Antonio Sierra – Harrisburg Running Coach
From: $135.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
50% off your first month! Coach and Podiatrist specializing in exercise physiology, gait analysis, and injury prevention. *Price flexible for HS/College Runners*
Description
Harrisburg, PA running coach Antonio Sierra has raced competitively at every distance from 800m on the track to 100 miles on the trails/road, and he specializes in nutrition, injury prevention and treatment, and sports psychology. Reach out to Antonio below to get started!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%offsierra ***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Track, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: VDOT
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Harrisburg, PA
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Yes, within 15 miles of Harrisburg, PA. Antonio is available to meet for training plan consultation, race preparation, workout guidance, or just to go on a run! Reach out to Antonio for more details.
SPECIALTIES
I specialize in training motivated and competitive athletes that are looking to take their running to the next level. I focus primarily on coaching distances from the mile through the marathon but have coached runners through the 100-mile distance as well. If you’re striving to earn a Boston Qualifier, frequently land on the podium, or even land an Olympic Qualifying time, I’m prepared to guide you through the training and help you accomplish your goals.
Connecting my profession as both a podiatrist and coach, I invest a lot of time in performing gait analysis through my clinical work and then promoting gait retraining through my coaching for athletes local to the Harrisburg area. If you are looking to improve your running form, I am happy to meet with runners locally for a session or set up a virtual meeting for those that are remote to discuss and demonstrate how to properly execute the different elements that go into a fluid running form.
I am a D.P.M. (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine) that has traveled around the country learning from the best doctors in the profession that have treated countless Olympic athletes and am able to provide complementary professional medical advice as well as telemedicine services at no cost as one of my clients. If you are a runner that frequently accrues foot and ankle injuries and are looking for looking for help staying injury free and getting answers whenever an injury comes up, I’m equipped to help prepare your body and provide medical solutions to whatever is ailing you.
I specialize additionally in nutrition, injury prevention and treatment, and utilization of current research in exercise physiology. With a bachelor’s degree in biology and personal nerdy interest in the sciences I’m always reading and staying up to date on the current trends related to training and focused on separating facts from fiction.
I have a personal interest and passion in the field of sports psychology and believe that the mind is just as integral as the body to achieving our goals. Whether you’re just looking to run for your own mental health or achieve goals beyond your wildest dream, I’m prepared to help orient your mind to accomplish your goals.
Being that I am married with a child, and have a busy career, I fully understand the difficulties of training with a full list of commitments in your daily life. I will help you juggle the business of your life and provide methods to help you best fit your goals into your life.
I am committed to creating training plans for athletes throughout a single training cycle to all year round including the off-season. I am also available around the clock through text or phone to whatever questions one may have and will work in weekly zoom calls to check in with my clients and help provide any guidance and adjustments to the training plans that I can.
If you’re ready to get to work, I’m ready to help. Let’s get in contact today!
PHILOSOPHY
I understand the physical, emotional, and mental work that go into the daily pursuit of your goals, as well as the long road to reach them. I’m committed to supporting my athletes in every facet that I can and joining them on the journey to pursue their full potential.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Current part-time assistant cross country coach for Cumberland Valley High School.
- I have coached runners in the mile all the way through the 100-mile distance over the last 4 years both locally and remotely.
- I’ve coached multiple Boston Qualifiers (references available if requested)
- I’ve coached athletes of all ages locally for the last year working on gait retraining through in person sessions.
ABOUT ME
My name is Antonio Sierra, and I am a husband to my wife Gina and my 2-year-old son Kilian. I have trained, raced and coached competitively at every distance from 800m on the track to 100 miles on the trails/road. As a high schooler I set the mile record at my high school, and as a medical student I ran 2:49 as my debut marathon and ran a Boston Qualifier in my first 4 marathons.
I am currently a Podiatry Resident at UPMC Central PA (Harrisburg) and have a professional and personal interest in promoting injury prevention as well as evaluating and treating injuries throughout the lower extremities that my patients and/or athletes may present with. In my free time I love to run and train for races, go backpacking (I thru-hiked the PCT in 2017!), go on day hikes with my family, and read books.
BIG INFLUENCES
I am greatly influenced by the work of Steve Magness and his scientific, exercise physiology approach to training. With a degree in Biology and being a huge science nerd myself, I am driven to provide scientifically guided training advice that will help my athletes get the most out of their bodies.
I am also greatly influenced by the coaching methods of the great Renato Canova, as well as Brad Hudson (who has taken much from Canova). I firmly believe in Canova’s perspective on long-distance running being a matter of “extension” and am a huge advocate of incorporating and using shorter distance speed work to propel the athlete into significantly faster times in the longer distance races.
In implementing proper biomechanics and helping athletes with gait retraining, I’m a steward of many individuals but especially Frans Bosch, Tom Tellez, and Paul Mackinnon. I especially admire Paul’s “New way, Old Way” approach to help athletes develop greater self-awareness of the flaws in their current running form, and I also use many of his different cues to promote correction.
Last but certainly not least, like many I can’t help but love and take much from the great Mike Smith. Like coach Smith I strive to do my best to psychologically and emotionally connect with my runners with where they are at and to be someone they can rely on in their corner through the ups and downs of training.
RACING HISTORY
I raced the 800m and mile from middle school through college, where I also competed in cross country. After college I took a hiatus from running competitively and thru-hiked the Pacific Crest Trail in 2017. This opened up a whole new world of running opportunities for me and lead me to get into the world of trail running. Since 2018 I have completed four 50-mile races and one 100-miler. I also raced four marathons, including the Boston marathon, while juggling the craziness of medical school. In early 2024 I had surgery on both of my hips and am currently recovering and working on progressing towards a comeback to running.
PRs
- 800m: 2:01 (high school)
- 1600m: 4:36 (high school)
- 5k: 17:17 (high school)
- Half-Marathon: 1:18:37 (2023 York Half Marathon) – 3rd place
- Marathon: 2:44:34 (2023 Buffalo Marathon) – 10th place
- 50 miles: 7:33:00 (2020 JFK 50 miler).
- 100 miles: 27:49:00 (2019 Vermont 100 miler). Ran this more as a long-distance hiker than a runner back in the day. Was definitely more of a “just finish” effort.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- Qualified for the Boston Marathon in each of my 4 marathons, all of which were run during Medical School.
CONTACT ANTONIO
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
- The 10 Best Running Shoes for Beginners – Shape.com
- The technicalities of training, running, and living an adventurous and passionate life
SOCIAL
Steve Riccio –
I have had the pleasure of working with Antonio for the past three months. He has been an excellent coach creating weekly workout plans based on my goals. I recently got back to running after some time away. He took that into account and started me with a program that was challenging but safe. Antonio is also very responsive. Any time I share challenges that I had during a run, he responds in a very timely manner with what always has been excellent advice. This has been one of the best investments. Regardless of your age, running experience, and injury history, please invest in a running coach and not in a running plan you can get online. We are all unique and need guidance that is individualized. Antonio would be a great partner.
Katie –
We hired Antonio to work with our 12 year old daughter. She has some underlying health issues and we were seeking help/direction to improve overall running skills for sports. We have had a great experience and are looking forward to future sessions.
Dan Ryan –
Antonio met with me for one of his in-person sessions. My goal was to find more running efficiency to improve my 5k time and to mitigate some lower back issues. Even before he saw me run, as I was explaining some of my experience, he described exactly what he suspected my pain was coming from. I knew I could trust his insight from that moment. Prior to this, I have been to my doctor, my chiropractor, and PT (as well as YouTube) trying to get to the bottom of my lower back issues. Antonio quickly gave me insights on how to improve the condition and confirmed his suspicions with a brief observation. I could not believe how accurate he was, knowing precisely what I was experiencing. Then he watched me run two easy laps and took a before video. For most of the rest of the session, he spent time teaching me 3 techniques to improve my form and he was patient with my surprising lack of coordination with one of the moves. At the conclusion of the session, he had me run again and recorded an after video. Watching the two videos back-to-back was a testament to his knowledge. Not only could I see how much I improved in just an hour, but he was also so thorough in his description and demonstrations that I could see how I still have things to practice. I plan on taking his lessons with me and would absolutely work with him again. A huge wealth of knowledge and a great individual!
Daniel Skube –
Coach Antonio has been invaluable to my progress. I’ve gotten more results in a few months of his programming than I did in a year-plus of trying to train myself.
Before starting with him, I was prone to shin splints, plantar fasciitis, & I had lost all my previous cardio gains.
He worked with my limitations to build me up in a gradual, sustainable way. He been very flexible in adjusting my programming according to my needs & ensuring that I’m performing well AND staying injury-free.
Working with Coach Antonio, has been like putting my training on auto-pilot: he tells me what to do, I do it, & I get the right results.
Alexandra Kohn –
Antonio is a wonderful coach and I credit him with getting me fully prepared for the New York Marathon (and led me to a new PR!). He took all the guesswork out of training so that I simply had to put on my shoes and head outside. He adjusted my plan according to need, including to when I had to take time off and build back up slowly. He was always available via text and responds quickly. Highly recommend him if you’re looking for a dedicated coach to help you meet your goals!
Matt Kramer –
Training for the New York City Marathon with Antonio has been an incredible experience. From the start, he tailored a plan that matched my specific goals and running history, making me feel confident and prepared every step of the way. I had some very unique physical challenges and his expertise as both an elite runner and a podiatrist has been invaluable, especially when it comes to understanding the biomechanics of running. Antonio’s communication is always on point—he checks in regularly, adjusts plans when needed, and is always available to answer questions. What sets Antonio apart is his holistic approach—he not only focuses on the physical training but also incorporates mental strategies, nutrition advice, and pacing guidance to ensure I’m fully prepared. His genuine passion for helping runners succeed is evident in everything he does. If you’re serious about achieving your running goals, especially for a big race like the NYC Marathon, I highly recommend Antonio!
Seth Salomon –
Antonio has been great to work with over the past months. He is very communicative, supportive, and willing to adapt his approach based upon your needs. He spends a lot of time designing my training and gets me the week’s program far enough in advance that I can plan my week accordingly. I appreciate his efforts and would definitely recommend him.
ozboogs –
I am very blessed to have found Antonio. To have an accessible coach who is a high level runner and a podiatrist just doesn’t happen.
I reached out to Antonio to assist me with my Army 2 mile run time and his guidance has definitely taken me to the next level.
Basically shut out the Social Media noise and follow the science is his mantra and I love that.
If you’re looking for a coach that will get your running form and mentality right then look no further than Coach Sierra.
Seth Bridgeforth –
I’ve been working with Antonio for about 5 months now – it has been an incredibly rewarding experience. We had an initial touch base where we discussed my background, where I was headed and why I was seeking assistance – speed.
The questions surrounding the sport are insurmountable, especially now that anyone can be a fitness guru on medias.
Antonio will offer insights on anything from workout structure and weekly volume to rest/recovery and nutrition to footwear, the physiology behind the sport, race suggestions, tapering, race day plans, pacing, heart rate, VO2 – anything. All 11 yards.
Workouts are tailored to your specific goals, whether it be a 5K PB or completing a 100 mile trail race (or if it’s just the start of your running journey!), he’s going to write you the workouts to get the job done. All you do is show up!
Oh, and did I mention he’s a podiatrist? With special interest in injury prevention, and nutrition… I’ve been very pleased with the entire experience and looking forward to the coming months!
Amy Hill –
I hired Antonio to help me get ready for trail races. He was exceptionally responsive and adaptable when I experienced an injury. I learned a lot about how to train the right way. I highly recommend him to anyone who wants to take their running to the next level.
Katherine Bishop –
I started working with Antonio in March of 2023. As a coach, he immediately demonstrated a wealth of knowledge about the sport from many years of experience. Antonio was eager and determined to take on the challenge of helping me meet some relatively unconventional goals. This included training for a 1.5 mile race as well as moving with weight efficiently. Without question, Antonio jumped into researching and reaching out to other coaches. He has consistently put effort into fine tuning my training program and is always looking into new training tactics. I saw a lot of improvement early on, but one of the main benefits of working with Antonio has been the confidence I have gained in a short amount of time. As someone who is fairly injury prone, I hit a few bumps in the road, and Antonio has helped me attack every single issue head on with an open mindset. He has been determined to help me meet my goals since day one, and has shown a continuous investment in my success. He has meticulously helped me stay on track while working through nagging hip pain. Antonio has mastered the coaching relationship as someone who can hold you accountable without being overbearing or stress-inducing. He is always there to encourage me while also allowing me to listen to my body and readjust. He has also been exceedingly flexible with my insane schedule and work commitments. Antonio is responsive, passionate and dedicated; I would highly recommend him to anyone!
Linda Shieh –
I’m really glad I hired Antonio as my running coach for the upcoming Chicago marathon. He has a tremendous amount of running knowledge and experience as an elite runner and a medical professional so I have high trust in his training plans. And even though there are differences in our age, gender, experience (I’m a beginner) and skills, he has the capacity to understand what I need as a 56 yr old beginner and provide me with a custom training plan. I appreciate how he analyzes my progress/feedback then customizes as needed. He is active listener and good communicator ans makes a point to have regular check-ins to discuss the status quo and answer any questions I may have. Antonio is a great coach and I highly recommend him!!
Michael Crosby –
Timely, flexible, holistic, encouraging. Antonio and I have been working together for over 6 months, and in that time I was able to PR my 5k and 10k. His training plans for each week arrive in a timely manner, and he is always very adaptable to sudden changes in my schedule. As someone with 3 jobs, I need a training program that is both flexible and time-efficient. Antonio has not only worked within my constraints, but also been able to provide training plans that reflect my level of mental fatigue. For example, there was a time when training at very specific paces, several workouts a week, was mentally exhausting; he quickly adapted the plan to focus on effort rather than pace. I was able to make this mental shift, and felt psychologically fresh. He is able to explain training theory in terms that I, your average “bro-scientist”, can grasp easily. I can confidently say that he is taking me to the edge of my current potential, with a sober realism, while making room for me to dream big. We’ll be chasing that 2:59:59 marathon at the beginning of 2024, and excited to make the attempt with Antonio leading the charge!
James Downs –
Antonio has been my coach for three months and my running mentor for the past few years. His dedication to personalizing and optimizing my training plan specifically to fit my goals and lifestyle, topographical and geographical location (i.e. hilly or flat or mountainous) is exceptional! Going through a physician’s education and specifically podiatry training, Coach Tony has an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the legs/feet. This, in my experience, has enabled him to troubleshoot my leg or foot issues and walk through not just training strategies, running techniques, and recovery plans, but also exercises and stretches for rehabbing my mysterious calf pain or nagging plantar discomfort (that is now resolved). Antonio communicates well and makes himself available to discuss training, how things are progressing, and takes feedback as well as he gives it. I appreciate the time and energy he puts into the training plans and explaining workouts. Would recommend.