Underperforming has gotten tiresome. I keep telling myself that I’ll get myself a solid training program and keep to it. My plan was to approach 2011 with the vigor that I had from 2006 through 2008, to use the regularity required by coaching SSRMC and apply it to myself.
Then I realized that some outside assistance might work. So I hired a coach, Sandra Inoa Khannouchi. She came to my attention through Julie, whom she coaches. It’ll be interesting to see how this turns out.
[Edited to add: It is pointed out that Sandra Khannouchi is married to, and the coach for, Khalid Khannouchi, the current American record-holder in the marathon. It was also pointed out that KK ran for Warren Street (as did Pat Peterson, another American record holder). Here’s an article from the Times which mentions KK’s dealings with my first coach (and founder of the Rock-n-Roll Marathon) Tracy Sundlun: From Morocco to Brooklyn.]
[Edited again: This article by Marc Bloom from long ago touches upon some of Sandra’s thoughts on training, especially the finishing fast in workouts (which I tried over the last 10 minutes of this morning’s trail run).]
16 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 14, 2010 at 4:35 am
Ewen
I had an inkling it might have been Sandra. It will be interesting. What if she puts Julie in and keeps you on the bench?
November 14, 2010 at 7:09 am
Dave B
So the coach hired a coach?! I think it’s a great idea – I’ll be curious to hear your views on it.
November 14, 2010 at 7:49 am
Stephane
Her husband used to run with Warren Street : http://www.warrenstreet.org/halloffame.htm
November 14, 2010 at 8:28 am
threlkeld
Three items:
1. Sandra goes by “Khannouchi”
2. WS needs to update its website: Khalid is the current American record holder (which I think looks a little snazzier than “Former world record holder”).
3. Hooray! You can come do workouts with me in the pool. 🙂
November 14, 2010 at 9:07 am
joegarland
A fact that I pointed out to a CPTCer who was talking about how wonderful he was at its fund-raiser. (I also noted he was one of two WSSACers who held the American record in the marathon.)
November 14, 2010 at 11:58 am
Stephane
the ws website is a joke. It needs a facelift. We were hoping Joe would take over but he’s too busy with his blog and facebook
KK has no attitude, always waving back at runners. He’s not from New York though.
November 14, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Julie
I spent 90 mins interviewing Khalid yesterday for something I’m working on. He and Sandra are genuinely lovely people.
November 14, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Alex Gardner
Joe, Will be very interested to see where this leads for you! Do you have any specific goals (time / race), or just improved performance in general? –Alex
November 14, 2010 at 4:48 pm
joegarland
Alex, when I told her my objective was to win an age-group award at NYC 2011 she scoffed at the idea. “Why not aim for the win?” she asked. So that’s the objective, as well as doing well in NYRR’s club races throughout the year.
How it goes, is the big question.
November 14, 2010 at 10:40 pm
threlkeld
Hee hee. That sounds like Sandra.
November 19, 2010 at 11:52 pm
TK
that is so exciting!
November 14, 2010 at 8:51 pm
joegarland
An old Marc Bloom article on Sandra and Khalid Khannouchi.
November 19, 2010 at 11:51 pm
TK
Congrats Joe! A fine move on your part.
November 24, 2010 at 4:07 pm
Alex
Go for the win! I LOVE it! I hope to be there myself November 2011, merely having earned a qualifying position. We’ll see how Houston goes.
December 5, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Joe K 10K « RunWestchester
[…] was that race. Sondra wanted a race to get a baseline of my condition. This was a club race too. So into the City I drove […]
December 31, 2010 at 9:28 am
Year’s End « RunWestchester
[…] I’ve committed to working with a coach. It’s early days yet, but I think she’ll provide the focus I need to improve my […]