Cassandra Mellon Simmons – Minneapolis Running Coach

Description

Minneapolis running coach Cassandra works with athletes’ schedules, goals, likes, and can incorporate strength/mobility/yoga into routines to do as “snacks” and or do with your family! She pushed her youngest in a stroller every run except her quality workouts for my first half and nailed her goal time. She’s run through one of her pregnancies and through the 2nd half of her 2nd one. Every pregnancy is different and every post partum recovery is too! Cassandra also offers in-person sessions, reach out below to get started.

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

Contact Cassandra

LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road, Track
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 48 hours
LOCATION: Big Lake, MN
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Yes, within 45 minutes of zip code 55309. Option include: race planning/strategy, gait analysis, strength work, drills, or just a run to talk about everything not running! 

SPECIALTIES

Beginner, returning after injury/life break, intermediate, Pre-Post Natal, road, track, strength training and movement assessment for each client.

PHILOSOPHY

Supporting athletes to be healthy, injury resilient, find their joy, and motivation to be their best no matter what they may face in running or in life. We are all better when we have someone who cheers for us, reminds us to give ourselves grace, pushes us to be better, and cheers for us knowing just how hard we worked to reach that part of ourselves to cross the finish line.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

Personal trainer at Crunch Fitness in nyc, Pre-Post Natal Strength Certification, training children, teens and adults, working with pre-post natal clients

ABOUT ME

I’m a middle aged daycare lady who returned to running after having my 2nd child at 40. My first miles were the HARDEST (11:30 min miles), and now I’m running faster than I did in high school as a “semi-elite” runner. Getting a coach was the best thing I did, training smarter and not harder!
I was a gymnast from 3-11, training with Olympic coach Nikolai Miligulo who worked with Olga Korbut and Nelli Kim. Nelli used to eat dinner at my house, along with her sister and my coaches family.

I ran Cross Country in high school and Track and Field. I was a back of the pack runner, but I had an amazing coach who focused on improvement. I progressed to compete at state.

I’ve always wanted to run a marathon with a crazy uncle who has run 19. He’s 70 and says he has one more left in him!

My husband and I struggled with infertility for four years before having our 2nd son. We had a failed IVF, and we did donor egg IVF to have him. Running helped me to realize my body was never broken, and that I had lessons to learn in caring for myself. It also ignited a strong love for science, studies, and the need to take care of ourselves through even the toughest of things! Also to have people in our corner who believe in us, no matter what.

BIG INFLUENCES

I’ve been so fortunate to have been coached by Dakotah Popehn and Dot McMahan. I have also been so fortunate to have had the best Cross Country and Track Coach that saw everyone not for their times and places, but for the wonderful human beings they were. Everyone had a place on our team, and everyone was cheered for, a race is the same distance for everyone. As a runner who started at the back, I can say winning now in my 40’s is so much better than it would have been as a teenager. I had to work for all of it, and I love how with running hard work pays off over talent over time!

RACING HISTORY

CERTIFICATIONS

• UESCA Running Coach Certification 2025
• Pre-Post Natal Certification 2013
• Focus Personal Training Inst 300hr course 2013
• CPR/First Aid

PRs

• 1600 5:26 High School. 2000
• 4k 16:00 State Meet 1999
• 800m 2:30 2000
• Mile 5:39 8/2023
• 5k. 19:22. 5/2025
• 10k 39:39 10/2024
• Half M 1:31:20 6/2025

AWARDS & ACCOLADES

• Winner Bunker Hills 4H clover dash 4/23
• Winner mile Firecracker Mile and best combined time 5k and mile time 7/2023
• Winner mile USATF all comers meet 8/2023
• 2nd place half marathon Gear Western Half 10/2024
• Winner Thumbs Up 5k 9/2024
• 8th place Masters Cross Country Championships 2024
• 1st place Albertville 5k 2025
• 7th in age division Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon 2025 and first race as semi-elite at 43

CONTACT CASSANDRA

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.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Phone (Optional)

Tell Us About Yourself

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.

Goals

Any short term or long term goals?

What You're Looking For

Describe your ideal coach/athlete relationship.

Questions

Any questions/comments for Team RunRun or the Coach in general?

Website

Submit

SOCIAL