Exploring Potential Through Collaboration

Rob Krar, Endurance Athlete | Coach

In my own training I have prescribed to a flexible approach that I believe has allowed me to achieve goals I once thought impossible. While I have general training goals for particular blocks including key workouts to complete and mileage targets, I believe fluidity and flexibility in training is key. How does this translate into coaching? I like to create overarching goals for a race training block based on your feedback and allow the training week to week to be a fluid dialog between the two of us. This means that you won’t see a calendar of training laid out months ahead of time. I enjoy getting to know my athletes on a personal level and understand the role running plays in your life. This guides my approach and allows me to tailor the plan to your individual needs and goals. For me running is an important part of my life, but not my whole life. Running is many things for me – a place to think, contemplate and problem solve, or, to escape the concrete jungle and noise of society and not think at all. It’s all about balance, although I’ve evolved from saying “finding balance” to “always striving to find the best balance”.

A focus on quality over quantity – meaning that I believe you can be very successful in ultra running events with lower mileage than you might imagine. I follow this in my own training, and I believe it reduces the risk of long term injury and increases the likelihood running will be a positive and life-long relationship for you. I strongly believe in strength and conditioning training and some sort of home or gym routine will be a part of my recommendations. I also value down-time, cross training, and off-seasons. Personally I enjoy switching to skis in the winter time and the mountain bike in the shoulder season to keep active but give my legs and mind a break from the running routine. I believe it is important to incorporate compatible interests and activities into the training cycle to maximize longevity and enjoyment. It’s fun to incorporate non-running races into the mix, that’s how I found myself on the Canadian Ski Mountaineering team, and how I ended up biking the Leadville 100 race as well.

I believe I have a unique perspective on how best to couple running and life. I worked a unique and demanding job for 14 years as an overnight pharmacist and that helped solidify for me the importance of rest and respecting what is going on outside your “running life” and how it impacts your training. Taking these thing into account, we will plan and adjust accordingly to arrive on the start line feeling healthy, rested and prepared.