Caroline LaFon – Birmingham Running Coach
From: $85.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
RRCA certified, Runner, Coach, Mom and Nurse Practitioner. Ready to work together to reach your goals from 5k to ultras!
Description
Birmingham running coach Caroline LaFon knows how to balance training with parenthood and work, and is excited to help both beginner and intermediate runners with their goes on the roads and the trails, focusing on consistency, strength training, injury prevention and recovery in order to help you achieve your goals. Reach out to Caroline below!
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: VDOT
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Birmingham, AL
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
- 5K to marathon
- Trail running – up to ultras
- Beginner and intermediate runners
- Love working with runners balancing parenthood, work, and personal goals
PHILOSOPHY
My goal is to help others discover and celebrate their own strength and joy through the pursuit of running. We are all capable of so much more than we can imagine. At times, running can drive us to new limits….and sometimes, running can be a solace when life seems unsettled.
When working with an athlete, I love to know these things:
- What is their motivation (or “north star”)?
- What goal are they working towards?
- What are they hoping to achieve by working with a coach?
COACHING EXPERIENCE
My experience with coaching started organically. I started coaching among my running peers as we were learning and growing in running in 2019. I love being a student of the sport and would share things I learned from reading articles, books, and listening to podcasts. Within time I sought out a formal running certification in 2022. I have coached beginner and intermediate adult runners, many of whom did not start running until after motherhood.
ABOUT ME
A native Floridian, I now call Alabama home. I am a lifelong learner. I have a Bachelors of Science in Nutrition and a second Bachelors in Nursing. I am a dually-certified Nurse Practitioner and earned my doctoral degree in 2021. I love being a student of running! I am a wife and mother to two children.
I had a very active childhood filled with competitive dance. I always enjoyed group sports and group fitness. After college, I attempted running to stay in shape but really struggled due to a lack of knowledge on running. I thought I should be able to run without training just because I was young and ‘in shape’!
Ten years later and after having our second child, I joined a local women’s bootcamp group called FiA in 2019. On days we didn’t have bootcamp, we met for a run/walk 3-mile loop. This consistency gave me the basis to understand and love the process of running. From there, our confidence and ability grew, and so did our dreams. We started tackling bigger goals together: 5ks, 10ks, half marathons, marathons – and even ultra trail runs.
Running changed me in ways I never could have imagined and it has made my life more vibrant.
Running makes me feel grounded and accomplished, my mind feels clear and my heart feels full. I am more patient and focused in both my personal and professional lives. And most importantly, I have met my closest friends through running! Sharing dreams and working hard together creates a beautiful community.
Current favorites:
- Road Shoes: New Balance 880s wide
- Trail shoes: Altra Timps
- Pre-run fuel: Scratch + graham crackers (Featherstone Nutrition!)
- Podcast: Ali on the Run, Nobody Asked Us with Kara & Des
- Running Books: Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor, Choosing to Run by
- Des Linden, 26 Marathons by Meb Keflezighi, Running Home by Katie
Arnold
BIG INFLUENCES
I believe consistency and balance are the keys to success. I want athletes to be well-rounded, durable and healthy, and most importantly, injury-free. I believe in strength training, proper nutrition/hydration, and recovery. My training principles come from RRCA, VDOT, and Hal Higdon.
I believe in balancing your running goals with your life, whether that means shooting for the PR, running for an active lifestyle, running on new terrain, or running to feel strong!
RACING HISTORY
I have raced 5k road races to ultra distances on trail.
I was able to do my first world major marathon in Chicago 2022, which was such an amazing experience.
My first trail ultra was the Georgia Jewel 37 miler – and while this wasn’t my best time or pace, it was such an influential race for me as I really fought to stay in that race. I encountered nutrition and humidity issues early on in the race, but really worked through them one at a time to get to the finish line. While it was physically difficulty, the mental side of the race really taught me a lot about attitude, grit, and perseverance. I also have completed a 12 hour endurance race – hitting my personal peak mileage of 45 miles.
I am looking forward to running New York City Marathon Fall 2023 with a charity bib AND 10 of my running buddies!
CERTIFICATIONS
- RRCA – level 1
- Currently in training for VDOT certification
- Registered Nurse
- Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner – dually certified
- ACLS/BLS
PRs
- 5K (22:57) 2022 Adam’s Run
- 10K (48:33) 2022 Wine 10K
- 13.1 (1:51:15) 2023 Mercedes Half Marathon Birmingham AL
- 26.2 (4:04:58)) 2022 Chicago Marathon
CONTACT CAROLINE
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.
SOCIAL
Patricia Cobb –
I trained for and ran the 2023 NYC Marathon under the coaching guidance of Coach Caroline and I couldn’t have done it without her! Caroline is a know-it-all about all things running. Don’t believe me, just ask her about nutrition and hydration before, during and after a run, what the latest go-to in running shoes is, what podcasts to listen to and even what the latest and greatest running accessories are. Truly a gem of a Coach and a great friend too! Caroline has joy in her voice and a smile on her face whether she’s in Coach mode or just out for a run.
Thanks Coach Caroline for getting me across the finish line. I AM A MARATHONER and you were so instrumental in my achieving this goal!
Time to start training for the next race.
Thanks again,
Patty Cobb, 1st time marathoner
Sarah Clay –
I worked with Caroline for 8 weeks to prepare for the TCS NYC Marathon and I can honestly say I have never met someone who is as passionate about running as Coach C. She LOVES running and everything about it. Her favorite hobby is to research running and learn more about running. She keeps up on all the latest research, techniques and nutrition news. She follows all the elite runners and talks about them like they are her personal friends. She seeks out those runners when they happen to be in the same city as her so she can meet and talk to them in person. And she is never happier (unless she is literally running) than when she is talking to YOU about your running and helping you brainstorm on how to reach your goals. She is a literal running GEEK, a walking encyclopedia of running knowledge. And joy. She is a joyous runner. (Be careful, it can be contagious.) I highly recommend Caroline as a running coach. You won’t regret it! And, oh yeah, I went to NYC prepared for the challenge and crushed it. Thanks, Caroline! You’re the best!
Darby Stickler –
I’ve been running 😉 with Caroline for 6 weeks now and her guidance has been a complete game changer for me. I also consider her a friend! I found Team RunRun through a Google search… so it felt very much like stepping into the unknown. I have been running off and on for years, but never under a coach. I think I’ve exhausted every running training app there is, and not with much progress. After looking at my Garmin records, Caroline immediately tweaked a few things and the rest is history. I was struggling to run more than 3 consecutive miles, I was doing the same thing every single run, and feeling very frustrated. This past Saturday I ran 12 miles… very steady and just as she “prescribed”. It’s amazing what a personalized coach can do for your running. I am so thankful for her guidance, wisdom, and encouragement. I’m a busy, working mom of 4, and she’s a busy working mom too… she understands all the things and I am so grateful! I’m hitting the pavement this weekend for my first 1/2 marathon and I cannot wait! I feel prepared and I’m trusting my training! Thank you, Caroline!