We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful JANET HAMILTON. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with JANET below.

Hi JANET, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

My parents did a LOT of things right! They set the stage for me by nurturing my curiosity and creativity. My mom was funny and had a passion for music and exposed me to many different genres and gave me the gift of singing. My dad took me under his wing when I was very young and taught me all about how to fix cars and build things and sail boats. My maternal grandmother helped form my interest in Physical Therapy at a young age when she “interviewed” me; asking me about things I liked to do, and as a result I knew from my early-teens what I wanted to be when I grew up. This gave me a sense of direction and purpose for all the studying in high school, and with the help of summer jobs and my parents assistance I was able to complete college without mountains of debt. They taught me the importance of budgeting and saving from a very young age and showed me how to live a frugal lifestyle. My dad taught me to “pay myself first” by putting a portion of every paycheck into a savings account. This pattern enabled me to later go on for a graduate degree in Exercise Physiology without taking on student debt. My mom worked as a Patient Assistance Coordinator at a hospital and taught me that the most important thing I could do for my patients (and later my clients) was to really listen to them and to hear the stories they had to share. By listening you open the door to better communication and ultimately better outcomes. I am tremendously grateful for all my family did to give me the opportunities I have. My only sadness is that they have all passed now.

JANET, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Running Strong Professional Coaching came about gradually over the course of a couple of years. I had been working in orthopedic physical therapy practices for many years and had found a niche working with injured runners and walkers. After completing my master’s degree in Exercise Physiology I started to appreciate that many of those injuries could be avoided if the training plans those athletes were following were more specifically aligned with their current fitness level. I found that many athletes, left to their own devices, beat themselves up with training paces that are inappropriate or training progressions that are unsustainable. I started coaching with the Portland Marathon Training Clinic in Portland Oregon and found some success there. Then when my husband and I moved to the Atlanta area from Portland in 2000, I decided to give up clinical practice and start my own business.

I work with athletes all across the country and even internationally. I’ve coached runners from places as far away as Korea, Germany, Russia, Canada and Australia. The beauty of the internet is that we can bridge the miles between us and be connected via video and email quite easily. The extensive initial evaluation via video gives me the opportunity to assess not only functional strength and flexibility and structure – but also get to know about each athlete’s background and history. We really get to connect face to face. Specific slow-motion gait analysis is easy to accomplish with the quality of video that can be shot on the typical smart phone and uploaded to the cloud. I can evaluate to see if a different pair of shoes, or perhaps subtle changes in an athlete’s form can help reduce loads and injury risk. By learning more about an athlete’s past training, racing and injury history, and then combining that information with the goals they’ve established I can design a physiologically sound and systematic training program based on each individual. I don’t do “canned” training plans – each one is unique to the athlete I’m working with and their individual goals, challenges, life constraints, injury patterns and current fitness level.

I’m most proud of the fact that I work with a wide variety of people from the very beginner who wants to run and doesn’t know where to start, to the most advanced athlete training for 50-100 mile trail races. Knowing when to push ahead and when to hold back is a challenge for many athletes to sort out on their own. Hiring a coach may seem like a luxury to some, but the value becomes apparent when you realize the importance of having someone to show the way, map out your path, and help you adjust when needed. My job is to be your guide, to help you achieve your goals and to get you to the start line of your event injury free, properly fueled and hydrated, mentally prepared and optimally trained. Toeing the line injury free is #1.

I am grateful for each athlete I’ve coached over the years and the journeys we’ve taken together. It’s been an honor. Each one is unique, so my job never gets old. From the 16 year old trying to make the state finals, to the 75 year old training to walk a marathon, to the nurse trying to juggle long shifts and marathon training, the variety keeps me sharp. Watching each athlete attain their goal is an incredible reward.

I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing!

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would absolutely choose the same path again. This journey has been remarkable. In addition to coaching runners I was able to teach coaching seminars around the country for the Road Runners Club of America for many years. In addition to that I was fortunate enough to be hired as an Assistant Professor at Clayton State University from 2000 to 2007 and played a key role in developing their Health and Fitness Management major. The profession of teaching and the profession of coaching share some wonderful similarities and to be able to do both along the way has been tremendously rewarding.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Honestly most of my business comes from word-of-mouth from satisfied athletes I’ve coached. In the beginning, the opportunity to teach the coaching certification seminars for the Road Runners Club of America allowed me to gain exposure to athletes across the country. Some of those athletes went on to become certified coaches themselves and some hired me to coach them along the way. I was on the board of advisors for Runners World Magazine for a time and this also gave me some exposure. I think a big part of building a reputation is based on your proven knowledge (a solid education in your field) and your focus on each individual client you work with.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://runningstrong.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/www.runningstrong
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janet-hamilton-939163b/
• Twitter: @RunningStrong1

Image Credits
Janet Hamilton