea to make sure you are covered for $1 million per incident.
Do you want to coach online or in person?
There is no right or wrong when it comes to making this decision. You may prefer to have the wider reach that online coaching provides, or you may relish the opportunity of having face to face contact with the people you coach. Remember that if you choose to coach online, you need to have a high functioning website and equipment that enables you to have high quality online communication and produce video content that is of a high standard.
Stick to your role
At no time should you steer away from purely coaching people to run. It’s fine to provide general fitness and healthy eating information, but do not tell anyone to follow a specific diet or how to treat an injury. There are professionals who have the required training in place to enable them to provide this type of information.
The information in this article should help you make a start as a running coach, but there are many other considerations that you need to be aware of such as raising financing for your business and marketing your services. Make sure that you do sufficient research before you begin your coaching journey, so that you are more likely to be successful as a certified running coach.
-By Chris Dawson. Sponsored post.
Could someone get back to me I have a few question
I’m looking for a job as a run coach and looking into certification.
It seems easiest to just get a job at a big gym to start. But that would likely mean 3 months towards a personal trainer certification. It seems Gold’s and Lifetime require this.
It is interesting too how you say to “stick to your role” and not give recommendations about injuries. A big part of my marathon journey has been overcoming and preventing injuries.
I see value in a NASM certification which focuses on muscular imbalances which lead to injuries. I can see this being beneficial but it is a 3 month commitment and an expense and not running specific.
What are your thoughts?