running school

There is a new sweatshop opened on trump street in london. Within the building is a running school. I went for a free BMA and they want to sell me 8 x running personal training sessions for ??380. its a lot of cash. Does anyone have any experience of the running school (there is one in chiswick) is it worth all that cash? Thanks!

Comments

  • WilkieWilkie ✭✭✭

    I've no experience of this, but it sounds like a lot of money!    I wouldn't bother, personally.

    Join a club for a lot less money and get advice and guidance there.

  • Thanks Wilkie! I am a member of a club, but the training is more geared for groups doing speed/hills/endurance sessions not personal technique.... Maybe I will ask my club too..... Thing is I've had a couple of injuries this year (stress fractures) and I'm worried its because of my form?
  • at nearly £50 a session.why on earth would they think you need to sign up to 8........if they were that good one or maybe two would be enough surely..........

    you might get the idea after one session and then only a quick follow up would be needed..........

    do they supply details of what would happen in these personal sessions and how they assess things..........

     I would have a hell of a lot of questions before i would consider parting with that kind of money.............

    I would want to know what they thought they could do to prevent injuries that your natural running style would do....and how do they assess if its your form.or if there is an underlying problem such as weak glute muscles that are the cause of the injuries

  • I had an email from The Running School earlier this week so I had a good nose around their website. It does look very interesting (they do a biomechanical analysis as part of the first session and then tailor the training over following sessions to that) but I'm not sure that I could justify spending so much on it, given the standard of athlete I am image

    I think it depends what you want to achieve, if you are looking for personal training that includes biomechanical analysis and the video sessions so you can watch your running style back, and you have the budget to pay £50 an hour for PT then it might be quite good.

    I'd be a bit cautious about biomechanical analysis done on a treadmill because I hardly use them in my normal training and I know that I run differently on them. I've seen a couple of other places that do running courses where they take you out to a park and video you (Matt Roberts is one) but they are all similar price.

    Check out each branch of the Running School if you are interested though, because when I looked the branch in the City seemed to be more expensive that the ones further out. (Don't get me wrong, they were all expensive, but the City one seemed to be even more so)

  • So what are the staffs qualifications.are they trained physios that have specialised in sports 

  • cealceal ✭✭✭
    I have experience of the running school and can't recommend them highly enough. Learn to run with the correct technique and strengthen one's body where work is needed and injuries can be prevented from happening. If you can afford it then it is money well spent. I run in a different way now and no longer have so many aches and pains after a run that I used to suffer from.



    In short one is taught to run properly. My running feels much more free and fluid now. I had the talent now I have style too.
  • Here you go Seren, listed on the website http://www.runningschool.co.uk/about-us/meet-the-team/

    Ceal, did you just do a 6 session course? Did you need to go back for any other consultations or did you find that the initial course "fixed" you?

  • Thanks xine....looks interesting.the main ones seem very well qualified..........our local one is a trained fitness instructor so would want to know a bit more.

    but if Ceal recommends it then they are obviously not a fly by night place...........

  • There's probably too little emphasis on coaching good form and too much on fitness.    Contructing a programme to get fit is pretty simple with a bit of thought but learning correct form and technique in any sport is harder without expert advice - of course some will be lucky and run well naturally but those of us who haven't run continuously since childhood are unlikely to be in that group.   

    I'd certainly be interested in hearing more about what they do and what they advise there is anyone knows ?

  • It says on the site - that the running coach and manager Verity is an ex county level runner with a 10k personal best of 32:06 but now dedicates herself to her passion rowing. I looked at the All time rankings at both 10K and 10,000 metres and she doesn't appear on either so have to doubt their claims - Couldn't find Michale Nicol the other member of the coaching team either - although I suppose just because they don't run they can't be good coaches - I am just dubious as I think any good club coach should be able to help. The running school does have a FaceBook Page so I am going to ask about her PB on there

  • Grendel3 wrote (see)

    It says on the site - that the running coach and manager Verity is an ex county level runner with a 10k personal best of 32:06 but now dedicates herself to her passion rowing. I looked at the All time rankings at both 10K and 10,000 metres and she doesn't appear on either so have to doubt their claims -

    I too thought it a little odd that for someone who has a PB which matches the fastest 10k time run in the UK this year, a Google search of her name + running doesn't actually yield anything.  Maybe she's changed her name.  image

  • Waste of money - class all this stuff with fancy personal trainers and all that baloney.

    Good editorial in AW a few weeks ago about this. How you can either get your ego massaged by an expensive personal trainer or, be shouted at by an old narly 2.10 marathon runner to go faster while you do your reps in the dark and rain.

    My moneys on improving under the latter.

     

  • I think it very much depends on the individual trainers as to how valuable this is. As I understand it, it's a franchise, so different people will set it up in different places. I've used them, and although it's expensive, I reckon I've saved myself money on physio and injury in the long run.



    The trainer I saw concentrated very much on running form, as that was what I went for. I wasn't looking for a training plan as I already had one sorted, but they would do that if you want. For me, it helped me to identify and correct some long-standing issues rating to an uneven gait, and I can now comfortably run faster for the same effort. Knocked over 10 minutes off my marathon time too. Other running trainers are, as they say, available, but I had a good experience with them.
  • cealceal ✭✭✭
    Running Rodant

    A good post, and I agree with you.





    I actually had a few more sessions than just 6 but only because I thought I was worth it. I always used to be injured at the end of everyday track season but for the last 2 years I haven't (says she touching wood). I have just raced in Hyde Park and can still pull out a race time which give me a 99+% age grading.



    I can't speak for Verity's time for a 10k but I think she stopped running quite some considerable time ago. So maybe her name won't be on power of 10 lists. She is an excellent trainer.



    I take in board that the franchise schools are dependant on their trainers. I have only visited the school in Chiswick, but I am sure that the new London one will have the best of the trainers from the School.



    I think that the technique is the main reason for going to the RS. As many say one can pick up a schedule anywhere, but I do believe that many of us overtrain following some of these schedules, but not all of course.
  • I would agree with Ceal and disagree with Popsider and SC2. I had my first session yesterday. My brother just finished his course and feels like a little boy who's 'just got a new bike for Christmas' !

    It's very much based on running form not fitness.

    I'm in it to try and kick a recurring ITB problem in left knee. I'll let you know how it goes!

  • Just looked on te south wales website and it states the next open day is may 2012.....bit worried that the website is so out of date.fancied an open day to learn more

  • cealceal ✭✭✭
    Seren nos

    I just had a look on their South Wales website and if you look to the right of where you read about the May open Day you will see this:-









    The Running School has regular Open Days where you are welcome to come along, meet us and have a free Biomechanical Analysis.



    Our next open days are May 19, July 14 and Sep 22



    If you are unable to attend on any of these days, please get in touch anyway as we will endeavour to find a time to suit.







    Why don't you give them a call?
  • I wonder if the people who do the free biomechanical analyses ever tell people that they're fine and it's not really worth spending £50 a session for what they can offer. "keep up the good work, on you go now"

  • Yes, heh AG, not sure that would be good business sense! For what it's worth, my brother did Running School too, and the advice they gave him in the analysis was totally different to mine. His was more like 'basically good with these pointers' whereas mine was more like ah, well, there's this, this, this, this and this!! We need to take you apart and put you back together!!

  • I just had a free 30 min gait analyses session at the Chiswich branch as part of their Open Day. 

    I'm also part of a running club and get a lot of feedback from the guys there, however I was ASTOUNDED to see myself running. They film you running on a treadmill from the back and from the side, then sit you down and talk through the analysis. This was so helpful to me, as a lot of what they were explaining correlates to some on-going niggles I've been getting. 

    The 6 sessions for £260 sounds steep, so I'm still deciding, but the free taster was so informative and impressive I think it may be worth it in the long run. I also work at an osteopathic practice so get regular treatments there, however this running school says it can change your running form and technique, which will hopefully fix repetetive niggly issues I keep getting. 

    It depends what you're going in for - but I'm sure most runners wish they could be more efficient or better their technique/PBs.

    If you get a chance to do a free trial session, go for it! 

  • I didn't realise that they did free biomechanical analysis ... I will have to check it out. I'm a bit scared of seeing how I actually run though image image

  • Kat - Have you heard of Move Clinics in Chiswick? They offer  free running technique sessions every Saturday . http://www.moverunning.com/runningtechniquesessions.html  They're a great clinic.

    ETA - No, I'm not on commission, related to them etc image

  • Iklebutn Miles wrote (see)

    I would agree with Ceal and disagree with Popsider and SC2. I had my first session yesterday. My brother just finished his course and feels like a little boy who's 'just got a new bike for Christmas' !

    It's very much based on running form not fitness.

    I'm in it to try and kick a recurring ITB problem in left knee. I'll let you know how it goes!

    Sorry to resussitate an old thread, but did the sessions at the running school solve your ITB problem? I've been suffering with a recurring ITB issue for a long time and looking at options to help with it (lready tried a few things ... had physio, got orthotics ... ). 

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