Allison Holden – Camas Running Coach
50% off your 1st month! Running coach invested in your run-life balance, helping you achieve big goals through everyday successes and consistent feedback.
From: $60.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Running Coach Description
Camas, WA running coach Allison works with runners on both the road and track, from 5k to the marathon, helping you reach your potential through customized training, consistent communication, and fueling & racing planning. Reach out to Allison below to get started!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%holden ***
Specialties
I specialize in coaching the everyday runner who wants to have balance in their life while pursuing personal excellence through running. I especially enjoy working with those who feel like they have hit a wall in their progress or are just not quite sure how to map a road to their big running goals in the 5k through the marathon. If you work with me, you will find that my coaching specialties are:
- Timeliness with responses and delivery of weekly training schedules
- Consistent communication and availability
- Weekly feedback on workouts and monthly check-in calls
- Regular goal setting check-ins and race advice. I know how important each race is and make it a top priority to collaborate on a plan before the race and to
- Debrief afterward, to celebrate and find ways to improve.
Philosophy
I believe a true runner is anyone who loves to run, whatever your experience level or speed. And I believe every runner can reach levels they didn’t think possible when they first started running if they are consistent with both running and lifting, fuel well, and really listen to their body to prevent over-training.
I believe every dedicated runner can benefit from a coach who will share their goals, keep them accountable, really challenge them to take their fitness to the next level, and who will pull them back when necessary for mental and physical health.
I became a running coach after years of trying to find the type of coach I wanted: someone who was invested in me, supported me in realistic but challenging goals, who was mindful of my health and well-being, and who was available and really paid attention to my training. This is the type of run coaching I am offering to anyone willing to put in the work on their end.
Coaching Experience
I am a newer running coach who has been working with mostly local adult athletes for the past year training for 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and marathon.
About Me
I am a mother of four who has also worked as both an English teacher and in special education. I started running local races to get in shape after baby #4 and found that running brought me balance and helped my mental as well as physical health. I can remember the first time I ran a 7 minute mile when I first started training, not even daring to think that I would be able to run 26 of those miles in a row. In the past year I have recovered from a non-running related back injury that I thought would prevent me from ever training again. I have returned to running with renewed gratitude and dedication!
Big Influences
All the female coaches I have had who have believed that I could still get faster as I aged, Jack Daniels’ Running Formula, Pfitzinger/ Douglas Advanced Marathoning, Shalane Flanagan and Stacy Sims and their push for female athletes to EAT
Race History
I ran briefly in high school and loved it but didn’t think of myself as someone who could be a competitive runner. In 2015 a friend invited me to run a half marathon with her, and having no idea what I was doing, I somehow got 2nd place. After I had my fourth baby a year later, I started doing 5K’s and eventually worked my way up to doing my first marathon in 2022. I have run four marathons thus far and have gotten a BQ each time. Now that I am a Master’s runner, I am running stronger than ever and edging closer to breaking 3 hours in the marathon.
Certifications
- UESCA certified running coach
Personal Records
- 5K: 19:28(7/4/24) Tacoma Independence Day 5K
- 10K: 39:10 (10/11/25) ORRC Best Dam Run, first place female
- Half-Marathon: 1:27:04 (3/9/24) Lake Sammamish Half
- Marathon: 3:06:40 (6/1/24), Newport Marathon, first place female
Contact Allison
2 reviews for Allison Holden – Camas Running Coach
Winonah LaGrande –
Like many people here, I wasn’t sure that I “needed” a coach. I’m not a competitive runner, but I am someone who loves to run and has been doing it (very) casually for almost 10 years. I’d hit a plateau and I decided I wanted to be less casual about it. Making my own training plan felt overwhelming & confusing, but listening to an AI-driven program made me feel uncomfortable & unsupported so I was ready to try something new.
Allison has been amazing. I’ve only been training with her for three months and I can already feel the improvements in my running. She makes sure I understand the intent behind each workout and easy run. That context alone has really boosted my confidence in my runs and I no longer feel like I’m just floundering around on my own hoping for the best. I used to feel like every workout needed to be hard or it wasn’t worth it, but trusting Allison’s expertise and following the workouts as they are intended (let the easy run be easy!) has genuinely resulted in measurable improvements after only a short time. I can see improvements in my heart rate on runs, feel the difference in my breathing, and keep being pleasantly surprised when I look at the planned pace for “fast” repeats during speed workouts and think “no way”, but then am able to hit them (still not easily though – Allison is great at threading the needle with challenging but attainable workouts!). I’m also grateful for Allison’s responsiveness to my questions. She’s there to help me rework my weekly run schedule if something comes up with work or my son. She’s pointed me toward strength training resources and activation resources when I’ve asked, and even though she’s not a dietician or nutritionist, she still helped guide me toward reputable resources and good examples of fueling for runs, which was an area I had been neglecting.
Prior to engaging Allison’s services I had signed up for a 10K fun run with friends. It was only about a month or so into our coaching and after discussing it with her, we just planned to treat it as a regular weekend long run. But, by following her training plan and pacing guidance for that run, I actually ended up PR-ing by 2 minutes, with the last mile of the race being my fastest recorded mile without me even noticing it!
Even without the surprise PR, I would definitely recommend Allison as a coach to anyone who wants to feel supported and be more informed and intentional on their running journey!
Kristin Rasmussen –
I have been training with Allison for about 8 months and can honestly say that I am a stronger and better runner than I have been since I was in my 20’s. I have been running casually for 25 years and thought I knew what I was doing, but Allison’s knowledge about everything to do with running far surpasses my own. Allison’s pace and distance plan for each run and workout made a big difference in my fitness. I went from getting a migraine headache every time I ran over 5 miles to being able to run 10+ miles without getting a migraine. Allison is also very responsive and encouraging. She always replied to my comments quickly and gave thoughtful advice for any problems I encountered. She took my several small injuries seriously and helped me know when it was time to back off and let them heal. Her praise for my training performance meant a lot and it was amazing to have a cheerleader after a hard run or workout! Under Allison’s coaching, I beat my 10k goal and completed a half marathon (which is something I didn’t think I’d ever be able to do again). I used to think coaching was just for competitive runners. The improvements it has made to my fitness will help me enjoy running for longer no matter how fast I am and that is worth it to me. I highly recommend Allison as a coach.