frequently asked questions
how do i know if coaching is a good idea for me, or if you’re the right coach for me?
You might be interested in coaching with me if:
You are an experienced runner who wants to form a new relationship with running centered around enjoyment, emotional growth, and sustainability
You are new to running and don’t want to be in this journey alone
You want to grow as an athlete and become someone who can coach themselves, train intuitively, understand their inner landscape, and enjoy the process
You know running offers opportunities for emotional growth but you’re not finding enough of that on your own and you want to more intentionally pursue that element of running
You doubt yourself as a runner and want to practice living in tune with your inner strength and confidence
We’ll be a good fit if you:
Want to truly enjoy running. You have goals but you also have a full life and you don't believe in a “success at all costs” approach
Are willing to talk about your inner world - your emotions, sources of stress, mental blocks, inner voices, etc.
Are comfortable not using too much data in your training. We will track runs by either distance or time, and workouts can be done either by prescribed pace or effort
Know there are no magic solutions to any of this. Change is not linear, but it will come with enough consistency, introspection, and hard work
Already hold or are willing to explore a positive relationship with food and your body that moves away from diet culture
We might not be a good fit if you:
Are committed to listening to everything your smartwatch says and need lots of data - on your “recovery level,” nutrition details, VO2 max, etc
Are not willing to talk openly about your emotions, sources of stress, mental blocks etc.
Believe there is a certain magical combination of workouts or training style that will bring you success
Expect success will be easy, quick, or guaranteed
Want all runs to have a prescribed pace instead of running by effort
Are looking for a restrictive meal plan, prescribed macros, or a weight loss plan
Who will my coach be?
Me: Caitlin Hudson.
what if i get injured?
While there are no guarantees that you won’t get injured, you are less likely to get injured when you work with a coach, because together we’ll be evaluating all the little aches and pains that come up and adjusting your training accordingly. You’ll start to learn for yourself when to back off and when to keep going.
If you do get hurt, that’s an excellent time to NOT give up on all your health and fitness goals. We can work together on a cross training plan, strength rehab, and most importantly - processing the challenging emotions of an injury.
what’s your running story? What does your running look like now?
I started running when I was 13 because my best friend Tori made me promise I’d do track with her or she wouldn’t walk me home (3 houses away) in the dark. Clearly, I didn’t really think it through.I ran through high school and college, racing distances from 800m to 6k. After college I ran my first marathon, the NYC Marathon, for Fred’s Team, which was the most fun day of my life! I wasn’t too smart about my training back then though, and I was unable to run for 3 years after that due to injuries in both feet.
During this time of injury, I came to actually enjoy other physical movement for the first time - swimming, biking, yoga, and strength training. Since starting to run again I have a whole new appreciation for every run, for the way running forces you to fiercely take care of yourself, and for the lessons learned on the run.
As I write this in early 2022, I am about 6 months into my return to running after taking a year off during pregnancy and the first few months postpartum. Most weeks I run 4 days, strength train, practice yoga, and go on walks, and I always take one day completely off. I am taking submission grappling lessons to learn self defense and I am training for the Smith Rock Ascent 25k.
how can i work with you in person?
While most of my coaching happens virtually, I do offer in-person personal training that can include strength workouts, HIIT, and/or yoga. I also offer individually coached running workouts. We can meet in my backyard or a nearby park in SE Portland, or somewhere closer to you. Rates vary based on location and frequency of sessions - email me and tell me what you’re looking for.
If you’d like to work with me in person in a group setting, you can join Team Athena - Portland’s only women's track club.
why should i trust you?
You shouldn’t! At least not yet. I’m just some person you found on the internet. I’d love to talk with you on the phone and then you can decide if I’m someone you want to trust and work with. Sign up for a free 30 minute consultation call here.