Erin Pritchard – Asheville Running Coach
Erin specializes in developing well rounded training plans for beginner and intermediate trail runners with busy lives.
From: $75.00 / month
Running Coach Description
Asheville running coach Erin Pritchard specializes in developing well rounded training plans for beginner and intermediate trail runners with busy lives.
Specialties
My specialties include all things trail running, longer distances (half marathon to 100 milers), and training while pregnant and postpartum. I also have experience coaching one on one and group sessions. I’m open to in person training as well as partner or group training (both virtual and in person), so if you have a running buddy and want to coordinate training with them while also prioritizing your individual goals, I’d love to work with you!
Philosophy
When coaching, my goal is running longevity for my clients. I believe running, when integrated smoothly into someone’s life, can be a lifelong sport! However, burnout can happen easily. I’m here to help you avoid that by becoming a well-rounded athlete. I do everything I can to help clients stay excited and grounded around their training. I understand that life can get in the way of long runs, and pivoting and adjusting plans happen regularly. Getting creative with training plans is my favorite part of this job, and I’m always available to re-work a schedule when needed. As a new parent, the balance of training and family time has become even more important to me, and I am excited to bring this new perspective to coaching.
Coaching Experience
I started fitness coaching in high school while lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons to children. After studying physiology at Michigan State, I worked at a local running store while deciding what my next steps were. I began taking my own training more seriously while simultaneously learning everything I could about running shoes, gear, and more importantly, running form, gait analysis, training, and injury prevention. I moved on to work in the running industry for years, traveling with brands to major marathons, running with run clubs across the country, trail running, racing and crewing at every opportunity, and coaching both individuals and groups in 5k programs all the way to 100 milers. I began coaching for Team RunRun around 2019, and did so for years. I decided to pivot my career after moving to Asheville, because I loved being home in the mountains so much and didn’t want to travel as much as I was for work. I continued to coach with Team RunRun while starting a real estate business locally. I took some time off coaching and had my first child in 2025, and now I’m back with a new perspective. I have coached people running their first steps, those running their 10th 100 miler, and everything in between.
About Me
Hey, I’m Erin! I’m originally from Michigan and now live in Asheville, North Carolina with my husband and 7 month old son, George. I used to very much dislike running (seasonal allergies made it tough as a kid) but powered through track and cross country for the social aspect. I fell in love with running in college at Michigan State when I needed an excuse to get outside and take study breaks. My goals started small, just running across campus. Soon I caught the half marathon bug, which turned into marathons, and then I was on a quest to Boston qualify. Before I reached that goal, I got the trail running bug, and that is still my preferred type of running. My favorite races are loop courses. I know people think they are boring, but the ability to leave all your gear in one spot and revisit it every few miles is so nice. I’ve taken some time off training and racing and gave birth in 2025! That means I’m getting back into training right there with you, and I have a new perspective on everything now that my family is expanding. My other hobbies include music (I play the trumpet in my local community band and also sing in a choir), yoga, and spending quality time with my husband, son and dog.
Big Influences
Courtney Dauwalter’s relaxed and positive attitude is a huge inspiration to me!
Race History
Half marathons and marathons include Bayshore, Detroit, Richmond, East Lansing, Lansing, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Los Angelas, and Umstead Trail Marathon. Trail races on the west coast and across the southeast, The Rut 50k x2, 2 100 mile attempts, succeeding once at The Country Mile. Podium finishes at various road and trail races throughout the years.
Certifications
USATF Principles of Endurance
Personal Records
- Half Marathon: 1:43:12
- Marathon: 3:38
- 50k-2X finish @ The Rut
- The Country Mile 48 Hour-4th in division, completed 100.09 miles
Contact Erin
10 reviews for Erin Pritchard – Asheville Running Coach
Cecilie Cody –
Erin is extremely approachable, endlessly positive and supportive through the training demands for the marathon race I picked, coming up in 5 weeks. She is the expert and I am learning so much from her. It’s good to have someone I can discuss small details that end up being important, and her practical tips and insights have saved me from my own inexperience and ego. Thanks Erin, can’t wait to make you proud.
Tony –
Erin is awesome! She’s everything you want in a coach: great communication, positive attitude, flexible, kind. I’ve only worked with her for about 2 months so far, but I’m already feeling stronger as a runner. This past weekend, I was on pace to PR my 12-hr distance, still feeling strong at the 8-hr mark (had to stop due to wet, blistered feet; my fault, not hers). I’d definitely recommend her to anyone wanting to get the best out of themselves.
Signi Go –
Erin has been wonderful and knowledgable. I highly recommend her.
Dylan –
Erin is the best! I’m a relatively new runner training for my first marathon, and things have really gone uphill since I started working with her.
Erin is so positive & works hard to make sure that your training is built into your lifestyle in a way that feels good (and is fun!). The weekly plans she writes keep me physically and mentally engaged – helping me to reach my goals & understand all that I’m capable of.
She’s incredibly easy to talk to; I always look forward to our conversations and her weekly emails. Erin makes me feel like no question I have is too small & she regularly sends along helpful resources (podcasts, articles, recovery tips, nutrition, etc).
In all honesty, I felt kind of funny hiring a Coach in the first place, but – as a newer runner – it’s undoubtedly the best thing I’ve done. I’m so grateful to have Erin in my corner & look forward to continuing to grow as a runner with her support!
Jonathan H –
Erin is a fantastic coach! As a 25 year old that’s relatively new to structured running, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when hiring a virtual coach. With that said, working with Erin has been so much better than anything I could have expected.
She is extremely responsive to all forms of communication, and I find myself regularly refreshing my email on Sundays waiting for her weekly check-ins and plan for that week. Her workouts are challenging, but easy to follow, and she is quick to clarify anything that I am unsure of.
Erin is also eager to provide articles, podcasts, tips, and anything else that helps me improve in my training. I wish I would’ve signed up sooner, and I’m looking forward to my first 10k, 10 miler, and half marathon later this fall. If you’re in search of a running coach, Erin is your best bet!
T Penny –
5 stars for Erin! After a 6 month layoff, I signed on with Erin with some specific goals in mind. She is very responsive and checks in once a week. She pushes me to do more than I think I can do which is good. I really love that she is so positive and encouraging. I had a bit of a rough/slow start, missed some scheduled runs due to travel, and we just stayed focused.
Stephen T –
Erin is a terrific coach!
I’m age 56 and was looking for a coach who can guide me from a long running hiatus to eventually running my first marathon. Over the 2 months I’ve had Erin as my coach, she helped me start running again after a 10 month layoff, and got me to 10 miles in a week before I had some leg soreness. She helped me thru that. Then I came down with COVID. She helped me through my recovery from COVID. Since I recovered from COVID she has me back to where I was, eager to build on my 10 miles per week, working towards a half marathon in October and my first marathon thereafter. Without her coaching there is no way I’d be running now, much less back to where I was before I got hurt and then sick.
Erin is extremely POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING. Her own success as a runner is very inspiring to me.
I look forward to crossing that finish line at my first marathon thanks to Erin’s consistent coaching!
Devon E –
Erin has been an incredible coach! She is always flexible to accommodate changes in your schedule, injuries that are bothering you, or whatever else life may throw at you while training.
Her weekly check in’s are thorough and thoughtful, but she is quick to respond if anything you have anything else you need to check in about.
Erin is the first coach I have ever hired, and while the race I am training for is still a few months away I am excited to keep working with her and growing in my running because of her excellent coaching!
Sam P –
Erin has been awesome! For the last two months, I’ve been training for my first marathon, and as an anxious runner with a wildly busy work/life schedule, I’ve needed a lot of guidance and changes and just entertainment of questions–all of which Erin has been awesome in providing. The proof is in the pudding: my strength over my long runs has been increasing, and my speed in my speed workouts has been going down. There’ve been a few injury/pain issues that Erin has given me great advice and instruction in managing, as well as insight on approaching some ‘mental games’ I sometimes find myself playing. Knowledgeable, flexible, patient, and communicative–Erin’s been great! I’m super confident that in a month’s time, I’ll not just be running my first marathon, but that I’ll be running it strong!
Catherine O’Connor –
Oh my gosh Erin is the absolute best! I’ve done a couple of training programs through Fleet Feet but this is the first time I’ve worked with a coach. Erin has been so flexible in working with, supporting & encouraging me. She’s so approachable and easy to talk to – my favorite runs are the ones we do together for this reason. She’s worked with me through bouts of ‘I have an excuse to not do this today… and tomorrow… and all week’ which I so appreciate. I know that if I stick to her plan and give feedback I’ll definitely hit my goals.