So I do this…I instruct run clinic…pretty much have been doing so since about 2006.
New runners, those learning, those with a lot of experience…half and full marathoners…some huge clinics, some smaller….100s, to 15 maybe…..sometimes 5..
COVID short of shut that down…I was instructing for the company I work for, the Running Room…so they shut that down, first because all their stores were shut down….then when everything opened up again, it took almost 6 months before run club, group runs began…..and then virtual clinics on Zoom…..that all started up in 2022? maybe…but really expect for that COVID break my life have been split up in groups of 10 weeks for most clinics, to 18 weeks for the half and full marathon clinics…
I do get paid for those…and I guess that’s okay, they do take over my life……it’s not a lot, if split in per hour, there are times when I think of nothing else….
In person vs Zoom meets have their pluses and minuses…..Zooms are all recorded, so those unable to attend still benefit and don’t miss anything…..and a Zoom meet can reach out to places of the planet where an in person clinic just isn’t possible…some have been people in remote places..and it is kind of cool to have people as far away as Peru, the Yukon, Minnesota, Newfundland, and northern Vancouver Island all in the same virtual clinic…..
And the recordings mean that those with access can rewatch over and over again forever…which, you just can’t do with an in-person clinic….
The in person clinics…..there’s that connection, and in person coaching, and encouraging……and in person cheerleader as opposed to a virtual cheerleader…..it’s hard to correct biomechanics for instance from afar….and, well, accountability….with a clinic with two in person training/group runs and the clinic run, corrections can be made, but also, those in the clinic are accountable to just show up….
Now I’ve taken a different step…..I’m yes taking on another Zoom/virtual clinic, but on my own, without the Running Room safety and on line presence………..
Today was day two….with 3 in attendance, and I talked for almost an hour about setting up a training schedule and stiking to it…
This was my day two of doing this……….and yes I can talk for an hour about almost anything running related…..
I hope this gets bigger….it’s kind of cool, maybe stupid, but I’m just doing me for free, a free clinic …
no safety net, I should be able to use guest speakers, but, well….I’ve got the free time, I’ve got that Zoom account, so why not…..?
Today’s topic was all about setting up a plan
Next week…..effort. heart rates, VO2 Max…..and how to make use of all that within that training plan…
Tonight felt good, postive….felt right.
w