Just Call Me Coach RunNerdGirl

 So last post I said that 2022 has been A LOT. That doesn't necessarily mean bad, just that a lot has happened over the first half of 2022. In fact, there were a few amazing things that happened in 2022. 

An early win that I experienced that I briefly mentioned in my January posts is that I sat for and passed my RRCA Running Coach Certification. And not only am I now a "Coach" on paper...

I was lucky enough to be brought on as a Program Training Coach with Fleet Feet Sports: Fort Mill.

In fact, it is all because of Fleet Feet that I decided to pull the trigger on becoming RRCA Certified in the first place. I had been toying with the idea off an on for a bit, but it was a short conversation after a race that really got the ball rolling. I mean, if you've not figured it out from this blog or my socials (if you don't follow me on Instagram or Twitter, please do, links will be at the bottom of the post) and when I love something, I learn everything I can about it. And that leads to wanting to help others love it as well. So I had given some advice when asked, written the occasional training plan for others here and there and even "trained" a friend who had just started running for his first few races (which he awesomely dropped 17 minutes from his Half Marathon time in 5 months!) But yeah, all of that was just one runner helping out other runners out. Then came Around the Crown.

Me after Around the Crown

One of my favorite Charlotte-area races is the Around the Crown 10K. It's awesome. They close down the I-277 loop around the city and let runners literally run around Charlotte. It is the coolest. I'll be honest, it is a Charlotte race which means it is hilly, so it is not an easy course, but the Around the Crown is my 10K PB just for the pure reason that it is the most fun 10K I've run. I spent the whole first time I ran it in 2019 (the inaugural year) just kinda giggling as I ran it. So much fun. Anyway, at the finish of the 2021 race, I swung by the Fleet Feet Sports Fort Mill tent to say hi. I had run off and on with Fleet Feet for several years. I ran in their Training Program, occasionally served as a mentor, was on their Racing Team and just kind of came and went as my race schedule allowed. As I was chatting with a few runners, the then Managing Partner asked if he could speak to me to the side. Turns out he wanted me to join the Training Program as a Coach. A bit surprised and flattered, I told him I'd think about it.

Obviously I decided that yes, I did want that. And when the next opportunity arose to take an RRCA certification course came up, I enrolled and the rest is history! I'm a Coach now! And it has been pretty awesome.

I'm currently coaching my 3rd session with Fleet Feet Sports Fort Mill the Summer Trails Training Group. So far, this has been my hardest session to coach for a number of reasons which I will be sure to blog all about it, but I do love it. Even when it's hard, its exactly what I want to be doing. 

Love leading this group through the woods!

If you happen to be local and are interested in checking out the Fleet Feel Sports Fort Mill Training Groups, visit this link: https://www.fleetfeet.com/training?s=fortmill for more information and to sign up for one of our sessions (Trails is ending in 2 weeks, but Summer Sizzlin' 5K and 10K programs just started with goal races of the Greek Festival 5K and Around the Crown 10K (both that I will be running). 

Find me on Socials here:

Instagram: @runderdgirl

Twitter: @runnerdgirl