If you’ve never had a running coach, let me describe the experience: your coach doesn’t just plan your workouts and critique your form. They also make sure you’re eating the right food and wearing supportive shoes. He or she might even make you do sit-ups when you start slouching like a 90-year-old grandma from the Planet Slow. The best coaches are a combination of ruthless drill sergeant, physical therapist, and older sibling.

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