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Click to view sauceymic's profile Rookie
sauceymic
2 posts since
Apr 11, 2006

Apr 11, 2006 4:58 PM

Who would be your dream coach?

If you could get any coach that's alive today to write you a personal program from your current race time for any distance, short (track) distance or road race, who would it be and for what distance?

I would say Frank Shorter for marathon and Brooks Johnson for 1500m.

Who is the greatest that is still alive?
Click to view cowardlylion's profile Pro
cowardlylion
107 posts since
Feb 1, 2006
1. Apr 11, 2006 8:51 PM in response to: sauceymic
While admitting my knowledge is only from afar, I'm not particularly impressed with Brooks Johnson. Many others use much more disparaging terms to describe him.

Since Arthur Lydiard is dead, I'd go with someone like Nobby Hashuzime or Glenn McCarthy, one who really understands the system. Bill Squires might be a good choice, too. He coached world-beaters and ordinary schmoes.
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Click to view megapronator's profile Legend
megapronator
280 posts since
Nov 6, 2000
2. Apr 13, 2006 12:35 PM in response to: sauceymic
I think this is a great topic, but I'm wondering why it isn't getting more posts. Maybe it would do better in the Competitive Wire.

I think a great coach needs to be more than just a big name. The coach needs to be a good fit with the runner, as well as have the ability to actually coach. I would love to hang out with Frank Shorter and talk, but he doesn't coach that I'm aware of. Someone can be a great runner, but a terrible coach.

I have a great coach now - Dick Brown - who has be near the top of anyone's list. I've also been coached by Laszlo Tabori, who is also a superb coach. But thier styles are dramatically different, so most runners would like one and not the other.

I have no intention of changing coaches, but if I needed a new coach I would look at Alberto Salazar. I've talked to him a little, and I like his coaching style. Bill Dellinger is still doing some coaching. He is a legend, although I don't know much about his coaching. I've seen some of his schedules, but I don't know the personality.

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Click to view GoDawgGo's profile Pro
GoDawgGo
123 posts since
Jul 1, 2005
3. Dec 20, 2007 9:45 PM in response to: sauceymic
That's a good question and one that I probably don't have an answer for myself. I would love to pick a lot of people's brains...Renato Canova, Brad Hudson, Daniels, Mark Wetmore, etc. However, without knowing their personalities, I don't know if I could mesh with them.

Thinking about my work career, I have always gotten along better with my female bosses. Can anyone throw some good womens coaches names my way?

http://This message has been edited by GoDawgGo (edited Apr-13-2006).
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Click to view windycity's profile Expert
windycity
45 posts since
Jan 13, 2005
4. Apr 13, 2006 3:57 PM in response to: sauceymic
Great topic!
Without knowing him personally, I would have to go with Joe Vigil. From everything I have seen his athletes do, and everything I have heard throught the grapevine, I have not seen anyone get his athletes to perform as close to their potential better than he has.
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Click to view mikeymike013's profile Pro
mikeymike013
71 posts since
Apr 9, 2006
5. Apr 13, 2006 10:00 PM in response to: sauceymic
quote:<HR>Originally posted by megapronator:
I think this is a great topic, but I'm wondering why it isn't getting more posts. Maybe it would do better in the Competitive Wire.
<HR>

I think you answered your own question later in the post. A great coach needs to be a good fit with the runner. If it were truly just a matter of writing a program you wouldn't need a the coach at all--a lot of the good ones have written books so just go buy one. Since most people on this board have never had a coach--and the ones that have have probably only ever had one or two--it should be tough to answer.

Personally the only relatively well known coach I've ever had the chance to work with was Bill Squires. His style is definitely not for everyone but I liked him a lot. So if I thought I really needed a coach for long distance I would probably try to track him down. If I thought I needed a coach for 800 meters, however, I'd probably go find my high school coach from the late 80's.
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