Leader’s Blog May ’24 – John Pratt

Each month, we’ll be sharing the stories and insights of our group leaders. If you are interested in giving leading a go, talk to your group leader at club, or email hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk we have tonnes of resources to help you, including training sessions and support.  

This week we’re chatting to John, aka JP, who often leads hills and track sessions on Thursdays as well as leading and organising lots of sessions for HPH tri, where JP is Head Coach.  

How did you get in to leading? 

I was injured one time and decided to pick up a book and try and figure out what I might be doing wrong and what I could do to help prevent more injuries. This opened the lid on using different sessions to compliment what I was doing. This led to an interest in coaching and was very fortunate to benefit from a club-funded British Triathlon coaching qualification, and subsequently leading all sorts of Triathlon related sessions. 

What do you love about leading? 

Athlete interaction. Every question asked helps shape the delivery of a session. Even when I don’t have an answer, I learn a bit more when I’m home and finding out! 

Do you have any interesting or creative ways of leading? 

Where possible I like to develop the session theme from a basic outline up to a bit of pressured practice. So I often include some form of gamification to get athletes thinking. 

What would your advice be to anyone thinking about starting to lead? 

It’s an old trope but you really do get out what you put in. Probably more. You will become a better athlete the more you interact with others. Keep learning. It might be new paths, tracks or fields to run around Leeds. It might be stuff you wouldn’t have ever thought of before! 

Do you have any specific stories about leading you’d like to share?  
 
One specific memory which tickles me was when leading our Xmas fun swim session. I designed a session to combine a bit of sighting practice. This involved throwing buoyant containers of quality street into the pool and athletes would swim out to retrieve and then pass to a teammate. Triathletes are competitive. With a triathlon husband and wife on opposing teams… well… it became a contact sport. It turns out it is possible to go “full linebacker” on one’s spouse when toffee pennies are at stake!  

JP’s final thoughts on leading are that “nerves are there to show you something is important to you. You can always double up with a mate and lead together?” 

Thanks JP for your thoughts on leading and for regularly leading sessions!  

If you fancy giving leading a go, talk to your group leader at club, or email hello@hydeparkharriers.co.uk and we’ll get you started.