Head Coach: Chris McClung. Assistant Coach: James Dodds
LOCATION: Virtual via Circle
COST: $60/Month

COACH BIO

Coach Chris

Background: I played soccer and volleyball growing up and didn’t turn to running until my senior year of college in the ancient year of 2000. My college roommate and girlfriend (now wife Amy) got me into it. Before I knew it, I had done my first 10K and was absolutely hooked. A year later, I ran my first marathon in 2001 in Chicago and the rest is essentially history as I’ve been training and racing more or less consistently ever since then. I run to test my limits and to see what I can accomplish if I push beyond where I think I can go. As a bonus, I've met some of my best friends on the roads. I believe in the power of running to not only make you faster but also to make you a better human. That’s why I love to coach. When you sign up for this group, your goals become as important to me as my own and your failures become my failures. Let’s do this together!

Coach James

Background: I started running marathons in my late 20s as an early-life crisis of sorts. I trained solo for my first marathon - the Austin Marathon. Unprepared, I suffered mightily as I got it done in a suffer fest. As runner after runner passed me on the course wearing Rogue gear, I knew what I needed to do. I joined Rogue for my next one, and my running would never be the same. Now, I have played roles as an athlete, employee, and coach within the Rogue team, and I consider this community closer than family. As a coach, I believe that consistency trumps intensity. Get the work done no matter how good or bad it looks, and it will pay off in the long term, especially if you have a coach and team that supports you!

COACH PHILOSOPHY

The coaching philosophy we bring to the Renegades is all about commitment, consistency, and community.

Commitment: You have to want it. We will give you the plan and process to smash your goals, but if you aren’t prepared to commit to the work, then this isn’t going to work. You don’t have to be super human. In fact, we very much want you to be human, to be yourself. We will never give you something that you aren’t prepared to do, but you do need to be ready and willing to do it.

Consistency: Consistency comes in two forms. First, it’s about showing up no matter what. Get the work done, whether it’s hot or cold, raining or dry, and no matter how good or bad you might be feeling. It isn’t always perfect on race day so training in tough conditions and leaving your excuses at the door will make you stronger and faster in the long term. Second, it’s about mixing the right amounts of hard training and active recovery. In order to stay consistent, you must be healthy, and in order to be healthy, you must balance the stress of training hard with the appropriate forms of active recovery.

Community: Running is only a solo sport if you let it be. You will be stronger, and you will reach your goals faster if you embrace the team dynamic. Lean in to the group through the virtual platform and message board. Share your journey there including the ups and downs. This crew will become your run squad. They will hold you accountable from afar. Thinking of them will push you when you are struggling and will propel you to goal smashing even if it’s hard. You will become friends with them, and you will definitely become faster and better humans together.

GROUP DYNAMIC

You might think that the group dynamic would be difficult to develop on a virtual platform. You couldn’t be more wrong. This group works hard when no one is looking and does it for and “with” each other. They share the ups and the downs and support each other through both good and bad races. Many have not met in person, but when they do get to meet at destination races, it’s as if they have known each other forever.

Being vulnerable on a virtual platform with people you don’t know takes a little bit of courage, but if you are willing to lean into that, then you will get it back tenfold from the team!

ORIGIN STORY

On the name:

Season 1 of the Renegades started in December of 2017 in the middle of one of the coldest winters on record. The group bonded quickly over runs in sub zero temperatures, particularly as our members from Canada continued to get the work done regardless of how bad the weather got. With a few members from Canada and the Northeast US setting the tone, there was no room for excuses from anyone. The work had to get done! This “renegade” culture - running hard outside when others refused - led the team to adopt the moniker as the team’s name. The “worldwide” designation was added to indicate the global nature of the group which has now boasted members from 5 continents!