Running Clubs

I was talking with my sister recently and she mentioned how she has purchased a personal trainer package at her gym. At first I dismissed it as something that I would do as I don’t go to the gym and am a runner. I just go out and run. But then she kept talking about how her personal trainer would push her to her limits and how she was then pushing herself more when she worked out without him. She wouldn’t push herself as hard has the trainer would, but it would be more than she did before talking with him. And that got me thinking.

I do horrible on pushing myself. It takes a lot to get me out the door, going faster to get faster, or pushing through to the very last mile. And I have to get out the door, I have to get faster and I have to finish all the miles --- I have not one, not two, but three ½ marathons this summer! While I’m certain that I will finish them (I completed the 2003 Chicago Marathon with only 3 training runs and one was just a walk in the park – literally). But I want to be able to finish strong….finish and not die (or feel like it)….finish within certain times (not hard fast ones, but I have some times that I would love to see!)….finish and enjoy the experience. So maybe, just maybe a running trainer is what I need. Thoughts?

I started to look into it last night and found that they vary – from running clubs (people getting together to run around) to training programs (scheduled runs together and some coaching to improve) to full on training ‘lifestyles’ (running together, cross train, strength train, nutrition information – the works!). I’m thinking that the best for me would be training program. Something that has a group run once or twice a week with a training program and some coaching to improve my performance. But which one? Does anyone have experience with them? Any suggestions?