How to choose an online trail coach

Hiring a trail running coach online is becoming more and more common: you train where you live and receive the plan on your mobile phone. But not all coaches work the same way. This checklist helps you choose. If you're a coach and you're looking for a tool, your thing is on the best platform for trail coaches.

Rapid response: choose an online trail coach who has accredited training and real mountain experience, who asks you about your history, terrain and schedules before planning, who works the unevenness and descent and not just the kilometers, who reviews your sessions and answers you, and who is clear with the price. It distrusts generic plans and promises of results.

Checklist: 10 questions before hiring

What kind of training do you have? Degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, diploma in sports technician or federative training. Ask and check.
Do you have experience in trail and mountain? Better if you have prepared athletes in distances and unevennesses similar to your target.
Does he give you an interview or initial form? You must know your history, injuries, target, days available and the terrain you have nearby.
How do you plan the unevenness? Up and down load the body differently than running in plain (Vernillo et al., 2017). A good trail plan includes specific climbing and downhill work.
What if you don't have a mountain nearby? It must give you alternatives: slopes, stairs, sloping tape, strength.
How do you measure the load? Time, unevenness, sensations, heart rate. In trail, the kilometers alone say little: the ITRA uses the km-effort, which combines distance and unevenness.
How often do you check your training? Ask if you look at your sessions and comments and how much you adjust the plan.
How do you communicate? Messages, calls, response time.
Does it include race strength and nutrition? In ultras, the victualling strategy is trained.
What does it cost and what does it include? Monthly price, stay, what happens if you get hurt.

Alarm signals

He sends you a plan without asking you anything.
Promise concrete marks or results.
Never comment on your sessions or change anything even if you tell her you're tired.
It doesn't explain why he does what he does.
Press to train in pain.

Coach-sports relationship matters

The Olympic medalists describe a good relationship with their coach in terms of closeness (trust and respect), commitment and complementarity (Jowett and Cockerill, 2003). The same thing happens online: choose someone you feel comfortable with talking about how you are. You have more ideas on how to improve the coach-sports relationship.

How it is day to day with an online coach

You get the week planned in the app.
You train with your watch.
Your data gets to the coach.
You write how you felt.
Your coach adjusts.

If your coach uses TrainingForever, the training app is free for you: you get the running, strength and mobility plan, your sessions sync with Garmin Connect, you can connect Strava and give feedback for each session. With TrainingForever, your coach has all the features free up to 5 athletes; from there, 0.99 € per active athlete per month, with a maximum of 49 €/month. For the athlete it's always free.

What a Coach Says

«Before I accept a trail athlete I want to know what land he has near home. A mountain plan that cannot be trained where you live does not serve.” — Marc Bañuls, coach with more than 15 years of experience

Frequently Asked Questions

Is an online trail coach worth it?

If you want a plan adapted to your goal, terrain and schedule, and someone who adjusts it when something changes, yes. The important thing is that there is real follow-up.