Brian Condon – Boulder Running Coach

4.92 out of 5
(24 customer reviews)

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

50% off your first month! From marathons to ultras and stage races, helping runners focus on the process and enjoy the journey with consistency, work and rest.

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Description

Boulder running coach Brian Condon specializes in trails and ultras and staying consistent to achieve long-term goals, though he’s just as comfortable training and racing road marathons. He’s raced at all the major races, including Western States 100, UTMB, TransRockies Stage race, Ice Age 50, The North Face ultras, and the Chicago Marathon. For both depth and breadth on the roads and trails, Brian is your guy. Brian is also leading a 6 day Ultra Running Camp starting July 2nd, 2024. See details below for more info!

*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%condon ***

Contact Brian

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

SPECIALTIES

  • Trail-Ultras-Marathons
  • Consistency-Sustainability-Balance
  • Leading the Uplift Ultra Training Camp, designed for runners who wish to take their ultrarunning skills to new heights amidst the stunning Rocky Mountain landscape.
    • When: Tuesday July 2nd-Sunday July 7th
    • Number of Participants: 15
    • Cost: $1,600
    • Number of days: 6 days/5 nights (Arrive Tuesday by 2pm and and leave Sunday by 11 am)
    • Where: Francie’s Hut Breckenridge, Colorado
    • More info: https://www.upliftrunning.com/uplift-training-camp.html#/
    • Runners who sign up for the camp also get a discount on coaching @ $119/mo

PHILOSOPHY

I have done everything from 3k track races to 100 mile mountain runs. I love it all and I love helping people go after their goals! I take a personal approach to each runner’s goals focusing on consistent, modulated, and progressive training to build a runner’s aerobic capacity and performance potential for any distance or style from 5k to 100 miles, in the mountains, trails, or on the roads.

I believe in consistency more than anything. Running smart, healthy, and injury free for as long as possible is the best way to get better. Having fun with what you are doing is important too, but I’ve found that getting better at something is the best way to have fun, so that’s the goal.

I believe that becoming better requires figuring out when you can push and when you need to relax and lay back in training, racing, and in life. That is what I aim to do as a coach – work with a runner to push and pull those levers to reach balance and long term potential.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Three Years online coaching for Team RunRun and personal coaching (everything from first half marathon, Boston qualifiers, first ultra, taking that next step, and 100 mile prep)

Five years coaching high school cross country and track and field

Hut Run Hut guide

ABOUT ME

I am very easy going, positive, and adaptable. I believe in the ‘work hard play hard’ mantra, but I like to throw in and relax hard too.

I’m from Wisconsin and currently live in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. I run with the Rocky Mountain Runners and work at a mountaineering Gear shop. I love running, all things outdoors, and any sport or activity thrown my way. I also love live music, good food and drink, and my family and friends.

BIG INFLUENCES

Coaches I have had through the years have probably influenced me the most, but the three running coaches I look to for ideas, influence, and inspiration outside of my own circle are Jerry Schumacher, Mike Smith (NAU), and Jack Daniels. I also look for inspiration outside of the running world and I encourage my runners to do the same – good ideas usually translate across practices.

RACING HISTORY

I ran cross country in college at UW-La Crosse and then progressed from marathons to trail ultra marathons. I like doing everything from 5k to 100 mile now; it’s just fun to run. I’ve had the opportunity to race a few great races like the Boston Marathon, Western States 100, and the TransRockies Stage race a few times and hope to do some cool races in the future like Comrades and UTMB. I’d like to try to set the FKT on the 1,200 mile Ice Age Trail in Wisconsin some day too.

CERTIFICATIONS

Coursework through the WIAA in ‘the fundamentals of Coaching’ and ‘First Aid, Health, and Safety for Coaches’ and at UW-La Crosse in ‘Coaching Cross Country and Track and Field’.

PRs

  • Half Marathon: 1:10 (Get Lucky Half, Minneapolis, 2012)
  • Marathon: 2:30 (Chicago Marathon, 2012)
  • 50k: 3:50 (Dances with Dirt, 2013)
  • 100K: 9:38 (Canyon Endurance Run, 2019)
  • 50 Mile: 5:55 (TNF Endurance Challenge, Madison, WI, 2013)
  • 100 Mile: 17:25:01 (Western States Endurance Run, 2019)

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

A few notable races:

  • 41st at CCC 2021
  • 1st at West Line Winder 50k 2021
  • Top 10 at North Face 50 Mile championships
  • Top 10 at Pikes Peak Marathon
  • Top 20 at Western States 100
  • 1st at Golden Gate Dirty 30
  • 1st at Madison Marathon
  • 54th at Boston Marathon
  • 1st in TransRockies Stage Race (Partner with Eric Senseman)

CONTACT BRIAN

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

24 reviews for Brian Condon – Boulder Running Coach

  1. 5 out of 5

    Steve Merrick

    I started working with Brian a little over a year ago and it has been fantastic. Brian is highly knowledgeable and is able to tailor his plans to my skill level, schedule, and the amount of time I want to invest in running. He takes the initiative to get to know me and my goals and has helped me plan out my year-long running plan.

    The biggest win since working with Brian is that I have been able to avoid serious injury. Prior to working together I was constantly injured. It hit the point where I just planned for 30% of the year to be injury time. I shared my goal of reducing the risk of injury with Brian before we started working together and he shared a wealth of knowledge about how he reduces injury risk in his athletes.

    Any time I have a question about training strategy, theory, or even where in the area to do a workout Brian quickly responds with a thoughtful answer. Thanks Brian!

  2. 5 out of 5

    Jennifer Rau

    Instant connection! Brian is so warm and friendly as well as knowledgeable with awesome race credentials! His communication has been stellar. I feel so lucky to be coached by Brian.

  3. 5 out of 5

    Peter Brandes

    I cannot speak highly enough about Brian and the incredible impact he has had on my life as a runner. His flexibility and understanding of my crazy life schedule, juggling a baby and all the challenges that come with it, has been nothing short of remarkable. From the very beginning, he made it clear that he was dedicated to helping me achieve my running goals while accommodating the demands of my personal life, and he delivered on that promise in spades.

    Brian’s quick communication and responsiveness have been a game-changer. No matter how hectic my day might be, he is always available for me, responding in no time at all. Whether it’s discussing training plans, addressing concerns about my progress, or just offering words of encouragement, he is there for me every step of the way.

    One of the most remarkable transformations I’ve experienced with Brian’s guidance is overcoming my long-standing injuries. Prior to working with him, I felt like I was constantly plagued by injuries, which hindered my progress and dampened my enthusiasm for running. However, with Brian’s expertise and personalized training approach, he helped me build strength, address inconsistencies, and improve my confidence that I could run pain free, turning me from an injury-prone runner into a confident and injury-free one.

    But the real highlight of working with Brian has been witnessing my progress as a runner. Under his guidance, I have surpassed my previous limits and achieved milestones I never thought possible. I now find myself running the most miles per week I have ever done, and the best part is that I feel like a machine – strong, efficient, and passionate about every stride I take. His genuine care for my well-being and success is evident in every aspect of our interactions. It’s no exaggeration to say that Brian has been a game-changer in my running journey, and I am forever grateful for his unwavering support and expertise.

    If you’re seeking a coach who understands the challenges of balancing running with a hectic life, who communicates promptly and effectively, and can give you a perfect balance of long easy efforts mixed with spicy speed work then look no further than Brian. He has been the driving force behind the biggest turning point in my running, and I wholeheartedly recommend him to anyone seeking to take their running to new heights. Thank you, Brian, for making me believe in the power of my own potential.

  4. 5 out of 5

    Mike Scalzone

    I recently joined with Brian to prepare me for the TRR after some persistent injuries. He has been positive and really helpful in guiding me through rehab and training at the same time. Very available for any communication and clearly experienced. I look forward to a follow-up annual plan after completing the race we are pointing towards. Great find.

  5. 5 out of 5

    Alexis McQuade

    I started working with Brian about 2 months ago to train for a 50 miler in September and he has been amazing. He answers all questions quickly, is extremely accommodating in moving around workouts to fit in my life, and it is helpful to have him local to Denver so I know I can go to him to ask for good running trails.

  6. 5 out of 5

    Patrick Robbins

    I started working with Brian about 12 weeks ago to prepare for my third Ice Age Trail 50 mile. With a traveling role for work and two kids under 3 years old, I was nervous about being able to log the miles necessary to feel prepared for the race. Brian gave me confidence that I could do it and helped me increase the quality of my training, while maintaining a reasonable time commitment. I can say that I ran less miles this training block and felt more fit than I ever have heading into IAT 50. I attribute this to the intentional way that Brian structures workouts, long runs and recovery days. Everything is there for a reason and he’s always willing the explain the “WHY” behind each workout if you have questions.

    For me, almost equally as valuable was Brian’s knowledge of the Ice Age Trail course. Having posted several impressive finishes in the 50k/50mile race (sub 6 hours !?!?), he was able to help me break the race into manageable sections, each with a specific plan. He also helped me come up with a goal that pushed me to believe I was capable of more!

    Brian was able to help me shave 90 minutes off my time from last year and I really feel like there is still plenty more room for upside in the coming years!

    If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, patient and supportive coach who puts the person first – definitely consider Brian! Looking forward to tackling my next adventure and future IAT 50’s with him!

  7. 5 out of 5

    Jack Julian

    I began working with Brian 5 months ago with the goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon as a triathlete who was still relatively new to running and had never run more than 30 miles a week. We worked around a few nicks I had early on and ended up building to a few 50 mile weeks prior to my marathon. I ended up catching a cold before the race and missed the cutoff by 3 minutes, but I feel I definitely had the training to get it done and look forward to accomplishing that goal later this year. Maybe my biggest takeaway so far is I can feel the increased run strength from these big weeks, and I am looking forward to the seeing how that pays off as we start working on training for several triathlons this summer.

  8. 5 out of 5

    Reegan Brown

    I began working with Brian a few months ago and am incredibly happy with my decision. He is extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and helpful. He goes above and beyond to help me meet my goals. I’m training for a 50-miler in September with the goal of becoming an overall better runner, and I’ve already seen such great progress, thanks to Brian. I’ve struggled with runner’s knee issues the past month or so and he’s been extremely flexible, supportive, and adaptive in order to develop the right training plan for me.

    I look forward to continuing to work with him and highly recommend him as a running coach!

  9. 5 out of 5

    Natalie Weeks

    After having a baby 9 months ago and not being able to train from week 14-39 of pregnancy, Brian understood my time constraints but seriousness in getting back in the game. He has been able to guide me back into training for ultras without being over aggressive. I just completed my first 50k in almost a year and a half and wow, I never thought I would feel this good afterwards. I’m so excited to crush more goals with Brian!!

  10. 5 out of 5

    Claire Hsing

    Working with Brian made me understand why other runners I know value their coaches so much. Brian was able to provide guidance and support with a running program for my first 50 mile race which accidentally coincided with renovating a house and planning a wedding. Needless to say it was a logistical challenge to put down the necessary training but Brian helped me stay consistent and knew when to push me vs. when to suggest modifications. It was also an incredible asset to have him locally in my town, he often made specific route recommendations and scoped out trail conditions ahead of my runs to save me from ice, and chased down intel on available local tracks when I had trouble scheduling my track workouts. Going above and beyond seemed like a matter of course for Brian, so I have a high degree of confidence in his commitment to all of his runners.

    I work as a physical therapist treating a variety of orthopedic conditions including injuries in runners and mountain athletes, and can attest that Brian’s assistance managing some flare ups I had during training was sound and well-reasoned, reflecting his extensive experience working with runners encountering all manner of roadblocks. I would (and have) happily recommend Brian as a coach to my own clinical patients, friends, and peers to facilitate achieving their running goals.

  11. 5 out of 5

    Nick Stafford

    Brian is a fantastic coach and worked with him for over a 4-month time frame in preparation for the Chicago Marathon. He really knows his stuff and is completely flexible to fit the training for each runner’s style, schedule, performance, and even when it hits the fan due to an injury. Brian is incredibly optimistic, thoughtful, and knows how to get the best performance out of his runners. What I appreciated most from Brian was his encouragement and coaching during the actual race especially when I got into the 20 milers while he tracked me via the app. Really happy to share I hit my goal of 3:35 and crushed my 2019 marathon PR by over 18 minutes. Onto to the next! Thanks, Brian and Cheers my friend!

  12. 5 out of 5

    Bridgid Roark

    I can’t imagine coaching getting any better than with Brian. I especially appreciate the attention he gives to avoiding injury, my age (68), and that I am not “a runner”. I’m more a runner-want-to-be. He encourages cross-training making me ready for not only a half (the second I’ve EVER done (thanks again to Brian)) but a triathlon (kidding — kind of).

  13. 5 out of 5

    Jared Barnett

    This has been my first experience working with a running coach and it has been a game changer. I’ve always struggled to optimize my training around my family life (2 kids) and my work. I was making progress towards my running goals but it was stressful and unsustainable in the long-term. Working with Brian has taken a huge load off my shoulders. We chatted about different ways to balance training with life and he has been able to craft schedules that work for me. It’s a huge upgrade from my training before and worth every penny. I was so psyched to hit a major 10k goal of mine that I’ve been chasing for years and was unlikely to hit without his guidance. Can’t wait to tackle my first marathon with him. Highly recommended working with Brian — he’ll help you achieve bigger things!

  14. 5 out of 5

    Noel Rieder

    After years of running without a coach, I decided to hire a coach because I realized that my running ambitions exceeded my ability to successfully coach myself. After evaluating multiple potential coaches, I chose Brian because his running/coaching experience seemed to align closely with my personal running interests and goals. It has definitely been a positive experience thus far and I am very happy with Brian’s coaching. He has done a great job of creating a varied training plan that includes different types of runs, while also being responsive to my needs. Brian has also provided valuable advice on strength training, fueling strategies, and injury prevention. When the inevitable injury does occur, he is very responsive to how my body is responding to the training and makes changes to the training plan as necessary. Brian is also happy to share the science behind the training so that it never feels like I am just logging junk miles. It has been great to have Brian in my corner to provide encouragement and feedback through the highs and lows of training for challenging events. I would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a coach.

  15. 5 out of 5

    RJ Boyle

    after 6 years of not being able to pull together a single race, a few months brian got me from running 10 miles a week to finishing the sawatch ascent 50k. he’s a super smart super talented coach and he really knows how to tune into an athlete and set a plan for success!!!

  16. 5 out of 5

    Rob P

    I’ve worked with Brian for a couple of months and have been very happy with my plan, our communications back and forth over phone and email, and overall he’s been very tolerant of my silly running questions as somebody taking on bigger efforts. He developed a half marathon program for me that was more rigorous which involved a running test of sorts; took into consideration my overall goals and running availability; provided programming for long runs, short runs, and workouts; then on top of all that, gave me help in coming up with a running strategy for the race and gave me some motivation to boot! This is way more value than I could’ve ever gotten from than the average free online half marathon program.

    I’m looking forward to training for my full and then ultra, breaking personal barriers I never thought would be possible! Thanks, Brian!

  17. 5 out of 5

    Isaiah Ford

    Brian has been an excellent coach for me! I really appreciate the flexibility in training plans given schedule changes, other life adventures and effort levels. Super knowledgeable and descriptive on specifics in training, which being new to coaching, I really appreciate. I have better understanding now of how specifics in training all fit together in the grand scheme. Working on my first 100 mile race and hopefully many more to come. Thanks, Brian!

  18. 5 out of 5

    Eric Meahan

    I’ve been working with Brian for 2-3 months now and for a couple of races. Brian has been excellent, encouraging, and a valuable resource. He’s done a great job taking my planned runs/races and building in my training. I have 100% improved since training with him. I’m now starting to train for my first 100 miler with Brian and looking forward to it.

  19. 5 out of 5

    Michael Dobos

    I’ve been working with Brian for about 10 weeks now and could not be happier. I began working with him the week after running my first ultra and he was able to develop a plan that allowed me to recover before increasing the milage. I can honestly say I am already in better shape now than I was when I ran my first ultra. He is always available for questions and constantly providing feedback on workouts. Great experience so far!

  20. 5 out of 5

    Catherine Shallow

    I can’t say enough good things about Brian’s coaching style. Whether you are working toward a fast road race or an ultra, he will have your training dialed in. His approach is a perfect balance of hard work and fun, one that ensures steady progress and achievable goals. Even in a year of uncertain times and cancelled races, Brian has shown an unwavering commitment to his craft. If you are fortunate to work with Brian, you will get both a coach and a friend.

  21. 5 out of 5

    Shannon Murphy

    Brian is super great- very patient, supportive, and encouraging. He’s available when I have questions and is willing to work with me/where I’m at. Happy he’s helping me try different stuff and work through different barriers.

  22. 3 out of 5

    Andy Wind

    I only worked with Brian for about 6 weeks and had real trouble getting aligned. Very knowledgeable and clearly an extremely talented runner, but lacked consistent communication or the rigor that I was after.

  23. 5 out of 5

    Amanda Raithel

    I have been working with Brian for 2 months. My goal is to qualify for Boston. He’s pushing the envelope with me, which I like and appreciate. He is encouraging and knowledgeable. I look forward to the next few months with him as my coach!

  24. 5 out of 5

    SRhinehart

    I started working with Brian three months ago, and could not have been happier with my decision! Training for my first 50k was intimidating to think about, but Brian was super encouraging, supportive, and helpful throughout the process. He was always available to answer any questions I had, and was particularly helpful with giving me stretches and routines for avoiding injury. He also knows Boulder inside and out, and was able to give me route suggestions on several occasions.

    Brian’s philosophy for running and training is something that can fit any athlete and has really helped me understand my body better! I would absolutely recommend him to anyone looking for a coach for their next race. Thanks, Brian!

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