Art Steiber – Detroit Running Coach

Description

Detroit running coach Art Steiber has been running for over 40 years and specializes in beginner runners getting started, casual runners get faster, and intermediate runners move up from finishing in the middle of the pack in their local road races.

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LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: Google Docs
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Sterling Heights, MI

SPECIALTIES

Based on my 40 years of running and racing all distances I can help beginning runners get started, casual runners get faster, and intermediate runners move up from finishing in the middle of the pack in their local road races. I’ll build you a customized plan based on your current level of fitness and your goals.

We’ll talk so I understand your goals and needs and I’ll give you direction and support on everything from stretching, training plans, speedwork, running gear, race prep, and recovery. No matter if you’ve just started running recently or have been running for a while but not really training, I can help you get to the next level, whatever that is for you.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe almost anyone can run and they can run faster and farther than they think. Most people greatly underestimate what they can accomplish, so they often don’t even try to improve. The more obstacles and hard things you accomplish, and the more you push yourself out of your comfort zone, the more you’ll train your body and mind to say, “I CAN do hard things!” and then hard things don’t seem so hard anymore. This carries over to all areas of your life, from fitness, to career, to family, to any other role you have.

I help coach average people to build a consistent, healthy running lifestyle that will help them meet their goals. Everyone is unique. Our backgrounds, experiences, lifestyles, bodies, and goals are different. I work to understand your situation and goals and then develop a custom fitness program that fits your needs.

• Maybe you have never run, and you want to try it.
• Maybe you jog a little, but you want to finish a local 5k race.
• Maybe you’ve finished a few races but want to run faster.
• Maybe you’ve been running a while and want to do a half marathon or marathon.

In all these cases, I can help you stay focused, healthy, inspired and on course to meet your goal. What works for someone else may not work for you. A generic training plan you find online doesn’t take into consideration your current level of fitness and running experience. As a coach I want you to succeed so I not only develop a training plan for you but I work with you to monitor, adjust and encourage so you have the best running experience.

I’m not a “rah-rah cheerleader” coach but will help motivate and keep you accountable in a fun, friendly way. Running should be fun and so is achieving your goals!

COACHING EXPERIENCE

My coaching experience has been informal for years as I’ve always answered questions and given running advice to friends and family since they know I’ve been a serious runner for decades. I’ve always enjoyed helping casual runners get more serious and train for a race or a new distance. As a life long student of running, health and fitness, I decided to complete the RRCA (Road Runners Club of America) coaching course and am now a RRCA Certified Running Coach.

ABOUT ME

I’ve been running races for over 40 years. I started running in school and did a few local races and was hooked. For years I thought training meant just go out and run. I ran the same distance and same speed every day. I wasn’t getting any faster and would finish in the middle of the pack in my age group in every race. I liked racing but wanted to do better. So, I started reading and studying and learning about runners. Then as I built training plans for myself I started getting faster and winning some races. I’ve gotten faster and more fit over the decades and am still running strong and competing.

In 2019 I placed in the Michigan Senior Olympics (for ages 50+) and qualified to compete in the 5k and 10k at the National Senior Games in New Mexico. I enjoy helping people and encouraging them to grow, be active and achieve their goals.

I have lived in the Detroit, MI area my entire life and love it. My wife and I are now empty-nesters as our two grown sons are on their own. In addition to running and racing I enjoy golf, biking, casual hiking, travel, music, and volunteering at my church.
One of my favorite quotes is from Ferris Bueller – “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around once in a while you could miss it.”

Learn more about me on my blog: TheRealARTofRunning.com

BIG INFLUENCES

When I first began running I was influenced by reading about the first “big names” in American distance running like Frank Shorter and Bill Rodgers. Also, the story of Steve Prefontaine and his approach to racing was motivating even though it’s a tragic story.

Now I’m also influenced by many current authors, runners and experts like Dr. Philip Maffetone, Dr. Mark Cucuzzella, Scott Jurek, Christopher McDougall, Dean Karnazes and others.

RACING HISTORY

I’ve run too many 5k and 10k races to count plus more than a dozen half marathons and five full marathons. In recent years I’ve trained more and gotten more competitive and am placing in many races. My favorite part of 5k and 10k races is picking out someone running near me as we approach the finish line and encouraging them to race me in with a strong all-out kick for the fans to watch.

My favorite marathon experience was at my second Detroit International Marathon. I fell into a pace group with a woman from Iowa who had never run a marathon and had never been to Detroit. When she began to struggle with the distance, I became a tour guide and told her all about the parts of the city as we ran through various neighborhoods. At the end she said she would not have finished the race if I hadn’t kept her going and I felt the exact same way! She took my mind off the distance and pain of the marathon. (Long distance running is definitely mental.)

CERTIFICATIONS

RRCA Level 1 Certified Running Coach

PRs

• 5K – 22:17 (2019)
• 10k – 47:30 (2008)
• 10 Mile – 1:26:10 (2010)
• Half-marathon – 1:52:41 (2012)
• Marathon – 4:03:07 (2008)

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

Proud to place in top 3 of my age group in many races in the last few years. I’m also proud of the fact that by studying and learning more about training I’ve improved my miles and race times over the last 20 years. My 10k times in the mid-1990s was usually around 50:00-52:00 (1998 Oak Apple Run 10k – 51:53, 1997 Volkslaufe 10k – 50:14) and now that I’m in the 60-64 age group I’m still competing at that level or better (2020 Volkslaufe – 48:57; 2019 Volkslaufe 49:22).

CONTACT ART

Finding a coach who is a great fit for you is really important. We encourage you to email your coach prior to signing up so you can connect, communicate, and ensure a good athlete/coach fit.

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