I really don’t care if a coach has the achievements that I’m going for. Most NFL coaches (as an example) were not multi time Super Bowl MVPs themselves. It’s way more so about the coaches knowledge, experience and track record of their athletes. That being said, mentally yes I’d prefer if my coach has done some of the things I want to achieve but not the main deal breaker at all. Maybe they were an 800m person and I’m doing marathons etc. Who knows lol.

A good coach needs to have a deep understanding of methodology, however having a coach that knows what it takes to run those times can be a big help as they have advice from ~ experience ~ and not just textbooks. I think it makes a big difference personally.