Run Coaches’ 5 Biggest Pet Peeves and How Fixing Them Can Make You a Better Runner

No runner is perfect, and if you think you are, just ask a coach. Whether you’re a beginner training for your first 5K or a veteran logging marathon miles, chances are you’ve picked up a few habits that hold you back from better running. For example, maybe you tackle every run like it’s race day, you rarely look up from your watch, or you signed up for a marathon just because Harry Styles did. Don’t worry: You’re not alone. In fact, these and other training missteps are so common they’ve made it onto coaches’ lists of pet peeves. The good news is that they’re fixable, and once you address them, you’ll run stronger, stay healthier, and actually have more fun on your runs. That’s why we asked eight run coaches about the bad habits that bug them most. Here’s what they said, why it just might derail your training, and how to break the pattern.