Online coaching grows in popularity

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll ... ate=pdaart

Published: January 14, 2006
Run to web, get some tips
Online coaching help grows in popularity

By JESSICA HOPP
Staff Writer

Bonnie LaFleur has plenty of things to say about her running coach.

He's smart. He's experienced. He's got a good approach.

Oh, and one more thing: He's 860 miles away.

For a little over a year, LaFleur has trained with coach Greg McMillan. Although LaFleur lives in Nashville and McMillian works in Austin, Texas, the coach has helped her become a more successful and motivated runner.

It's all thanks to the Internet.

With their fingers on keyboards most of the day, more runners are turning to the Internet for training advice. And with New Year's resolutions abounding and training for events like Nashville's Country Music Marathon about to kick into high gear, now is the time to find a training coach.

"A lot of running is about communication," said McMillan, a Dickson County High School graduate and the 1987 Tennessee state champion in the 1,600 meters, who now offers online training through his Web site, www.mcmillanrunning.com.

"Today it is so easy to communicate with people all around the world. My athletes always have access to me because I always have my cell (phone) on me, and we are really becoming an e-mail society. That ease of communication has broken down many distance barriers that we may have had.

"Really it doesn't seem to matter where you live any more because our lines of communication are so strong."

LaFleur became a client of McMillan's in October 2004 when her boyfriend, Dean Billheimer, got her a three month online membership for her birthday. Online memberships can range from $39-$95 a month depending on the trainer and the program.

Billheimer is an avid runner who LaFleur said has "every running book known to man." He had tried to coach LaFleur himself, but because she was just a beginner, he thought McMillan would be a better trainer. LaFleur has been with McMillan ever since.

"There are some phenomenal coaches in Nashville," said LaFleur, 43, who works in the Department of Biostatistics at Vanderbilt Medical Center. "But I really like Greg. He's a smart coach, and when I say smart I mean he seems to understand the science behind what he does. He really has helped me."

Runners turn to online coaching for many reasons, the most common being customized training schedules. They are looking for more than just the cookie cutter schedules that many Web sites offer â€â€

[Mecham]

I remember there was a site posted on here that had a coach/tip/critique(er) or something for the pole vault. I sent a video to them and in no time i got an awesome detailed answer. I would recommend it if you want some help. From what i remember it was free, maybe it was just a trial or something but it was cool. I'll see if i can find the link

[Mecham]

Found It....

http://www.vaultmonster.com/videoanalysis.htm

Give it a try!!

p.s. post 900!!