Adam Frye – Seattle Running Coach
$129.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
I’ve been coaching for a living for more than a decade helping runners improve & find enjoyment in running on the track, road & trails.
Description
Seattle running coach and professional runner Adam Frye has both breadth and depth in coaching all distances and terrains, having raced them himself, and specializes in writing individualized training for runners with busy lives, transitioning from road to trails, and return to running after a major injury.
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Trail, Track
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Google Docs
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Snoqualmie, WA
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
I have experience racing and coaching runners of all levels on the road, track and trail. With seventeen years of coaching experience, I’ve helped dozens of highly motivated runners improve over time and find enjoyment in running. I am excited to help runners pursue their goals, whether it’s running your first 5k, marathon or ultra, or aiming for an ambitious new PR.
A few areas in which I have special experience:
- Writing individualized training plans for people with busy lives
- Helping runners transition from road to trail running
- Injury management and return to running after major injury
PHILOSOPHY
I believe there are no secrets or shortcuts to running success – it’s about hard work and consistency over time. That said, I know the guidance of a qualified coach can have a huge impact on a runner’s development and performance. Communication and trust are the basis for effective coaching. I get to know my athletes – their experience, goals, strengths/weaknesses and life commitments – and use this to design a training program that fits with their life. I believe in a stamina-based approach to training; striving to increase running volume over time is important. But each runner is different and I create a plan that will give each runner a great chance to stay healthy, have fun and train consistently.
My training plans are built on periodization – emphasizing different training intensities throughout the season – and a focus on recovery. Increasing fitness is the science and art of balancing stress (training and life) and recovery. While writing a good training plan is an important first step, making adjustments along the way based on your progress, injuries or life commitments is where a personal coach can really make a difference.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I’ve been coaching for a living for almost two decades. I am the Head Cross Country Coach at Pacific Lutheran University. I have sixteen years of college coaching experience between PLU, Hamline University and Luther College. I coached at Sammamish High School for a year after moving to Washington. I’ve been a speaker at a number of coaching clinics and been invited to speak with local high school teams.
I’ve been coaching with Team RunRun since 2020. I’ve coached runners racing distances of 800m to 100 miles on the road, track and trail. I’ve helped a number of clients run their first ultras. My clients appreciate the care I show for them as a person first as a foundation for the coaching relationship.
ABOUT ME
I’ve been a runner since my dad started taking me out for runs as a kid (see photo of me finishing my first road race in sweet Ghostbusters t-shirt!). Running and coaching have shaped my life journey in many ways over the last thirty years:
- I competed in cross country and track & field at Chatfield HS in Minnesota and at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa
- I completed a master’s degree in Kinesiology (emphasis in Exercise Physiology) from the University of Minnesota
- I taught Nutrition and Applied Human Anatomy while coaching at my alma mater
- I broke my tibia and fibula (ouch!) in 2009 but recovered to break previous PRs and race new distances
- I am a professional runner for the Brooks Trail Team
- I love enjoying the outdoors in different ways (running, cycling, backcountry skiing, camping)
- I am a proud husband, dad and dog dad
I am passionate about running and coaching and love to help others reach their goals and find enjoyment in running!
BIG INFLUENCES
My biggest coaching influences have been my coaches throughout high school and college – my dad, Jeff Wettach and Steve Pasche. I also learned so much working with Paul Schmaedeke at Hamline. They’re all great coaches and even better people.
My coaches drew from Jack Daniels and Arthur Lydiard and therefore I do as well. “Science of Running” by Steve Magness has helped me to refine many of my ideas around training and given me some new tools for writing training plans. Jason Koop’s “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” has been a helpful resource as well.
RACING HISTORY
Over the years I’ve transitioned from being an 800 runner (high school) to a steeplechaser (college) to a marathoner (post-college) to a trail/ultra runner. If you can’t run fast, run far, right?!
I’ve run seven marathons (Boston x 2, California International, Chicago, Twin Cities x 2, Grandma’s) and ran my first ultramarathon in 2018. I placed top-ten in my debut 50-mile at White River 50 and won the Red Devil Challenge 50k in 2019. I was third at Waldo 100k in 2022 and fourth at Cascade Crest 100 mile in 2023.
CERTIFICATIONS
- USATF Level One Coaching School – 2008
- Mental Health First Aid USA – 2018
- USTFCCCA Track & Field Academy:
- Track & Field Program Management Certification
- Injury Management for the T&F Coach
- Sports Psychology for the T&F Coach
PRs
- 5000m: 16:07.24 (03/22/14) Ross and Sharon Irwin Meet
- 10 Mile: 55:14 (10/4/15) Medtronic TC 10 Mile
- Half Marathon: 1:15:00 (6/21/14) Gary Bjorklund Half Marathon
- Marathon: 2:35:47 (12/6/15) California International Marathon
- 50k: 4:11 (3/16/24) Chuckanut 50k
- 50 Mile: 8:01 (7/28/18) White River 50
- 100k: 9:40 (2/18/23) Black Canyon 100k
- 100 Mile: 21:56 (7/21/23) Cascade Crest 100
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- Northwest Conference Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year – 2018
CONTACT ADAM
Finding a coach who is a great fit for you is really important. We encourage you to email your coach prior to signing up so you can connect, communicate, and ensure a good athlete/coach fit.
PUBLICATIONS
- Coaching Conversation with local HS Coach and Teacher
- Bone geometry and lower extremity bone stress injuries in male runners (master’s thesis data)
SOCIAL
Josh C –
Absolutely the coach you want in your corner if you’ve ever struggled with injury, burnout, or just generally life getting in the way of training. I’ve been working with him for years and he’s helped me hit PR’s in everything from the 1500 to the 50k. Just as importantly, he’s helped work with me through the lowest parts of training. I’ve had coaches who laid out solid plans on day one, but couldn’t adapt it when things got rocky. Adam’s biggest strength is being flexible and knowledgeable enough to help right the ship and get you back on track to deliver on race day regardless. I couldn’t ask for a better coach.
Brook Buchanan –
I’ve been working with Adam since the start of 2024, and he has made a significant impact on my performance as a trail runner. At the end of 2023, my training had plateaued, and I was prone to injury. Having a personalized training plan from Adam immediately refocused me and broke me out of a cycle of just going out and running miles. I was worried that getting a coach might make running start to feel like a job, and I’d be more likely to get injured with increased intensity as my body was breaking down during high-mileage weeks. Working with Adam, the exact opposite has been true. I am getting a lot of variety in workouts, enjoying scenic time on trails, and seeing the effort pay off in improved race performance. The strength work that Adam incorporates into the weekly plan has been a game-changer for improving my core strength, and I feel much more solid while running. Lastly, I am having a blast running and am excited to keep working with Adam towards my next goals!
Michael Nurok –
I’ve been working with Adam since the fall of ’23 after limping through Leadville. I’ve had several coaches over the years and Adam strikes the right balance between flexibility to my other life demands and training rigor. That’s apart being a wonderful person who is caring, kind, and who has a wealth of running knowledge and insight. Couldn’t recommend him more enthusiastically!
Catherine Williams –
I’m almost a year into working with Adam. He has been an incredible coach, helping me progress in my marathon goals in leaps & bounds. I have avoided hard & fast workouts for years because of chronic injuries. Adam’s guidance balances training & load incredibly well — I’ve been able to train for 2 marathons virtually back-to-back and, more importantly, have gotten to enjoy track workouts without fear for the first time in a decade. Adam is incredibly flexible with life/work changes and takes those hurdles in stride. I’m sure I am not his easiest client, but he meets me where I am and I could not be more grateful. Looking forward to racing many more marathons coached by Adam.
Joseph Weiler –
Adam was an awesome coach–Very responsive and detail-oriented. He was great at educating me on all the different aspects of the training plan and adjusting when travel and illness came up. Would highly recommend for anyone!
Jeff McNew –
Adam has been a wonderful coach so far. He’s modified my training plan based on life’s little interruptions and changes. He started me on an easy baseline plan that got me rolling, and I’ve really noticed the improvements I’ve been making in my aerobic base and running form. We’ve discussed future race plans and goals and I feel that he is going to help me achieve them. He’s been readily available for any questions or concerns and I’ve enjoyed our video sessions just to check in on progress.
petersonadale –
I’m lucky enough to live about a mile from Adam, so I get the opportunity to run and chat with him frequently. Adam is an amazing and supportive coach. He listens very well and does a great job of balancing encouragement and pushing me to get the most out of my running. He is great at pivoting when needed, due to injury or life changes. I really like that he can get super technical about things, or (more often for me) dumb it down a bit so I understand. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for Adam, as a coach and athlete.
Jillian Majewski –
I had not run in 6 years due to a chronic hamstring injury that would flare up each time I attempted to start up running again on my own-definitely due to improper progression. With Adam’s guidance and realistic/ safe training plan I was able to safely build on his weekly plans and after 8 weeks I ran 60 minutes consecutively and covered nearly 7 miles in that time! I am happy with the results I’ve experienced so far with Adam. He’s contributed as an accountability measure as well as a subject matter expert. Highly recommend him as a coach.
Shane Wesley –
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pshin8670 –
Can’t say enough about Adam the coach and more importantly, Adam the person.
I was connected to Adam through his lovely wife, Ladia, and it couldn’t have come at a better time in my running life. I was in a state of flux trying to decide where to go with my running as a cancer surviving liver transplant recipient. I had just completed running the 2020 LA Marathon just 6 months after my liver transplant and really wanted to pursue some renewed goals and explore different facets of running, specifically getting into trail running and ultra marathoning.
Through Ladia, I was able to have a conversation with Adam and we spoke at great lengths about my own personal goals and the desire to transition to the trails yet maintain my goals on the road. Adam patiently took all the details of that conversation and constructed a training plan that introduced me to trail running while still prescribing solid road workouts.
Through our bi-weekly check-ins via FaceTime, we were able to collaborate on my progress and recalibrate the training plan according not only based on the Strava data, but on how I was feeling mentally. Before I know it, I was doing close to 20 miles of trail running per week and at the same time getting faster than I was prior to my liver transplant.
On August 13, only 11 months after my liver transplant, I ran a 5K time trial and beat my PR by 1 second. I couldn’t have done this without the guidance of Adam. He masterfully balanced my training by maintaining a good balance of easy to moderate efforts along with a solid injection of speed and tempo workouts. Without even realizing it, I was getting faster and stronger.
I look forward to continuing on with Adam as we move forward with our pursuit of race goals when they finally happen again. With his help, I was also able to transform my apprehension and uncertainty of trail running into joy and excitement of getting dirty in the mountains. I’m already scoping out 50 milers for my first trail race!
I’ve been so grateful for these past 3 months with Adam and looking forward to many more.
Brett Fritze –
Adam is the best. Extremely genuine, passionate, and responsive. He’s the ultimate runner’s coach and just wants to help you meet your goals. When I started with Adam I had a foot injury and he provided considerable support to help me get back on my feet. Thanks, Adam!
Rebekah Schulz –
Adam has been excellent!! He was one of my coaches when I ran at Luther College and it has been so sweet to reconnect with him over this platform! I had seen him talking about coaching via Team Run Run on his instagram and reached out to him. He’s been so supportive and knowledgeable and has always provided timely and informed feedback. It’s been sweet to have history with him as my coach and to continue this relationship in a totally different season of life. I had to take some time off of running after college, so it’s been sweet to have his support and direction as I try to rebuild my base and determine what goals I want to pursue. If you’re looking for a coach who is kind, compassionate, knowledgeable, and supportive, Adam is amazing!
Mollie Runs PDX –
I have really enjoyed working with Adam! He is very responsive and thorough, and yet more than flexible with my goals, time available for training, and scheduling runs based off of my weekly obligations. I started training under Adam after an injury and successfully got back into the groove of running and shortly after ran my fastest 10K to date! Looking forward to continued progress and building my mileage with his help. Can’t recommend enough the help and support he has provided.