A few months ago I completed the RRCA course and became a Certified Running Coach. Aside from coaching Girls on The Run, I really had no idea what I would do with it. As a Chapter Leader for MRTT, members are often asking me questions and I figured it would be great to have some solid knowledge to give out. 
Then, the other night in a moment of weakness, I somehow convinced my husband to be my first client! Ok just for some background, my hubs hates running in fact I think he hates all exercise. He has always been very supportive of my fitness endeavors but has not hidden the fact that he pretty much thinks my friends and I are all nuts. He never understands why we wake up early on weekends to train and race when we could be sleeping. At the same time, he truly admires my dedication and determination.
I gently reminded him the other night that he has a big milestone birthday coming up mid-November and “wouldn’t it be great if he got in shape and did a 5k?” (As you can probably imagine, I’ve mentioned this a few hundred times before) I must have caught him at a weak moment because he agreed to let me train him!
I am so excited that we will be doing the Jingle all The Way 5k together December 6th! It’s a fun festive race that lots of families do together and I am going to love doing it with him and my son. Last year, my son joined me & my MRTT crew for the race.
I am resisting the urge to go hard core, all in with him because I know that will turn him off. Instead, I am drawing on my past clinical social work skills as well as my RRCA training and starting where my client is. My “client” has not done anything in the way of exercise for a long time.
I’ve devised a couch to 5k plan for him which I will be modifying as we go along based on his progress and motivation.We have 14 weeks until the 5k so plenty of time to take it slow and steady. We are starting with lots of walking mixed in with short run intervals.
I am planning on a 4 day a week schedule with the opportunity to add in extra days.
Day 1
5 minutes of walking warm up, 2 minutes of running, 5 minutes of walking
This was definitely not at all challenging but I really want to start off slowly so he feels encouraged and I don’t lose him.
The next day was supposed to be an off day however, he came home and said he wanted to run again. YES!!
Day 2
5 minutes walking warm up, 3 1/2 minutes of running, 5 minutes cool down. He clearly didn’t find it too taxing but I still think starting slow is the way to go.
Still smiling so that’s plus!
I am trying to contain my excitement but I am really optimistic. I hope, in the end, he enjoys it and feels a sense of accomplishment when we all cross the finish line together.
I will be updating his progress next month to fill you in on how I am doing as a coach.
Have you ever trained or been trained by your spouse? How did it go?
Linking up with Ann Marie, Angelina Marie, Sara & Michelle
I’m trying to convince my husband to do the same. He needs a personal trainer right 🙂 He needs a little more convincing and I’m not giving up. #relentless
Oh it took years and years!! I can’t believe he said yes
That’s so great! What a great goal to have together!
Thanks I am really excited!
Wow, that is so exciting Deborah! My husband still refuses to run or ride a bike. However, I have gotten him hokked on watching TV series while walking on the treadmill. As long as he’s in shape for us to hike or do other active things together then I suppose that works for now. Can’t wait to see how this goes! Good luck!
That works too! Good luck to both of us 🙂
What a fun project for both of you! I have not trained or been trained by the Caveman, but he is a VERY serious weight lifter to when we go to the gym, I’m happy to take pointers from him on that.
Well that sort of counts! Yes I am excited about our adventure
This is awesome!!! I wish my hubby would get into running with me too! Thanks so much for linking up!
I’m really excited it took lots of nagging for 20 years!
That’s awesome! My bf would never let me train him.. he did CrossFit so he thinks he knows more than I do 😉 (I’m a CSCS)
Sounds like a perfect project.
Thanks I am excited about it!
That is great!! What a great thing for both of you! I trained with Hubby for a half marathon before we were married, but now he no longer runs long distances. He would rather play basketball. 🙂
That sounds like fun! Before we were married we used to workout together but then he stopped too. Bait & switch!! 🙂
I am SO excited for you! How fun! if only I could get my hubby to do the same! I like the really slow start! I am just trying to get mine committed to a walk program before he takes off for hunting season, no such luck yet 🙁 good luck with your first client!
I”m so impressed that your husband is trying running! Mine won’t even walk around the block with me…but he is supportive of me, so there’s that…
Yay, that’s awesome! I think starting him out slow is the key. Mike just started his first 5k training group and I could tell he hated it the first day 🙁 But he went slower the second day and I think he felt a lot better about it. The Jingle All the Way 5k is a great choice for a first 5k, it’s so festive and so many people dress in fun costumes!
I know it’s a great race and I think it’s the perfect place to start. Maybe we will see you there?!
He sounds just like my husband. I’ve been watching for the coaching certification program to be held in a location close to me. It looks like I’ll have to give up and travel to get it done. I’d really like to take the course. Were you happy with the instruction you received? I look forward to reading about how your client progresses. Good Luck!
There were things I really liked about the course however, I would have liked a little more hands on instruction and less history of running. Yes it will be fun to see how my client progresses
Yay! I can’t wait until I get my own RRCA certification! I’m also thinking about Jason Karp’s cert, but I dunno yet.
I saw about Jason Karp’s cert and I was waiting to hear about it from someone who did it.
OMG…this is too cool! Tell the hubby to keep up the good work. He can do it!!!
This is awesome! I so want my husband to be active with me. He is doing better and he will ride his bike while I run so that’s a start! Good Luck to you both! 🙂
Hey bike riding is great too. He’s gone through phases of being more active at times but I am hoping it sticks this time.
Good for you AND your husband! You guys will have a blast running together. My husband is my competition coach, people are shocked how well we work together but we just push each other. He is not a big runner but I have gotten him to a couple of races this summer. Doing it together is just so amazing and brings you closer.
Well that’s great that he’s your coach. I am not sure how this is going to go should be interesting!
Awesome job getting your husband on board!
Thanks! I am really excited about it
This is soooooo cool!!!!! Way to go to your hubby for getting out of his comfort zone and giving it a try! Great idea to pick a goal race a while off too!
Thanks I am really exciting to do it with him!
I tried it. In fact, I needed to because of my NASM exam. But unfortunately, mine is a mr-know-it-all who does not accept to be guided.
Guess what happened? I failed miserably my exam and one of the comments were: “You have a very bad client”. 🙁
It will never happen then.
LOL that’s too funny. Not sure how this will go
i need to make my hubby read this…he needs and wants to get into more of a routine and I try to encourage without nagging with my healthy living blogger 🙂 attitude…he ran with me for two halves…he just needs someone to hold him to daily workouts
Sometimes people just need you to stand there and watch them do it. I bet you can get him back into it too
That’s so exciting he wants to start running. After many years you finally convinced him.
Yes I am really excited so far so good!
That’s awesome, Deborah! You’ve already got your husband excited to run, so it looks like you’re off to a great start! I look forward to hearing about your journey together!
Should be lots of fun if we don’t kill each other 🙂
How exciting!! So fun for you both! I used to make Will HIIT workouts to do once a week to supplement his lifting and I think he really liked them. At least he said he did! haha Looking forward to hearing about his progress!
Thanks! I hope we are still talking at the end 🙂
Aw I love this! I wrote up the training plan for my boyfriends first marathon.. we were going to run together but then he said he felt too self conscious that I was “faster” than him so we stopped doing long runs together 🙁 But he is totally hooked and always asks for advice! Makes me feel special haha. Although I don’t have any certifications so I keep telling him it’s all from personal experience 🙂
That’s really nice and a great way to bond!
How cool you are training your hubs. He seems like a good sport. I thought about getting that certification as well. I currently have ACE personal trainer but I think this would be a nice addition since I love to run and have much experience with my many marathons under my belt. Good luck w your first client!
Ah thanks so much I am excited about it!
I’m thinking of being certified as a run coach too. But I don’t think I could coach my husband…. However, once I began running he did too. With a different group so we could each go at our own pace. Do you recommend the course?
Well that works too! I liked the course but would have liked some more hands on aspects
How awesome! I’ve never trained or been trained by my husband, but I don’t think it would go over too well. We are both pretty stubborn people and not always patient with each other. He needs hand holding and gentle suggestion, while I need boot camp/drill sergeant pushing. It’s pretty funny how that works.
Best of luck! He’s going to do great and so are you!
Well lol we shall see! Thanks!
How fun! Can’t wait to follow along. Maybe I’ll be standing next to you and your husband at the start this year 😉
Wouldn’t that be fun!!
This is FABULOUS! And as someone who has been on the other side ( I was/am my husband’s first client), it has been way fun to do together. We do CrossFit but I imagine the side effects are the same 😉 Can’t wait to read more about this journey!!
Oh that’s great to hear that it’s worked for you and that you are still talking lol
Yey!! How fun!! I created a marathon training plan for my husband but he hasn’t followed it at all. He thinks he knows more than me, so he just ends up doing what he wants…so frustrating because I can guarantee he doesn’t know more than me when it comes to running 😉
Lol I am sure he doesn’t!! Yes I am excited to train with him
Aww, I think it’s so cute that you’re training your hubby!! My now-husband was my first client too when I got my personal training cert! It’s such a fun way to spend time together – at least when I wasn’t being too bossy 🙂
That’s so smart of you to start small – it looks like it’s working great! Can’t wait to hear about his progress!
Thanks! So far so good ?
You are a brave and patient woman for taking on your husband as your first client!! But it seems to be paying off so far! Can’t wait to see how the rest of the training goes as the assignments get a bit harder. He’s in great hands, I’m sure!
Thanks! Should be interesting
I love this! I am so excited for your husband and I am sure he is going to do an awesome job! My husband and I used to workout all the time together when we were first married, but he has since lost some of the enthusiasm. He did take my BODYPUMP class last weekend, so that’s progress 😉
That is progress!!
All the time! We are both coaches at our gym, but he is my coach. It is really awesome 99% of the time because he knows my strengths and weaknesses and he knows when I’m seriously struggling and when I’m just whining. 1% of the time though it is very aggravating because the coach never leaves and he is always with you, haha! No cheating on diet, mobility or goat work!
Good luck with your husband! Has he never done anything fitness related? Is he competitive enough that this 5k might spark a love of trying to be better than last time?
He has never been a fitness guy but has run in the past so we will see what happens. It’s great that you and your hubs can work together so well.
This is so exciting. I look forward to hearing how it goes. NO… I have never trained my husband. LOL
I never have either because he always said no!!
How fun! The Jingle all The Way 5k sounds like a great race to do together 🙂
It will I am so excited!
I think this is awesome! My husband is the same way so I can only imagine your excitement. Maybe there is hope for my husband yet! The only exercise he likes is hiking or sometimes going for a walk after dinner. Those nights he says he sleeps great! I suggested he can always workout at home with me. I did put HIS bike on MY trainer for Pete’s sake! But each time I suggest it, he shoots the idea down. Maybe someday… Good luck to your husband and his training! He has a lot of people cheering him on :0)
Thanks I am really excited about it! There is hope for your hubby too although I doubt he can get into those yoga poses you do!!
This is awesome! I love that your husband is your first client!!! My hubs runs but only 3 miles at a time, I convinced home to do a 10k which was great but I wish I could convince to do more!
I’d just love for him to be consistent with exercise!
That so cool he’s game! I got Vegas to run a 5K with me last year… now I’m getting her to lift with me 3x a week. It’s fun to have company!
Well that is fabulous!
Woohooo! Props to your husband, and I know how exciting that must be for you!! When I first became certified as a trainer my boyfriend was (and sometimes still is) my guinea pig for everything! He tried to make it seem like he was just wanting to be supportive of me, but I know he secretly enjoys working out 😉
that’s great! I think he secretly likes it too! We shall see
I think that’s such a cool and sweet idea! I give him tons of credit to sign up for that 5K. Awesome.
Ahhh I love this, Deborah!!
I have put Ray through a few personal training sessions, and he complains more than my clients do 😛
I know men can be such babies can’t they?!
So sweet and awesome. I love running with my husband. I have to give your husband a lot of credit for signing up for a 5K. Way to go!
ah you finally got the comments figured out yay! I am excited to train with him should be fun
I love this!!! This is so awesome! i also think it will be fun for your hubby to see you writing about his progress. He won’t want to disappoint the readers, right?! Go hubby!!! If you are reading this, we are cheering for you – you can do it!!
How is December only 14 weeks away?! CRAZY.
I look forward to following along! xx
I just read it to him! Thanks for the encouragement 🙂
What a perfect first client! In our family, it’s the opposite. My husband’s the runner, I’m not–and he has yet to convince me to join him. I’m much more of a dancer or a Pilates kind of girl.
I am just so happy that he agreed to do something active! Dancing and pilates sounds like a great combo 🙂
I didn’t really run much until 2006 and my hubby and I took it up together. We trained for and ran a 10 K together and then our first 1/2 marathon. We trained entirely on a TREADMILL! Since then we have run 2 1/2’s together, 2 10 K’s and several 5 K’s. The only bad thing about having him as a training buddy is that when one of us “goes off the health wagon” or gets injured, the other also stops working out/eating right. We are both at our heaviest we’ve ever been and we are both struggling with bad knees right now, but have decide to jump back on and are both easing into it. He is my best friend, so its a fun journey! We are both signed up to run a 1/2 in November (but we will probably run/walk it). I still feel good about that! <3
I love it! What a great story. Amazing how much you enjoy working out together and I know you will both get back there together. Good luck with your half and thanks for stopping by.
This is so exciting, and I can’t wait to see how your husband progresses! My running hubby is getting frustrated that his recovery from his knee surgery in late June is taking longer than expected. 🙁
I am excited to get him running. I always love to hear about you and your hubby running together & I hope he is back on his feet soon