Medical Disclaimer for A Faster 5K
Coaching Services
Last Verified: December 2025
A Faster 5K provides training guidance only—not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, training plans, and coaching recommendations are for informational and educational purposes. Consult a licensed physician before beginning any exercise program, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions.
Key Takeaways
- A Faster 5K provides training guidance only—not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment
- Consult a licensed physician before beginning any exercise program
- Running carries inherent physical risks including injury, illness, and cardiovascular events
This Is Not Medical Advice
Coach Darrin DeTorres brings over 15 years of coaching experience, having developed athletes from elementary school through collegiate competition. However, he is not a licensed physician, physical therapist, registered dietitian, or medical professional.
The distinction matters. Training plans optimize performance based on proven principles—specificity, progressive overload, individual adaptation, and recovery. Medical advice diagnoses conditions, prescribes treatments, and manages health. A Faster 5K does the former, never the latter.
Nothing in our coaching services, website, communications, or training materials should be construed as medical advice for any health condition.
Consult Your Physician
You should always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new exercise program. This applies regardless of your current fitness level or running experience.
We strongly recommend medical clearance if any of the following apply:
| Cardiovascular Conditions | Other Health Factors |
|---|---|
| Heart disease or heart murmur | Diabetes or blood sugar issues |
| High blood pressure | Asthma or respiratory conditions |
| Family history of cardiac events | Joint or bone conditions |
| Chest pain or shortness of breath | Recent surgery or injury |
| Previous heart surgery | Pregnancy or recent childbirth |
When in doubt, get cleared. A conversation with your doctor takes 15 minutes. An injury from training without clearance can sideline you for months.
Inherent Risks of Running
Running and distance training carry inherent physical risks that cannot be completely eliminated. This is true whether you're training for your first 5k or chasing a state championship.
Potential risks include, but are not limited to:
- Musculoskeletal injuries (sprains, strains, stress fractures, tendinitis)
- Cardiovascular events (heart attack, stroke, cardiac arrest)
- Heat-related illness (heat exhaustion, heat stroke, dehydration)
- Cold-related illness (hypothermia, frostbite)
- Exercise-induced conditions (asthma, rhabdomyolysis)
- Environmental hazards (traffic, uneven terrain, wildlife)
These risks exist at every level. We've coached elementary runners through state championships and worked with adult athletes chasing half marathon PRs. The body doesn't care about your goals—it responds to stress. Smart training manages that stress. But risk never reaches zero.
Your Responsibility
You are the expert on your body. No training plan accounts for how you feel on any given day. That's your job.
Your responsibilities include:
Stop immediately
If you experience pain, dizziness, nausea, or unusual symptoms
Adjust workouts
Based on how your body responds—not just what the plan says
Communicate honestly
With Coach Darrin about injuries, pain, or health concerns
Seek medical attention
When needed—do not wait for coaching advice
Prioritize recovery
Through proper nutrition, hydration, and sleep
The athletes we've coached to state championships and national qualifiers share one trait: they listen to their bodies. They know when to push and when to pull back. That self-awareness matters more than any workout.
Limitation of Liability
A Faster 5K, Coach Darrin DeTorres, and any affiliated parties shall not be held liable for any injuries, illnesses, damages, or losses that may result from following training programs, advice, or recommendations provided through our coaching services.
You assume full responsibility for your participation in any training activities.
Youth Athletes: Information for Parents/Guardians
A Faster 5K has a proven track record with youth athletes. Our coaching has produced FLYRA State Team Champions, a 2nd Grade State Champion, Middle School State Champions and State Meet Record Holders, and multiple New Balance National Qualifiers at the high school level.
Young athletes require additional oversight. If your child is participating in our coaching programs, you as the parent or legal guardian are responsible for:
- Obtaining appropriate medical clearance for your child
- Communicating any health conditions, allergies, or medications
- Monitoring your child's physical and emotional response to training
- Ensuring your child understands how to communicate discomfort or injury
Youth development is a long game. We prioritize sustainable progression over short-term results. That approach has produced state champions, but more importantly, it keeps young athletes healthy and engaged in running for years.
Acknowledgment
By participating in A Faster 5K coaching services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this medical disclaimer. You confirm that you have consulted with a physician or will do so before beginning training, and that you accept full responsibility for your health and safety during all training activities.
Questions? Contact Coach Darrin at A Faster 5K
"The same principles that produce state champions work for any runner willing to apply them consistently. A faster 5k isn't about talent. It's about training."
— Coach Darrin DeTorres, Founder of A Faster 5K
Mandatory Medical Disclaimer
A Faster 5K provides training content, race strategies, and physiological calculations for educational purposes only. Running and endurance sports carry inherent physiological risks, including musculoskeletal injury and cardiovascular stress. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional or physician before beginning any new physical training regimen, especially if you have pre-existing medical conditions or are returning from injury. All training programs provided on this site are followed at the user's own discretion. The use of any information provided on this platform is solely at your own risk.