I specialize in coaching busy parents who don’t have time to waste—building half and full marathon training plans that actually fit real life. My approach focuses on efficient 3–5 day per week training, helping turn “I’ll start soon” into consistent action. I emphasize race execution—pacing, fueling, and strategy—while building confidence, not just fitness. Training is designed to adapt when life gets messy, so you can stay on track and show up ready to finish strong—not just finish.

You don’t need more motivation—you need a plan that works when motivation isn’t there.

Most runners don’t struggle because they’re incapable. They struggle because their training doesn’t fit their life. I build plans around your real schedule, your responsibilities, and your energy—so you can stay consistent without everything else falling apart.

I’ll be honest with you and keep things simple: do the right work, at the right time, for where you’re at.

My job isn’t just to make you fitter—it’s to help you follow through and prove to yourself you’re capable of more than you think.

I’m a UESCA Certified Run Coach and active marathoner who understands what it takes to train consistently while balancing work, family, and everything else life throws at you.

I coach runners preparing for half and full marathons using a structured, evidence-based approach—focused on building fitness over time, not rushing the process. My athletes typically train 3–5 days per week with plans built around their real schedules, not ideal ones.

In addition to coaching, I actively train and apply the same principles I give my athletes—prioritizing consistency, smart progression, and adapting when life gets messy. I’ve worked through injuries, time constraints, and the realities of being a parent, and I bring that perspective into every plan I build.

My focus is simple: help runners stay consistent, build confidence, and show up on race day ready to execute—not just hope for the best.

I’m Derek—a dad, a runner, and someone who spent a long time trying to figure out how to chase big goals without letting everything else fall apart.

I live in Minnesota with my family, and like most of the athletes I coach, my schedule isn’t wide open. Work, kids, responsibilities—it’s all real. Running has always been the thing that’s mine, but I had to learn how to make it fit instead of trying to force it.

That’s what led me into coaching.

I saw how many people—especially parents—kept putting off races they wanted to run because they couldn’t find a plan that worked with their life. Not because they didn’t care. Not because they weren’t capable. Just because no one showed them how to make it work.

So that’s what I do now.

I keep things simple, honest, and realistic. I’m not here to hype you up with perfect plans or unrealistic expectations. I’m here to help you follow through, stay consistent, and prove to yourself that you can do more than you think—even with everything else going on.

Outside of running, I’m usually lifting, listening to metal, or spending time with my family.

My approach to coaching has been shaped by both mentorship and real-world example.
My coach, Lauren, has been a major influence—showing me what it looks like to build smart, sustainable training that actually meets the athlete where they’re at. That foundation changed how I view consistency, progression, and the coach-athlete relationship.

I’ve also been heavily influenced by Nick Bare—especially his mindset around discipline, doing hard things, and building a life that includes both training and responsibility. That balance between performance and real life is something I carry into my coaching every day.

Those influences, combined with my own experience as a runner and a dad, shape how I coach: simple, honest, and built for real life.

I completed my first marathon in 2023, finishing just under 4 hours, and ran a 1:41 half marathon in 2025.

Since then, my focus has been on continuing to build—improving my fitness, refining my training, and working toward a sub-3:30 marathon. My progression has come through consistent, structured training while balancing work, family, and real life.

I don’t come from an elite background—I’ve built this step by step. That’s the same approach I bring to my athletes: stay consistent, train smart, and keep moving forward.

• UESCA Certified Run Coach

• 3:56 – Full Marathon
• 1:41 – Half Marathon