Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott – Lander Running Coach
From: $164.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Description
Dandelion Dilluvio-Scott is a Wyoming running coach and extreme environment running specialist. She works with well-developed beginner and advanced athletes alike on ultra/sky racing, mountain/desert trail running, personal running projects and fastpacking.
*** Currently only 1 spot remaining!
Veterans and active military get $10 off p/m for the first 6 months. Contact Dandelion for details.***
***Dandelion wants to ensure the best fit before runners work with her, so please reach out to her first before signing up for coaching.***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Trail
DISTANCES: Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Training Peaks Premium
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Lander, WY
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
— Ultra, Sky, Mountain, Desert, Adventure & Trail Running
— Technical Adventure Running (running + mountaineering)
— Fastpacking
— Personal Running Projects: supported, self-supported & unsupported
— Extreme Environments: Altitude, Heat, Cold, Wind, Sand, Mud, Rocks & Snow
— Event preparation, gear, nutrition & strategy
— Strength Training for resiliency and durability
— Working with multisport outdoor athletes
— Developed Beginner – Professional Athletes
— Small roster to ensure athletes have quality, individualized attention
Much like training plans, coaches are not “one size fits all.” Every coach has their own unique style and it’s important for athletes to work with a coach that fits their personality and expectations. I am most compatible with motivated athletes with a passion for training and playing outside who are seeking a coach that will not only provide a training plan, but also play a mentor role. I have a direct, “no nonsense” style of coaching, but also believe in laughing often and having fun! Running can be a serious endeavor, but it is imperative to find positivity in the face of adversity. Athlete accountability is significant to me as a coach, but I view listening as equally or possibility even more vital. Athletes are more than just metrics; they are people! A successful coach-athlete relationship is a team effort and not a one-sided association with me telling the athlete what to do. I encourage the athletes I coach to be actively engaged in their training plan and also with their physical and mental well-being. For me the athlete always comes first; not the goal objective or the training program.
Although I reside in Wyoming, I have lived and/or played in many locations throughout the USA. I work with runners from all over the United States and other countries as well! I love tailoring training to suit the unique landscapes, surfaces and terrain my athletes have regular access to.
I encourage prospective athletes to read my coach bio and contact me before signing up so we can ensure we are a good fit. Thank you for your consideration!
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that honesty, clear expectations, communication, consistency and teamwork are the foundations of a successful coach/athlete relationship. Training should be challenging and push the athlete beyond their comfort zone. People are usually capable of so much more than they give themselves credit for. I also consider training for mental toughness to be just as important as physical training. Finally, running doesn’t always have to be serious. It can be enjoyable!
It is of utmost importance for a coach to be adaptive. A training plan needs to be constantly tweaked and updated based on the results of previous workouts, the athlete’s feedback, unforeseen events or schedule changes. A training plan is always a work in progress. A coach must also adapt to the athlete they are working with. No two athletes are the same. And, therefore, no two training plans are alike. It is essential to create training plans based on the individual. Some athletes can handle back-to-back hard training days and some need a recovery run in-between. Some athletes can devote 30 hours to training per week, while others can commit to 8.
I think it is important to laugh. Some ridiculous things happen when you’re on mile 82! You start seeing polar bears in the middle of the desert. You forget how zippers work. You finally forgot about stubbing you right toe on that hidden root because you stubbed you left toe on a random rock two miles later. Being able to laugh a little when you’re suffering is part of mental toughness and an important tool not just in running, but also in life.
I believe that strength training is imperative to creating a resilient, well rounded and balanced runner. I create ergonomic and/or corrective strength training programs that compliment running based on the type of exercise equipment the athlete has access to and their personal requests. If you only have access to bands, I can work with that! If you want to include Olympic weightlifting, I can work with that too!
It is also my philosophy that if an athlete has other athletic passions those disciplines should be built into the program as cross training. In addition to being a runner, I am a rock climber, boulderer, ice climber, backcountry skier, cross country skier, skate skier, canyoneer and alpinist. It is important for athletes to continue to be involved in other sports that bring them joy. This can be very helpful in preventing burn-out and keep training diverse and fun. Balancing multiple disciplines can be a challenge though! I have the understanding and knowledge to help athletes select running goals and events that fit into their ambitions with other sports.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
Throughout most of my professional life I have worked in the areas of education, advisement and instruction. I was an alpine rock and glacier mountaineering instructor for nearly a decade and also worked as an Interpretative Park Ranger for Yellowstone National Park and Gateway National Recreation Area.
In 2018, I began my journey as an ultra, trail, mountain and adventure runner (self-coached). Around that same time I became my friends’ resource for information on running gear, training suggestions, race courses, etc. Some of these friends began to point out that my natural tendency to research, plan and teach fit the profile of a running coach and suggested that I take on coaching professionally. I finally took their advice and began coaching for Team RunRun in 2022! Through coaching I learned the value of having an outside perspective when it comes to training regardless of education/experience and began working with a coach myself in 2023.
Since I began coaching with Team RunRun I’ve had the opportunity to work with an outstanding group of diverse athletes. I’ve coached runners taking on their first race as well as experienced pro-athletes looking to improve their skill-set. I also work with athletes who are less interested in racing and simply want to enjoy efficient movement through the mountains or desert. I am dedicated to the success of all of my athletes and consider myself extremely fortunate to have a career that happens to also be my passion.
ABOUT ME
All I wanted to do as a child was wander in the woods and catch frogs. Years later I am still playing outside… and, yes, I still catch frogs whenever possible! I began long-distance hiking while working in Yellowstone National Park. Later, I moved to Washington and became a student of mountaineering in the Cascade Range. The more skills I developed, the more mountains I could climb and the further I could travel into the wilderness. After mastering rock and glacier, I continued to further my skill-set and learned ice climbing, backcountry skiing, aid climbing, bouldering, cross country skiing and long-distance backpacking. Along the way I met Damien while climbing Eldorado Peak and, a few years later, we were married on top of frozen Colchuck Lake.
Damien and I are partners in life and in the backcountry. However, a few years ago we discovered a problem with our outdoor lifestyle. There was never enough time! With limited vacation time and only 48 hours on weekends we were limited to objectives closer to the trailhead. Our solution was to get our packs lighter and move faster. This led us to fastpacking, technical adventure running, unsupported ultra-distance runs and, later, ultra-races. As a bonus, we found that running has made us stronger, both physically and mentally, in all the other mountain sports we practice. Suddenly, cross country skiing 25 miles while pulling a sled through negative temperatures doesn’t seem so bad. At least it’s not 100 miles!
After over a decade exploring the Cascade Range, Damien and I relocated to foothills of the rugged Wind River Range in Wyoming. I love training at altitude on technical terrain and running in the extreme environmental conditions that this wild playground has to offer!
Admittedly, mountain sports and training are the center of my life, but I dabble in some other endeavors. In addition to catching frogs growing up, I was also involved in both performing and fine arts. Although I no longer have the time to dedicate to hours of rehearsal, I still love singing musical theater in the car and on occasion find time to paint or draw. I also love the art of storytelling and can easily lose myself for hours writing a detailed account of a weekend adventure. Finally, I love listening to audio-books while I’m doing chores or driving to the trail. Learning something while carrying out a tedious task always makes the time go by.
Last, a fun fact! My trail name is Alpine Start. In alpinism, getting an “alpine start” means beginning the route well before sunrise. I wake up between 3am and 4am on a regular basis on weekdays and often even earlier on weekends. I love beginning my day before the sun is up!
BIG INFLUENCES
I think it is exceedingly important for both runners and coaches to continuously learn about the discipline. This means keeping up to date with the latest scientific studies as well as learning from others whether they be professionals in the field, the person you shared a few miles with during a race or your best friend who doesn’t run at all. Inspiration and learning opportunities can be discovered nearly everywhere.
I find myself inspired by athletes who have overcome personal adversity, relish in the sheer joy of running, find humor when things get difficult and embody what it means to be courageous. This includes runners and coaches like Hillary Allen, Jeff Browning, Deena Castor, Catra Corbett, Courtney Dauwalter, Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Jason Koop, Brendan Leonard, Mike McKnight, Allie McLaughlin, Sally McRae, Pam Reed and Corey Reese. Additionally, as an athlete with a mountaineering background, I am stylistically impacted as a runner by the accomplishments of Kílian Jornet and Ueli Steck.
Finally, I would be remiss to not mention my husband, Damien, in this section. It was his idea to combine mountaineering with running. I was hesitant at first so he bought me a running vest for my birthday and thus began my journey as a runner. Additionally, I need to acknowledge my friend and training partner, Stephanie, who observed back when I was casually fastpacking that I had the personality profile of someone who would someday register for a 100-miler. I thought she was crazy at the time. I wasn’t even interested in racing back then. A few years later she ended up being a pacer in my first 100-mile race!
RACING HISTORY
When I first began trail running, my main focus was fastpacking, adventure running, self-supported adventure ultras and the occasional virtual race. It took several years for me to find the courage to sign up for a live race. I can still remember the moment. I was on day two of a fastpack along Section H of the PCT on a ridge shrouded in mist. My husband and I sat on a rock hoping to find internet service. The bars popped up on our phones and we both registered for the Bryce Canyon Ultras 50 Miler. Then we put our phones back on airplane mode and carried on with the miles.
Several months later, I sat in the dark at the finish line of the Bryce Canyon Ultras 50 Miler freezing despite my many layers and trying to remember how to open rice cake packaging. I recall having this conversation with myself: “Wow, that was hard. I can’t believe how hot the hoodoos were. My fingernails somehow hurt…how is that possible? Yikes, if I was running the hundred-mile version of this I would only be halfway done with the miles. That’s crazy! I can’t imagine getting up and doing all that a second time! Yep, I will definitely never register for a 100-mile race. I am sticking with 50-milers for sure. How the heck do I open this rice cake!?” Less than a week after sitting at that finish line I signed up for the Oregon Cascades 100. When I completed that race, a different dialogue went through my head: “My feet are getting really puffy. I should look up other 100-mile races that I might want to do in the future during my recovery. I wonder if my crew ate all the pizza.”
When I began participating in ultra running events my primary goal was to “learn something” and my secondary goal was to “finish”. In late 2022, I made the transition from running to racing in ultra running events. The transition occurred for a variety of reasons, but primarily because of how inspirational my athletes are and my desire to discover what my body is capable of. Despite my increased focus on performance my primary goal continues to be simple “learn something.”
Races & Personal Running Adventure Highlights
— 2018 The Wonderland Trail, fastpack, 93M/22,000ft, self-supported
— 2019 PCT Section G, fastpack, 52M/9000ft, self-supported
— 2020 Japanese Gulch, Aravaipa Strong Virtual Race, 50K/6500ft, self-supported
— 2020 UPWC Buckskin Loop, virtual race, 44M/10,000ft, unsupported
— 2020 UPWC Devil’s Dome Loop, virtual race, 43M/13,000ft, unsupported
— 2020 PCT Section H, fastpack, 138M/29,500ft, supported
— 2020 PCT Section I, fastpack, 99M/18,300ft, unsupported
— 2020 UPWC Loowit Trail, virtual race, 50K, 7500ft, unsupported
— 2021 Bryce Canyon Ultras, race, 50M/6,800ft, supported
— 2021 PCT Section J with Pete Lake Exit, adventure run, 60M/14,000ft, unsupported
— 2021 Mount Olympus, adventure run C2C, 44M/7,400ft, technical, unsupported
— 2021 Mount Rainier Northern Loop, adventure run, 100M/12,000ft, supported
— 2021 Grand Canyon R2R2R, adventure run, 43M/11,000ft, unsupported
— 2022 Enchanted Valley Hemlock, adventure run, 50K/4,700ft, unsupported
— 2022 Wy’East Wonder, race, 50M/9,000ft, supported
— 2022 Teanaway County 100K: “Skyrun” Edition, fastpack/adventure run, 100K/20,000ft, technical, self-supported
— 2022 Tatoosh Traverse, adventure run C2C, 19M/8,940ft, technical, unsupported
— 2022 Desolation Peak, adventure run, 45M/9,100ft, unsupported
— 2022 Mount Rainier via Disappointment Clever, adventure run C2C, 16M/9,000ft, technical, unsupported
— 2022 Oregon Cascades 100, race, 100M/12,000ft, supported
— 2022 Run the Red Desert, race, 100K/4,500ft, supported
— 2023 The Drift 28 Miler Run, race, 28M/2,350ft, supported
— 2023 Salt Flats Endurance Runs, race, 50M/1,700ft, supported
— 2023 Bighorn Trail Run 100, race, 100M/19,800ft, supported
— 2023 Maroon Bells Four Pass Loop, adventure run, 28M/8,500ft, unsupported
— 2023 Teton Crest Traverse, adventure run, 43M/10,650ft, unsupported
— 2023 Soft Lonesome, fastpack, 70M/14830ft, unsupported
— 2023 Cloud Peak, adventure run C2C, 25M/6,053ft, unsupported
— 2023 Run Rabbit Run -Tortoises- 100 Mile Race, race, 100M/22,000ft, supported
— 2024 Black Canyon Ultras 100K, race, 100M/6,000ft, supported
— 2024 Cocodona 250, race, 250M/40,143ft, supported
CERTIFICATIONS
— UESCA Ultrarunning Coach Certification (#12998)
— UESCA Running Coach Certification (#13209)
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
Athlete for UltrAspire
— 10th Female, 90th Overall // 2023–Run Rabbit Run-Tortoises-100 Mile Race
— 6th Female, 58th Overall // 2023–Bighorn Trail Run 100M
— 1st Female, 5th Overall // 2023–Salt Flats Endurance Runs 50 Miler
— 1st Female, 7th Overall // 2023–The Drift 28 Miler Run
— 4th Female, 8th Overall // 2022–Run the Red Desert 100K
CONTACT DANDELION
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
— Cocodona 250 Race Report – 5/6/24
— Speedland GS: PGH Review – 2024
— Black Canyon Ultra 100k Race Report – 2/10/24
— Run Rabbit Run 100 Race Report – 9/15/23
— Bighorn 100 Race Report – 6/16/23
— Salt Flats Endurance Runs 50 mile Race Report – 5/5/23
— Training for a Winter Ultra
— The Drift 28 Miler Race Report – 3/12/23
— Running at Elevation: Will an Altitude Tent Help you Prepare?
— MountainAir Altitude Tent Review
— Run the Red 100k Race Report – 9/24/22
— Cascades 100 Race Report – 8/27/22
— Ultra-running for Ultra-positivity
— Wy’East Wonder 50 Mile Race Report
— Bryce Canyon 50 Mile Race Report
— Running Safely in Bear Country
— Scat Belt GRIZ Gear Review
SOCIAL
Nolan Dove –
I hired Coach Dandelion in November 2023 for guidance, direction, accountability, and her plethora of experience. I received all of those and a great friendship! Being a Wyomingite myself, it was important to me that I hire a Wyomingite as well because I knew she would understand how temperamental the weather is here. I’m also 6’2, 235, so I’m not built like your typical runner. My goal was to finish the Big Horn 100 in June 2024. My only long-distance experience was finishing the Missoula Marathon in June 2023, that was it. I had zero trail running experience, which is not a good start when preparing for a big trail race like the Big Horn 100. As you’re reading this, it probably sounds like a train wreck. However, Dandelion accepted the challenge and we began working. She tailored to training to my strengths, weaknesses, and my schedule. I was not the easiest of runners to coach – I struggle with a big ego and mentally beat myself up. However, Dandelion was persistent in accountability, communication, giving guidance, and offering encouragement. I was NEVER injured during the train-up, which is a miracle in itself and a testament to Dandelion’s training setup. She is very receptive to feedback, and leads by example through her own training. Her training allowed me to finish the Big Horn 100, recover, and back to running within 4 days.
If you’re a newbie like I was, Dandelion is the coach for you. You just have to trust her and put in the work. There are two sides to it, she can’t do the hard work for you.
Luke Smith –
September 2023 Review
I just finished my first 100 miler and I wanted to leave a 2nd/updated review for Dandelion.
Over a year into having her as my coach now and it just keeps getting better. We now understand each other in an even deeper way. I feel incredibly lucky to have her guidance and it’s hard to imagine it being any other way now. My first 50k was August 2022 and 1 year later she helped me achieve a sub 23hr 100 mile finish. These may not be your goals, but it doesn’t matter. Coach Dandelion will help you achieve whatever they are and probably faster than you even considered. Her ability to personalize a training plan around your life is just incredible.
It doesn’t hurt that she’s an absolute monster in the mountains herself so any advice she gives comes from experience.
If you’re driven and willing to put in the work, all you have to do is follow her plan and real results will for sure come your way. I’m honored to call Dandelion a friend and coach.
August 2022 Review
I am extremely thankful for Dandelion’s coaching, she is incredibly attentive and really listens to my feedback. I am never in one place very long so having all of this be remote with video calls/messaging has worked so well for me. She clearly loves what she does and it shows every time we talk.
I came to her with a 2 upcoming races on my calendar and not nearly enough time to train properly for them. This did not scare her away, she knew exactly what to do and we immediately got to work. I have just finished the first one and there is no way I could have done it without her.
I continue to be impressed by her communication skills and ability to take my feedback and turn it into specific advice. I really feel like she hears me and that was important to me when I decided to find a coach. She is always looking ahead and considering things that I’ve not been. Her training plan for me has delivered very clear results and I’m pretty blown away at how much I’ve improved. Whatever I was doing before was barely getting me by and now, with her guidance, I can see and feel my abilities progress in a way that I never imagined.
If you are looking for a coach(why would you be reading this if you weren’t?), you’re in luck because Dandelion is the one. Reach out to her, you won’t regret it!
Ben Brones –
Reach out to her. She will get you to where what to go.
I signed up for my first 100 mile race this year. I that race because at the time I know I couldn’t do it & I was a afraid of that race. We started training in January. Each week it got harder & I got better. Eventually training got so hard I was more afraid of her than the race. Eventually I got used to it. I got better & learned more. On race day I continuous up hill power for for 30+hours. She trained that power into me.
If your goal is big & scary, and you are willing to put the time and effort into training- Dandelion will get you there.
Sam Goldklang –
Dandelion is an awesome coach! First off, she knows her stuff– on training, recovery, everything. Second, communication. She is easy to reach and talk to. Dandelion is super approachable and non judgmental as well as encouraging. She is also flexible as a coach and that was one of the main reasons I chose to work with her. I wanted to know how I can incorporate training for a trail ultra with all the other activities I love and use to socialize: backcountry skiing, skiing, backpacking, etc. She helps me incorporate them into my workout schedule and if something comes up (social workout plans) helps me rearrange my week. I am so grateful for her flexibility and unparalleled communication. I’ve been working with her for 2 months and already feel immensely stronger! Thank you!
Anna Wiederkehr –
I hate/love to give Coach D a 5 star because I don’t want to share her! 🙂
When I was looking for a coach, there were a couple categories that were important and Dandelion checked all those boxes for me:
Communication
Coach D has a perfect style of communication for me. As others have mentioned, she’s direct, transparent and no-bullshit. That was one of my top priorities when looking for a coach. If I miss a workout or sneakily try to just do what I feel like, she’ll never reprimand me, but will outline why the schedule is what it is and investigate any issues (scheduling issues, life-related pressures, etc) that might be creating mental or physical blockers to the workouts. A lot of the coaching offers out there feel like hiring just a cheerleader, Coach D is not that. While she’s encouraging, positive, and set on making sure YOU are making the decisions, progressing and having fun – she’s also seriously focused on all of the aspects of the goals you’ve defined together.
Insight and Encouragement
Related to her communication style, Coach D has this innate ability to tease apart the things you tell her – and what you don’t. I came to her pretty plateaued in my workouts, but also in my thinking about what I could accomplish. I thought I was only capable of competing in long, fast, flat races and she prodding at that self-imposed limitation right off the bat. I’m looking at the running I’m doing now and I’m shocked at how my attitude has changed toward vert, climbing and speed just by working with her to readjust my expectations and definitions of success. This piece has already been worth the whole experience so far!
Accessibility and Flexibility
I was skeptical about a 100% online approach but I’ve been totally happy with how accessible Coach D is when I have a quick question, need and updated schedule or just want to talk about how shitty the weather is right now. Many potential coaches quibble about things like paying for schedule changes and while I understand it can be tedious to work with athletes with changing schedules, Coach D doesn’t make you feel guilty about it in the slightest. It’s so clear that she loves doing this work and is joyful in all aspects of it.
Diversity in Plan and Knowledge
Another thing I really wanted from a coach is expertise in my sport of choice (running) with the additional expertise in strength training. Coach D comes with all of that and more. The running and strength workouts she creates for me are never monotonous and keeps me from going zombie-mode during a week or over the weeks. I already see the benefits mentally and physically from diversifying my exercise in how I feel during and after the efforts.
She also has a ton of knowledge about other sports that are great cross-training or seasonally-dependent ways to complement running. Additionally she’s able to offer a lot of tips and tricks in gear (running, strength and otherwise) because of her broad experience in the type of sports she does. This is particularly nice when you’re thinking of dropping a good bit of cash on a pair of winter running gear or investing in cross-training sport equipment.
Lastly, it was super important to me that a coach be someone I could look up to and be excited about the things they are doing and accomplishing. It’s so clear that Coach D has a fearless but informed approach to the things she does in her athletic endeavors and I’m constantly saying “omg look how amazing she is!!” when she shares her photos and experiences. It’s fascinating and encouraging to me to just watch!
Ilaria Paltrinieri –
Dandelion is great. She listen to my needs and base my training Plan on my feeling and work schedule. She helped me to get out of my long covid and slowly back to intervals and quality workout. I see already results and most important thing for me: she check on me and she cares about keeping me motivated and disciplined for my next season!
Madolyn Moritz –
I have loved my experience working with Dandelion! She is very thorough and has provided me with a great well-rounded personal training plan tailored to my specific goals. I greatly appreciate how individualized working with her has been, as it has felt like a partnership between us with her knowledge and experience as our guide. We communicate frequently, and working together online has worked out extremely well. She communicates her expectations clearly and is always receptive to feedback on how I am feeling in my training. I am an all around mountain athlete, and she is able to work in flexibility with my other hobbies that are important to me. I am so happy with all the progress I’ve made since we’ve been working together. I know that where I am now thanks to Dandelion is way further than I would’ve gotten if I had been training on my own. Training with her has also just been a really fun experience! I look forward to continuing to work with her as I move onto my next running goals.
Karly McCauley –
Dandelion is a dedicated, detail-oriented thorough coach who provides awesome custom training plans and accountability accompanied by compassion, care and enthusiasm — She knows what her clients’ running goals take and is ready to guide them to success. It has been such a pleasure working with her and seeing huge improvements while staying healthy and strong throughout the training!
For training, the 100% online approach has worked surprisingly well. Dandelion did a great job outlining a detailed plan and schedule that allowed for flexibility of my changing schedule and different sport engagements (i.e. climbing, skiing, and biking) as well as adapting the plan for minor injuries from those other sports. Meanwhile in 3 months she’s got me running times that would make my super-fit-high-school-self have a hard time keeping up! The customized training plans she creates are tailored to my goals, increasing fitness level, and weekly availability- they’re meant to be challenging but also are super rewarding. We communicate nearly every day checking in and providing workout updates (but when I’m busy, she’s also great at letting me have focus elsewhere, push through the workouts, and share updates when I have the time). I have had an extremely positive experience under her tutelage and would recommend her to any of my friends who are serious about getting into running- she’s a wealth of knowledge from her experience and how much she enjoys researching and learning about all things running. She’s also a joy to work with- a super clear communicator- very straight forward- full of stellar advice – and is always thinking ahead for what you are going to need! I also appreciated that beyond the running schedule, she shared about mental strength for running, and her experiences with other supporting areas like gear, habits, and more!