20/07/2026
Why I recommend coaching over self-guided training
With the Coach JP app, I offer two options:
1️⃣ Self-Guided You receive a fully personalized training program based on your level and goals. You follow it on your own.
2️⃣ Coaching You receive the same personalized program, but I also monitor your training, adjust the plan when needed, review your sessions, answer your questions, and guide you every step of the way.
If you ask me which option gives the best results, it's coaching.
A perfect example is Thomas Moh ShengChai
Six weeks before starting my program, he ran more than 43 minutes for 10 km.
Last Sunday, he ran a new personal best of 40:05.
That's an improvement of more than 3 minutes in just six weeks.
The training plan mattered, but the coaching made the difference.
As I reviewed his sessions, I could:
✅ Reduce the intensity when he was pushing too hard.
✅ Adjust sessions based on his progress and fatigue.
✅ Give feedback after key workouts. ✅ Advise him on race-week preparation and race-day strategy.
These small decisions add up.
On the other hand, I often see runners choosing the self-guided option who don't follow the prescribed paces, skip key sessions, or train too hard on easy days. The program is good, but without feedback it's easy to drift away from what was planned.
Can you still improve with a self-guided plan? Yes.
Will you maximize your potential? Usually not.
A training plan tells you what to do.
Coaching ensures you do it the right way, at the right time, with the right adjustments.
That's where the biggest gains are made.
Congratulations, Thomas, on an outstanding PB. Now let's see how much faster we can go.