Running Coaching

I coach runners and mountain athletes at all stages of development, no matter their goals or their background. I have worked with high school athletes, first-time marathoners, trail ultrarunners, nordic skiers, elite masters athletes, and many others looking to train and race with joy.

Interested in working with me? Send me an email at runcoachlucy@gmail.com—I would be thrilled to hear from you. We can correspond in writing or set up a time to talk to explore what it would look like to work together and how I can best support you.


Why Work with a Coach?

Anyone can benefit from a running coach—you don’t have to be a professional! A coach provides expert guidance on training and racing and offers an external perspective to help you identify patterns and areas for improvement that you might not notice on your own. But beyond just sharing advice, a coach supports you in being accountable to your goals, offers moral support, and reminds you of your potential, especially on the days you doubt yourself. Ultimately, a coach can be the difference between just running and running with purpose. Whether you’re aiming for a new PR, tackling a new race distance, returning from injury, or building a sustainable routine, having a coach in your corner makes it possible to reach—and surpass—your goals.

Service and Price

I offer completely personalized coaching with training log check-ins daily for $150 per month, with calls and text messages included as needed to support you in training and racing.

If this price point is prohibitive for you, please reach out anyway—I have a number of sliding scale spots available, no judgment and no questions asked. And if you are looking for a different form of support, such as a static training plan or a one-off consultation, let me know and we can figure something out.

Coaching Philosophy

My coaching philosophy is informed by what I have seen work for the athletes I coach; my own training and racing; my engagement with other coaches, researchers, and academic literature; and my own coach, David Roche. A few key ideas structure how I coach and view sport:

  • Running should be fulfilling and joyful over the long term. Enjoyment leads to better performance, a sustainable relationship with sport, and a happier life.

  • Consistency is the key to athletic growth. Just keep showing up.

  • Speed translates across race distances—being fast is good for 5k and 100-mile races alike!

  • Running impacts other facets of life, and other facets of life impact running. Runners live multidimensional lives, and training should always recognize that!

  • Carbs, strength training, and a sense of humor are good for runners—running matters, and at the same time, it’s just running!

About Me

Photo credit: John Andrews

My journey as an endurance athlete started when I joined my high school cross country ski team in ninth grade. I fell in love with nordic ski racing and adore the sport to this day. To stay in shape in high school during the off-season, I quickly signed up for cross country and track and found that I enjoyed running just as much as skiing. After graduating from high school, I ran for an NCAA division III team. In addition to racing cross country and distance events on the indoor track, I specialized in the steeplechase, which foreshadowed my love of trail running—the grit, strength, and athleticism needed for the steeplechase has translated well to the trails.

I continued to train and race after college and now compete on both trails and roads in distances ranging from 5k to 100k. I also enjoy big mountain adventures and am a capable rock climber and backpacker (and an outdoor gearhead!).

I am fortunate to have been supported by remarkable coaches throughout my athletic career. In particular, I’ve had the immense pleasure of working with David Roche since 2017. David has certainly taught me a lot about running, but more importantly, he has taught me a lot about belief, commitment, love, and joy in the athletic journey (and beyond!).

If accomplishments matter to you, here are a few sport-related things that I am proud of:

I have also coached three teams:

  • Minnesota Youth Ski League coach and race director (2 years)

  • Como Park High School cross country ski coach (1 year)

  • Oakland Technical High School head cross country and track and field coach (4 years)

In these roles, I coached athletes ranging from complete novices to all-state performers.

Want to know a bit more about how I view endurance sport? Check out pieces I’ve written on:

Photo credit: Magda Boulet