LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Google Docs
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone, weekly analysis email
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Denver, CO

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.

SPECIALTIES

I work to help runners to become a better version of themselves. Running further, running faster, reaching their weight loss goal, or simply building the confidence to run steeper trails and higher altitudes. I focus on teaching runners to train injury-free and how to balance their personal and professional lives with their running goals.

My specialties include:

Coaching first-time runners to the half marathon distance
Pushing to the marathon or ultra-marathon distance for the first time
Balancing strength training and muscle development goals with running training
Balancing work and life demands with running goals
Forging new habits and improving accountability

PHILOSOPHY

Low and slow: What makes great brisket coincidentally also makes a great runner. I will teach you how balancing low-intensity slow training and high-intensity training can both make you a better runner, and minimize the risk of injury.

The underlying approach I use with all of my students is to start with understanding the principles so that we can select the methods that cater to our personal strengths, weaknesses, and unique life situation.

With me, you will learn about developing your aerobic capacity, building joint and connective tissue strength, how to strength train as a runner, and how to optimize your running efficiency.

I emphasize distances and injury reduction over speed and PR’s, if your goal is to be the fastest runner you can be, I won’t be a great coach for you.

You’ll love working with me as your coach if:
-Getting to your race day without getting injured is just as important to you as your race performance
-Running further is more important than running faster
-You’re trying to lose weight and aren’t sure how to avoid negatively impacting your progress as a runner goals
-You’re struggling to balance strength or weight training with your running training and fatigue

COACHING EXPERIENCE

I am the author of “How to Learn to Run: The Best Way for Most People” on Guidery.com. While new to the professional coaching world, I’ve been coaching individuals informally for years for both running and weight loss.

I’ve coached myself for more than 10 years as I worked to transform myself into a runner, training for and racing every distance from 5k to Ultra Marathon. I’ve mastered the process of going from 0 to 1 through many long periods of consistent and inconsistent running. Overcoming the countless issues encountered along the way taught me valuable lessons that I can now pass on to you as a coach.

ABOUT ME

Before becoming a running coach and a writer, I was a startup executive. I helped build Hipcamp.com as the first employee and worked there throughout our first 5 years of rapid growth. I worked towards my dream of becoming an ultra trail runner at the same time, a decision that would force me to learn just about everything there is to know about prioritization, balance, and doing more with less.

During this time my wife and I also spent many years living “van life”, where I got many of the country’s best trails under my feet. Eventually, my passion for running and helping others would push me to leave Hipcamp and become a coach and a writer.

In addition to coaching running on Team RunRun, I run firstprinciples.cc where I teach readers to understand the principles behind weight loss, running, and improving your life.

BIG INFLUENCES

Ethan Newberry (AKA The Ginger Runner) inspired me to become an ultra trail runner. The path to realizing that goal would push me and challenge me in ways I never could have predicted, individuals like David Goggins and Rich Roll were transformative in proving to myself that I was capable of going further than I ever would have dreamed.

Matt Fitzgerald’s many books had the most profound impact on my style as a coach. His techniques and methods helped push my training from good to great.

Day to day I draw the most influence from Billy Yang and Sage Canaday whose videos never fail to stoke the fire and passion I have for the sport of running.

RACING HISTORY

The Enchantments Traverse (While not technically a race, my proudest running event was a self-supported trail run of the famous 21-mile Enchantments Traverse in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness)
Sun Mountain 50k (Winthrop, WA)
The Rut 12k (Big Sky, MT)
Cutthroat Classic (Mazama, WA)
California International Marathon (Sacramento, CA)
Estes Park Half Marathon (Estes Park, CO)
Lake Chelan Half Marathon (Chelan, WA)
4x Tough Mudder (Poconos, Tahoe, Temecula, and Seattle)

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Alex Johnson – Denver Running Coach

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