Michelle Howell, an Orlando-based runner and coach, recently shared her insights on coaching different age groups in an interview with Runners Of, a platform founded by CFRC’s own Janan Chu to highlight the diverse stories of runners everywhere.

Reflecting on her coaching experiences, Michelle noted:

"I've noticed with coaching adults, they're more interested in getting better, right? Most adults aren’t going out and joining a sport for the first time, just for funsies. They’re advocating and setting time aside to go do things like this. So there's already that next layer of buy-in that sometimes I don't think you get with younger kids because a lot of time they take sports for granted."

Michelle emphasizes the intentionality adults bring to their training, contrasting it with the often less focused approach of younger athletes. She also discusses the challenges young runners face, such as lacking clear goals and understanding the purpose behind their participation in sports.

Big shoutout to Janan for building Runners Of into a space where stories like Michelle’s can be shared and celebrated. For a deeper dive into Michelle's coaching philosophy, read the full interview here.