New Athlete Welcome Letter!
Hello, and welcome! I’m thrilled to join you on your running journey and want to ensure our communication is seamless. You can reach out to me anytime via email at willbaldwinok@gmail.com or by text or whatsapp
Table of Contents
Your Account
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The Power of Feedback: Elevating Your Training Plan
Effective communication is a cornerstone of our coach-athlete relationship, and your feedback plays a vital role in tailoring your training experience.
I encourage every athlete to leave a brief note after each run or activity. Whether it’s a quick reflection on how you felt, any signs of injuries or soreness, or suggestions on adjusting the workout schedule, these details are invaluable. Your insights help me craft a personalized, high-quality training plan that aligns with your fitness level, goals, and needs.
I also have an optional weekly feedback form to hear more from athletes about how they are feeling about training so that I can serve them better. It will often be floating around on your calendar as well. https://forms.gle/2w5BrmYzaecEAN8GA
Schedule a Call for In-Depth Discussions
For more in-depth discussions, especially before and after important races, please consider scheduling a call through this link: https://calendly.com/willbaldwin/30. It’s an excellent opportunity to go over, in-depth, any questions you might have accumulated during training. Whether it’s choosing the right pair of shoes, refining your fueling strategy, or planning your race calendar, we can go over anything!
If calls aren’t your preference or when life is hectic, feel free to compile your questions in an email or text, and I’ll respond to all of them in great detail. I love answering questions for my athletes, so please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Flexibility in Your Training Plan
I understand that life is dynamic, and schedules may need adjustments. If the weather or unforeseen circumstances affect your training day, don’t hesitate to move workouts within a day. You can make these changes on your end, or I can assist you. However, it’s advisable not to shift workouts more than one day forward or backward. If you completely miss a session, the default is to skip it and return to what’s next on the schedule. We can always discuss modification options if needed. Whenever in doubt, reach out.
Flexibility also applies to the pace ranges given as well as the time totals given for runs. Our bodies are complex, dynamic, biological structures. That won’t be able to run the exact paces we want every workout. Be flexible and adapt the paces when it feels right to do so. It is perfectly okay and normal to be slightly off of the pace for a given workout. Many runs are given in ‘time’ over ‘miles.’ When we’re feeling great, it’s perfectly okay to add 5-10 minutes to the end of a run and vice versa on the days it’s not going so well.
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The Training Calendar
I write training schedules on a Monday to Sunday schedule, so if your calendar lets you choose the start of the week, go with Monday (instead of Sunday).
Super important: Please put any relevant information directly onto the training calendar. Once you have signed up for a race or decided that you’re going to do an event, immediately put it on the calendar. If you have any planned time off, vacations you won’t be able to run on, travel days, work, etc, or anything that impacts the training schedule, please put it on the calendar ASAP.
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Bring a Friend and Amplify Your Success!
Training becomes even more rewarding—and effective—when shared with someone else. Did you know athletes who train with a friend or spouse are significantly more likely to stay consistent and reach their goals? If there’s someone in your life who might benefit from running alongside you, feel free to introduce us! Training partners provide extra motivation, accountability, and fun, making every step of your journey that much more enjoyable. Let me know if you’d like more details about special programs or incentives for training together.
Harnessing the Power of GPS: A Game Changer in Training
A GPS watch is a game-changer and almost a necessity to effectively track your training. Garmin has been the industry standard for a long time, but we can absolutely still work with any other GPS device, such as a Coros or an Apple Watch. If you have a Garmin, connect it to the coaching platform through Garmin Connect (not strava). When connected to our platform, we’re able to sync the workouts directly to the watch! Also, if you have a Garmin and are looking for more GPS accuracy, switch your GPS setting to GPS + GLONASS for the best results.
Starting Slow: The Secret to Successful Runs
One of the most crucial training tips I can give is to begin your runs and workouts at a slower pace. This is especially true for the warm-ups before workouts and the first few miles of an easy run. Your first mile should be one of your slowest, setting the tone for a sustainable and effective session.
I’ll begin reviewing your last little bit of training. I love to get on a call within the first month to review any questions and ensure you feel 100% about everything we’re doing! I am glad to have you aboard!
Stay Connected Beyond Training!
I’d love for you to connect with me outside of just our coaching platform! You can find me on Strava, and I’m also sharing valuable training insights, race strategy breakdowns, and behind-the-scenes coaching thoughts on YouTube.
Most importantly, I have a podcast, Mind Your Miles, where I cover topics like race pacing, goal setting, and training insights to help you become a better runner. You can check it out here:
🎙 Mind Your Miles Podcast
Follow along, ask questions, and be part of the conversation! I’m always sharing things that will help you level up your running.
Sweet Deals
We got a pretty sweet hookup and discount from Running Warehouse for the entire RunBaldwin community. Buy yourself some running gear to get yourself feeling nice! Look good, feel good!.
Use this code
2PK52FZT
- 20% OFF
- Clothing
- Socks
- 10% OFF
- Select Clearance Shoes
- Nutrtion
- Hats and Visors
Secondly Naked Belts
Naked Belt has also given the RunBaldwin team a discount!
Please use code RUNBALDWIN20 for 20% off everything except sale items.
I’ve carried so much fuel with these belts and I specifically asked for them to give us a discount because I love and recommend their products so much!
https://nakedsportsinnovations.com/
🌀 OMIUS Cooling Gear
If you’ve ever overheated mid-run, I can’t recommend OMIUS headbands and cooling tech enough. These are used by elite athletes and endurance pros around the world.
Athlete Discount:
Use code THANKSCOACHBALDWIN for 20% off anything on the site. This one’s good for unlimited use, so stock up or share with your training partners.
👉 Shop here
Gear That Actually Makes Training Easier
Over the years, I’ve tested a lot of gear. Some of it is great. A lot of it isn’t worth your money.
To save athletes time, stress, and bad purchases, I put together a complete running gear guide with what I actually recommend and why.
This includes shoes, watches, hydration, fueling, recovery tools, and the stuff that genuinely helps you train more consistently and stay healthy.👉 https://www.runbaldwin.com/running-gear/
Mind Your Miles Podcast
If ya didn’t already know, I’ve been doing a podcast with my friends who are also running coaches. It’s got lots of great info and insights. If you listen to it and rate it 5 stars I will name my next child after you. No exceptions.
-Will
