Ashley Nordell – Sisters Running Coach

4.95 out of 5
(38 customer reviews)

From: $149.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee

Excited to help athletes find ways to balance running and training with their everyday lives, especially busy parent athletes on trails

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Description

Sisters running coach Ashley Nordell specializes in trails and ultras – she’s won or placed on the podium of nearly any ultra she’s raced, including Western States and Leadville, and she’s completed multiple FKT and solo adventure routes, in addition to being a mom to two young girls!

***Limited roster space – please contact Ashley prior to signing up.***

Contact Ashley

LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Sisters, OR
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only

SPECIALTIES

I enjoy working with runners of all abilities and levels of experience. I have particularly enjoyed helping new moms get back into their training and routines, because it wasn’t that long ago that I was navigating those waters.

PHILOSOPHY

First and foremost, running and training needs to enhance your life in a positive way. If it is not fun, something needs to be changed. When you love what you are doing, it will fit more smoothly into your lifestyle. Consistency and quality are two focal points of my training and coaching. Everyone is different, with different schedules and goals. It is important to create a plan that matches your priorities and works within your life’s perimeters. I once heard of training being compared to a wheel-with your goal being the middle point of that wheel. All the training, workouts, sleep, nutrition, work, life’s stresses, etc are spokes on that wheel. If you don’t address and take care of every spoke, your wheel will not roll smoothly. I apply this philosophy to both my training and coaching. It is so essential to address all areas of your life and make sure each one is being taken care of to help nurture your training successes.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

  • 2 years assistant cross country/track and field coach at University of Redlands
  • 1 year assistant cross country coach at Crescent Valley High School
  • Taught a trail running course through Sisters Parks and Recreation for beginner/intermediate runners
  • Several years on-line coaching for runners of all abilities

ABOUT ME

I am a mom to two girls and was a teacher in my past life before COVID. Now I work from home juggling two jobs as a coach and customer support specialist for a small company based out of Eugene, OR. I have been running ultramarathons for 19 years, beginning right after graduating college. Before getting into ultras, I ran track and cross country at the University of Redlands in Southern California, and prior to that came from a background of team sports.

Both my parents are ultra runners, and my dad still completes several ultras a year. When I go home to visit, it often means family runs on the trails by their house!

Running has evolved over the years for me in how it fits into my daily life. But whether it now means training with a baby stroller, running in the dark before the girls are awake, or doing kid swaps at trailheads with my husband, it continues to be such a positive part of my life and I am grateful for all the friendships and memories running has brought me. I love the challenges that go along with racing ultras, as well as the “me” time I get when out training on the trails.

BIG INFLUENCES

My parents are both big influences in how I got started in running ultras.

As far as coaching influences, I take pieces from my experiences coaching track and cross country years ago (we used Jack Daniels approach), the role models I have had in the ultra world, and my own personal experiences – both success and failures – over the many years of running and training.

RACING HISTORY

  • High School: Track and Field
  • College: Cross Country, Track and Field
  • Ultramarathons: 2003-present

PRs

  • 5k road: 18:55
  • 50k trail: 4:06
  • 50 miler trail: 7:36
  • 100 miler trail: 18:12 (Arkansas Traveller 2019)

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

  • Course records: Bighorn 100, Ozark 100, Tetons 100, Cuyamaca 100k, Voyageur 50 mile, Whee 55k, Santa Monica Mountain 50k, Operation Jack 6 hour, Elk Kings Mountain Marathon 27 mile, Mary’s Peak 50 mile, Old Cascadia 50 mile, Paiute Meadows 50k
  • Top 10 Western States 100 (19:26) , Third place Leadville 100 (20:47)
  • Female FKT holder of the Ozark Highlands Trail (165 mile), as well as several shorter distance FKTs
  • Over 70 ultramarathon finishes

CONTACT ASHLEY

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.

Give us a brief history of your running, and this can include what distances and/or races you’ve run, how long you’ve been running, any past or present injuries, if you’ve worked with a coach or a specific training program before, etc.
Any short term or long term goals?
Describe your ideal coach/athlete relationship.
Any questions/comments for Team RunRun or the Coach in general?

PUBLICATIONS

SOCIAL

38 reviews for Ashley Nordell – Sisters Running Coach

  1. 5 out of 5

    Latifah Kraemer

    I have only worked with Ashley a couple of months but I have loved it so far! She is an excellent communicator who does an amazing job creating a plan that is tailored specifically to me and the goals I have. It is evident she puts a lot of time and thought into my workouts. I have already improved as a runner and I’m excited to see what the future holds for my upcoming races.

  2. 5 out of 5

    Megan DeHaan

    Ashley is a prime example of what coaching can be when you fit perfectly together. She goes out of her way to fine tune things and explain very helpful points about things I wouldn’t necessarily think about. She even looked up my race course profile and designed training to accommodate. That’s not something I’m used to with a coach. She understands life, and rolls with it.

  3. 5 out of 5

    Brigid Pickett

    Ashley has been a wonderful coach. She completely understands the challenges that come along with being a mother and an ultra runner. She has come up with a plan that pushes me to reach my potential, while also remaining sustainable to my busy family life. I’ve dealt with burnout & injury in the past, but with her guidance I’ve found a way to become stronger & fitter, while enjoying the process the entire way. She has such a deep knowledge base on all things trail running & racing. I recommend her 110 percent!

  4. 5 out of 5

    Saveria Tilden

    I have loved working with Ashley! I just finished my goal race, Broken Arrow Skyrace -26k. My goal was to complete the race injury free as I hadn’t run consistently in a while and this race had over 5000′ feet of gain. Having just m oh bed to Bend, Ashley was incredible helpful with suggesting specific trails and routes to meet my weekly workouts. When work and a cold completely derailed my training, Ashley patiently re-worked my schedule to keep me on track.

  5. 5 out of 5

    Alli

    Ashley is incredible! I truly cannot say enough good things about Ashley and my entire experience with Team Run Run. Working with Ashley as my coach has enabled me to become a significantly faster marathon runner than I ever thought possible. She is incredibly knowledgeable and helpful on every aspect of the training…from core work and general nutrition, to race day gels, hills and speed work…she does it all! Her workouts, pacing advice and weekly structure has helped me to improve more than I have in my last 10 years as a runner! I absolutely love working with Ashley and she has given me such amazing guidance, advice and flexibility as I train for the Boston Marathon while raising my four young kids and their busy schedules. She is the best of the best…such a great asset to all runners and a phenomenal coach.

  6. 5 out of 5

    Jacqueline Estrada

    Ashley is great! I’m a new mother and she has been so helpful to get me back in shape and balance my new lifestyle. She is very knowledgeable , responsive, and easy to talk to. I highly recommend her for any runner

  7. 5 out of 5

    Arla Casselman

    I am so happy to have Ashley as my coach. I am working towards completing my first 100 this year and I have been getting back into consistent training after having a baby last year. I don’t think my fitness would be where it currently is without Ashley’s coaching. As a new mom, it was really important to me to have a coach that can relate to juggling mom life, training, and working. I’ve had to do most of my training on the treadmill and Ashley creates my weekly runs to work with the treadmill running. She also provides additional strength and core workouts which has been awesome! She is great at communicating and answering questions and she leaves encouraging comments on Final Surge after my runs. Ashley’s coaching is so key in helping me achieve my running goals and I highly recommend her for ultra or any running distance!

  8. 5 out of 5

    Mandy Ferguson

    Ashley is great!! I reached out to her as I was coming off of an injury that had me sidelined for a few months. She has helped me to transition back in and has been very supportive and encouraging as I work to run a new distance. She is a great communicator, and I love that she is so responsive and super friendly! She is so good to work my schedule into my daily life, and she listens to my goals and is helping me to achieve them. I would definitely recommend her!!

  9. 5 out of 5

    Kelsey Rowe

    I’m absolutely loving working with Ashley. I’ve never had a coach before, for anything, and working with her has been incredibly rewarding. I’ve seen massive improvements in my overall fitness in addition to general running fitness, and it’s been such a delight to work with her in particular. She’s adapted my plan to a ton of last minute changes and an absolutely ridiculous work / life schedule, and I couldn’t be happier.

  10. 5 out of 5

    Rachel Lande

    It’s only been a few months so far but I’m really enjoying working with Ashley. She’s very responsive, checks in regularly, and readily adapts my training plan based on my schedule or the need to work around an injury. I love the variety of workouts she provides, as well as the easy to incorporate strength videos (which is an area where I have in the past struggled to include in my training). Additionally, she’s got a positive attitude and really celebrates the ‘wins’ which helps me maintain my love of running.

  11. 5 out of 5

    Melissa Boisvenue

    Absolutely pleasure to work with. I have a crazy busy schedule and Ashley has worked with me through mixing up my runs.
    Would highly recommend for any busy mama.

  12. 5 out of 5

    Meagan Denman

    I’ve been working with Ashley for a few months now and she has been exactly what I was looking for. Ashley offers the right amount of feedback and guidance – she’s quick to respond and has great advice due to all of her great experience.

    Ashley goes above and beyond – and I appreciate her dedication and genuine care about how my training is going. She’s also incredibly flexible with whatever my schedule requires, and does a great job to make me feel that that is OK – that there isn’t only one way to get to the goal outcome.

    I highly recommend Ashley as a coach!

  13. 5 out of 5

    Erica Wells

    I’ve been working with Ashley now for a little over 2 months and couldn’t be happier. I have found her to be reliable, accessible, and responsive. The workouts she is giving me are challenging but doable, and thus far I have seen my base drastically improve. My race calendar has switched up a bit with lockdowns from COVID changing things and she has been able to switch workouts around last minute to accommodate races and changes I’m making. As a working mom who has been traveling a ton over the last few months, this flexibility has been paramount. Ashley encourages me and helps to remove the stress of trying to determine what my day to day runs should look like to accommodate my schedule which has included multiple back to back trips and picking up a marathon 3.5 weeks before race date. I can’t recommend her enough.

  14. 5 out of 5

    Kathryn Zioto

    Ashley has been so wonderful to work with. I was looking for a coach who would take into account unique needs of someone returning to running post-partum. She has gone above and beyond my expectations by personalizing my training plan to get me back to a level of fitness that will allow me to achieve my goals AND to make the process fun and doable with two young children (including things like power hikes while wearing my baby or toddler and me 10 minute abs). She is very attentive to any feedback I have and works with me to make adjustments so that my training plan fits into my life. I have used other coaching services and I feel that the quality of her coaching is infinitely superior because of the attention to detail and customization that she provides in order to make me feel like my running goals are her top priority.

  15. 5 out of 5

    Piyush Joshi

    She is a great coach to work with!

    I like how she frequently checks in on how the training is going and tweaks the training plan per feedback. It keeps a constant connection between the athlete and the coach.

    I also benefitted from her recommendations on short videos for exercises for strength training that can easily be incorporated in the training day.

    She has also started to plan out for upcoming races that are few weeks out so that I can incorporate the training in my schedule which is thoughtful.

    It has been 3 months in and I am starting to see some improvements so looking forward to continue on the training path with her.

  16. 5 out of 5

    Kim Slate

    Working with Ashley has been a game changer for me. After having a baby last summer, I needed some guidance to get back into running again and to train for my goal races. She has been great with helping me address some nagging knee issues and creating a training plan for me that is flexible and fits my lifestyle as a busy working mom. She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to race strategy, nutrition, gear…I’ve already learned so much from her. I just wish I’d started working with her sooner. Highly recommend!

  17. 5 out of 5

    Megan Trabun

    I am so happy I found Ashley and Team Run Run! I had never really thought about getting a coach before. I am fairly new to running on a regular basis and I run as a hobby with no intention of running professionally. Last year I decided I wanted to sign up for my first marathon with the long term hopeful goal of getting into ultras. I laid out a training plan for myself and ended up not listening to my body and getting the worst shin splints of my life. I was out for months and when I was ready to pick back up, I had decided I should probably get some help. Ashley has been great to work with! She helped me ease back into running and get my mileage back up while still dealing with what had seemed like permanent shin pain. She’s provided me with a flexible schedule that meets my needs as well as workout and cross training ideas to build up strength. She has been a game changer making me feel more motivated with a plan and confident in my approach to running longer distances while working through a very frustrating injury.

  18. 5 out of 5

    Annika Brubaker

    Ashley as been an amazing coach! I’ve learned a lot about how I can improve my running & strength. She’s doing a great job training me for my first 50 mile trail race!

  19. 5 out of 5

    Jamie OSullivan

    Ashley is a phenomenal coach that is very good at working with variable schedules and times. She is a wealth of knowledge about the events that exist, especially from which courses are harder/easier. The workouts are specific and very customized, and I have noticed marked improvement in just two months. I would recommend Ashley to anyone seriously thinking about wandering into the world of ultras.

  20. 5 out of 5

    Chelsea Rice

    I can’t say enough good things about Ashley! I have a bizarre work schedule, full of travel, extended periods away from home, trails, and normal gyms. On top of that, I was and am still rehabbing after a tibia fracture. Ashley pays attention to my physical AND mental condition, and helps me stay on track with out beating me up, OR enabling excuses. She is absolutly incredible. I would reccomend her to anyone; from someone at a couch to 5k level, to an intermediate, spastic runner like me, to a legitimately committed ultra runner. I think she could help anyone up their game and stay on track!

  21. 5 out of 5

    Louis Allis

    Ashley is by far the best online coach I have ever worked with.

    Three months after a knee surgery I was back to cautious slow 2 mile runs, uncertain how to proceed from there. Ashley’s detailed and personalized schedules and frequent check-ins and speedy replies to questions have made me improve faster than I could have dreamt of.

    I am also learning a lot about the value of various strength exercises, cross training and more. I look forward to continue to work with Ashley for a long time to come!

  22. 5 out of 5

    Kris Leblanc

    Having Ashley as a running coach has been one of the best decisions I have made in 2020. She has worked with my limited training time due to work and kids and my love of cross training. She has created a program that as dramatically increased my fitness and endurance in a very short amount of time. I love contact and connection and thankfully Ashley does as well. She happily answers my many questions and helps adjust my program whenever needed.

  23. 5 out of 5

    Nathan Hauber

    Oh my gosh, how can I possibly add to all of the other amazing comments about Ashley? Ashley was recommended to me by another person that she coaches as a way to improve my training, and the experience has been amazing! Ashley’s training plans and awesome feedback have helped me train so much more effectively. Bonuses are that she has has been able to field every single crazy question that I have asked her, her availability and approachability, her knowledge and experience with so many races, and that she has run the Superior Fall Trail Race course (100 mile distance) that I am registered to run this fall (26.2 distance). Choosing the Superior Hiking Trail for my first marathon is an audacious goal and I feel confident that I will be able to do it with Ashley as a coach.

  24. 5 out of 5

    Ashley Waligura

    I am so thankful to have Ashley as my coach! She is knowledgeable, approachable, and an excellent communicator. The training plan she has created for me is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciate the personalization and flexibility in the training plan based on my feedback to her.

  25. 5 out of 5

    Aubrey Balmer

    Ashley has been so diligent to create workable training schedules in my busy schedule. She’s varied my strength training and speed work to compliment the distance training I’m doing. within two months my average pace improved over 1:20 a minute. She has great knowledge base for the 100 I’m training for, and insight into shorter races I’m doing. I’ve been very pleased.

  26. 5 out of 5

    Bridget Maguire

    Ashley has been great and very flexible with my schedule. She is very knowledge and her plan is very customized to my needs. She always takes time to respond to my questions (many of them!!) and helps to motivate me when I need it. I would highly recommend Ashely!!

  27. 5 out of 5

    Diane Pisano

    Ashley was great to work with! I am 63 yrs old and was searching for a coach to train for my first ultra trail race in a fairly short time. I found Ashley and she was perfect! We only had basically 6 weeks to train for my first ultra. My already being a trail runner helped but also being 63 yrs young was a potential issue. She kept in contact to see how things were going and make sure things were progressing without injury. When we chatted on the phone she was very upfront about what her training plan would look like but also told me to let her know anything that was bothering me either physically or mentally. I felt great by the time the mileage got up there! This past weekend was the race and I felt so ready! It was a timed ultra and in the 15 hours I passed my goal of 40 miles with a total of 43! If there hadn’t been a foot of snow to plow thru at the start i think 50 was possible. Next time, Ashley!

  28. 5 out of 5

    Micah Hardke

    Ashley is a real gem. A heart of gold. A determined athlete combined with the kindness of a friend. A real winner. I’ve learned more in 2 months than 10 years prior. Solid training plan with long runs, easy runs, tempo runs, dynamic stretches, and fun and creative workouts. I’ve loved every minute. I can’t remember what it was like training alone…this experience has blown my mind and the results speak for themselves. Even with a minor injury, Ashley was able to help me strengthen in alternate ways and coached me through the frustration with mindset strategies and complete understanding, because she had been there! My body is stronger, endurance increased, times are faster than before working with her. She’s helped me set a solid foundation for running not just in the short term for the 100K I’m training for, but also for the long term goal of running for the rest of my life. If you’re in the fence, take the leap! A running coach was the best gift I ever gave myself. And Ashley, specifically, has been a #gamechanger! Thank you, Ashley, and Team RunRun! Tons of love, Micah Hardke

  29. 5 out of 5

    bobijowaas

    Ashley has been a perfect fit for me – she’s always positive, flexible, encouraging, and just an overall delight to work with. Her workouts / training blocks are challenging without being overwhelming and she checks in regularly to see how things are going. I was feeling my head spinning with trying to figure out a training plan for my goal race this year and it’s such a relief to have someone with experience (and also a busy lifestyle) who understands the need to train and the need to rest. I am grateful for Ashley!

  30. 5 out of 5

    Jamil upine

    I love working with Ashley! She is supportive, encouraging, and has helped simplify my training plan while also building my fitness level. Since she’s also a mom and wife she understands the complications of family life and knows how to balance family with the joy of running. When my schedule gets a little sideways she is always able to work around it, offer flexible solutions, and/or teach me a new way to look at things. Something I’m still learning to value is rest. Ashley puts just the right amount of rest in my plans for my body. Sometimes I want to run, but based on my feedback on my training logs Ashley can tell my body needs to rest. I’ve found it’s beneficial to listen to her suggestions. ???? I would absolutely recommend Ashley to any of my friends who might be looking for a coach.

  31. 5 out of 5

    broman

    Ashley has been incredible so far! Her training plan is spot on and her response time is very quick when I have questions or concerns. She is very flexible and understands that sometimes training doesn’t always go as planned and we need to adjust. She’s very positive and knowledgeable. We share the same beliefs when it comes to running (quality over quantity, rest/recovery days, etc.) and I know she makes the plans based on what’s best for me. We’ve only been working together for a couple months but I look forward to our continued coach athlete relationship! ????

  32. 5 out of 5

    katbaker12

    Ashley Nordell is a talented, supportive and incredible running coach! As a busy mom of two kids, a business owner, and an ultrarunner, working with Ashley has really helped me fit all the pieces together. I love getting my schedule ahead of time so I can plan my workouts around family/work obligations, and she has lots of great tricks for how to squeeze in the miles when life events get in the way.

    Ashley is very responsive and I feel like she truly cares about me and all her clients. She thoughtfully chooses workouts to ensure avoiding injury while improving your weaknesses. I highly recommend Ashley as a coach for any distance, especially long-distance goals!

  33. 5 out of 5

    tiag

    Ashley is not only a great runner, she’s also a great coach. Very engaged, very caring and very knowledgeable.

  34. 5 out of 5

    kfostermarks

    Ashley is just great. She is knowledgeable, great at explaining training concepts and choices clearly and thoroughly, and extremely responsive to questions, requests for training adjustments, etc. I always feel like I’m getting more than I’m paying for with Ashley. Plus, she’s just a great person and inspiring runner/mother/professional to follow. I highly recommend Ashley to any athletes looking to pursue any running goal!

  35. 5 out of 5

    LizaRippy

    I love working with Ashley. She understands that life happens and is super accommodating when providing a schedule. She really goes above and beyond to ensure the workouts are fun yet effective. I love doing my workouts, they are never overwhelming but I can feel myself getting stronger!

  36. 5 out of 5

    DelaneyHanlon

    Ashley has been great! She is in pretty constant communication with me even though she has many other clients and her own training schedule. She’s great about adjusting my training plan as needed, depending on my race schedule, injuries, etc.

  37. 4 out of 5

    katcher4

    Ashley has given me a plan that is flexible with my lifestyle. She is very open to hear my ideas and suggestions for cross-training. She has been a huge help with giving me a consistent schedule. I feel and see the results from the goals that I am wanting to achieve.

  38. 4 out of 5

    jadeoakes

    Ashley has been such a huge help to me so far. Coming off an injury that kept me benched for a couple of months has been tough, but she’s been super supportive of my journey back, and my desire to push to my longest race this fall. She gets the busy lifestyle that comes with work and kids, and has been a huge help at working my schedule around them.

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