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, experience level and objectives. I encourage prospective athletes to read my coach bio and contact me before signing up so we can ensure we are a good fit.

The athletes I collaborate with…

…find joy on trails and/or routes off the beaten path.

…are passionate about exploring and adventuring in natural environments.

… are adult (30+ yrs) and master runners who strive to build lasting longevity in the sport in addition to event/adventure preparation.

…are “type 2 fun” enthusiasts. They don’t just tolerate chosen suffering; they crave it.

… are highly self-motivated and seldom struggle to get out the door for workouts. Investing time toward rest and recovery might be challenging for them, but they accept and respect this as a necessary part of the training process.

… want to develop a long-term, year-round coach-athlete relationship. They seek a coach who will not only provide a training program to reach their long & short-term goals, but also play a lasting mentor role spanning continuously over many years.

…are inquisitive individuals open to learning and curious about what their body and minds can accomplish.

… endeavor to optimize their training to balance key runs, strength workouts and rest/recovery with life responsibilities & objectives.

… are high performance or recreational endurance runners who can commit to training ~6 or more hours per week depending on the goal.

… are intermediate and advanced trail/ultra runners who want to get over plateaus, refine skills & strategy, break into a new event distance/terrain and/or find more ways to incorporate running into exploring the vast wilderness.

… are beginner trail/ultra runners who have foundational running experience (about 20+ miles per week). They often have a background training and participating in another foot travel outdoor endurance sport (skimo, Nordic skiing, thru-hiking, mountaineering, etc).

If the above describes you we might make a great team. My coach specs include:

— Small roster to ensure a quality, highly interactive athlete experience
— Fostering a long term, year-round & collaborative coach-athlete relationship
— Ultra, Sky, Mountain, Desert, Adventure & Trail Running
— Running Adventure Projects/Routes: supported, self-supported & unsupported
— Extreme Environments: Altitude, Heat, Cold, Wind, Sand, Mud, Rocks & Snow
— Fastpacking & Technical Adventure Running (running + mountaineering)
— Strength Training for endurance, resiliency and durability
— Event/Adventure Preparation: logistical feedback, mindset, nutrition, gear & strategy
— Working with multi-sport outdoor athletes
— Time Management and Training Optimization for busy individuals
— Working in conjunction with physical therapists/physiotherapists
— Customized Training Programs designed to progress not only monthly, but year to year

A successful coach-athlete relationship is a team effort. I believe listening to the athlete is equally vital to accountability & compliance. I encourage the runners I work with to be actively engaged in their training plan and also with their physical and mental well-being. Athletes are more than watch metrics; they are people.

I have a direct, “no nonsense” style of coaching, but also believe in laughing often and enjoying the process. Training, adventuring and/or racing can be serious endeavors, but it is imperative to find joy in these activities as well.

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 along with other countries and can tailor training to suit the unique landscapes and terrain the athlete has regular access to.

The foundation of successful coaching is rooted in the relationship between the coach and athlete. The connection is based on honesty, clear expectations, communication consistency. The coach is on the running journey with the athlete, not watching from the outside. In the absence of solid partnership training plans are noticeably less impactful. A strong bond allows the athlete and coach have faith in one another which fosters confidence. Often this leads an athlete to push beyond their perceived limits, challenge themselves and accomplish more than they thought possible. By actively and continuously fostering trust along with mutual respect, the duo can work successfully together as a team for many years.

Athletes lead busy lives beyond training. They are juggling work, friends, family, hobbies, life responsibilities, etc. There is a minimum effective dose of time committed to training needed depending on the specific goal. However, the essence of training is not maximizing volume. It is optimization of available time and purposeful training. I work with athletes to create a plan that promotes a balance between run workouts, strength routines, rest, recovery, life obligations and goals beyond running. Getting this balance right not only ensures success during the season, but also maintains lasting mental and physical well-being.

I design custom Training Programs to not only help athletes reach their objectives for the current race/adventure season, but with far off goals in mind as well. I emphasize thinking ahead about the big picture and making plans that build not only month to month, but year to year. Is there a race the athlete wants to do in five or ten years that we can build toward? Preserving longevity in the sport is also of utmost importance. I don’t want runners to just “survive” the season. My goal is for athletes to maintain a healthy body and mind throughout the entire training process so that they can continue running for years to come.

It is important to laugh, enjoy the process and develop a resilient mindset. 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 forget about stubbing you right toe on that hidden root because you stubbed you left toe on a random rock two miles later. Developing tools that enable the athlete to persevere and continue moving forward while suffering is an essential part of cultivating the mental tenacity required during endurance ventures (and in life).

Strength training is imperative to building a durable and balanced runner while reducing the probability of injury. I develop structured strength training plans that compliment running, encourage longevity and enhance endurance. Programs are built around the types of exercise equipment the athlete has access to and their experience strength training.

As a coach I maintain a level of adaptability and flexibility. A training plan is a work in progress and may need to be updated based on the results of previous workouts, the athlete’s feedback or unforeseen schedule changes. It is also essential to create training plans based on the individual even if two runners are doing the same event. Some athletes can handle back-to-back hard training days and some need an easy recovery run in-between. Some athletes can devote fifteen hours to training per week, while others can commit to nine.

I recognize that not every athlete is dedicated solely to performance goals. Some runners are deeply drawn to wilderness exploration and want to move through these remote areas without having to check off precise training boxes on every outing. I work closely with these athletes to develop a plan that safely balances structured training for performance goals with free-form running adventures.

If an athlete has other athletic passions those disciplines can be built into the program as cross training. In addition to being a runner, I am a rock/ice climber, backcountry skier, Nordic skier, canyoneer and alpinist. It is important for athletes to be involved in other sports that bring them fulfillment. This can be very helpful in preventing burn-out and keep training diverse and fun. Balancing multiple disciplines can be a challenge. I have the understanding and knowledge to help athletes select running goals and events that fit safely into their ambitions with other sports.

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 not 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.

I have helped runners prepare for a variety of projects in my years as a coach. Here is a brief sample of the objectives my athletes and I have collaborated on: Crazy Mountain 100M — Ouray 100M — The WURL — Mt. Rainier Infinity Loop — The Rut Trifecta (VK, 28K + 50K) — Cocodona 250M — Teeny-way 50K — Monument Valley 50K — Bighorn 100M — Powderface Marathon — Broken Arrow VK — Speedgoat Mountain Races Double (50k+28K) — Black Canyon Echo Challenge (100K+50K) — Fat Dog 100K — Trans Rockies Stage Race — White River 50M — Oregon Cascades 100M — Twisted Fork 64K

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 outdoor education and learned ice climbing, backcountry skiing, aid climbing, bouldering, cross country skiing and long-distance backpacking. Along the way I met my husband while climbing Eldorado Peak and, a few years later, we were married on top of a frozen alpine lake.

For a while, time felt like a significant limiting factor for adventures. There are only so many hours in a weekend and PTO days which meant objectives needed to be close to the trailhead. The solution was to lighten the packs and move faster. This led to fastpacking, technical adventure running, unsupported ultra-distance runs and, later, ultra-races. As a bonus, I’ve found that ultra running makes me physically and mentally stronger in all mountain sports. Suddenly, cross country skiing 25 miles while pulling a sled through negative temperatures doesn’t seem so brutal. At least it’s not 100 miles.

After over a decade exploring the Cascade Range, my husband 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, outdoor sports, training and the accompanying lifestyle are central to me, but I also 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 dedicate hours to rehearsal, I still love singing musical theater tunes 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.

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 around 4am on a regular basis (sometimes earlier) and I love beginning my day before the sun is up.

I think it is exceedingly important for both runners and coaches to remain a student of the sport. 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 Jeff Browning, Courtney Dauwalter, Rachel Entrekin, Cam Hanes, Scott Jurek, Dean Karnazes, Jason Koop, Brendan Leonard, Mike McKnight, 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, Ueli Steck and Bryce Thatcher.

When I first began trail running, my main focus was fastpacking, adventure running, self-supported adventure ultras and the occasional virtual race. It was not my intention to consistently run ultra events. I signed up for the Bryce Canyon Ultras 50 Miler just to experience a live race once. At the finish line 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. How the heck do I open this Rice Krispie?”

Less than a week later 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 ultras 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 shift 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 by adding a layer of difficulty. I also use races as a tool to push my current limits to the edge while in a safe environment. I can then take the information gleaned from events and apply it to remote adventure outings where the dangers are higher and fitness is my safety net. Despite my increased focus on performance over the years 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, 50M/6,800ft, race
— 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, 50M/9,000ft, race
— 2022 Teanaway Country 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 100,100M/12,000ft, race
— 2022 Run the Red Desert,100K/4,500ft, race
— 2023 The Drift 28 Mile Run, 28M/2,350ft, race
— 2023 Salt Flats Endurance Runs, 50M/1,700ft, race
— 2023 Bighorn Trail Run 100, 100M/19,800ft, race
— 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, 100M/22,000ft, race
— 2024 Black Canyon Ultras 100K, 100K/6,000ft, race
— 2024 Cocodona 250, 250M/40,143ft, race
— 2024 Wind River Peak, adventure run C2C, 50K/7,698ft, unsupported
— 2024 Gannett Peak, fastpack, 60M/13,474ft, technical, unsupported
— 2024 Never Summer 100K, 100K/14,450ft, race
— 2024 Teanaway Country 100, 100M/30,614ft, race
— 2025 The Drift 28 Mile Run, 17M (adjusted for weather)/892ft, race
— 2025 Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run, 100M/ 33,197ft, race
— 2025 WRHR Central Loop, adventure run, 52M/ 11,460ft, unsupported
— 2025 Death Canyon Loop with Albright & 399 Peaks, C2C, 28M/ 8,802ft, unsupported
— 2025 The Bear 100 Endurance Run, 100M/ 22,816ft, race
— 2026 Black Canyon Ultras 100K, 100K/6,000ft, race

— UESCA Ultrarunning Coach Certification
— UESCA Running Coach Certification
— UESCA Endurance Strength and Conditioning Coach Certification
— UESCA Physiological Adaptations to Endurance Exercise Specialization

Athlete & Gear Tester for UltrAspire

— 3rd female/ 8th Overall // 2025 –The Drift 28 Mile Run (17M adjusted for weather)
— 3rd Female, 13th Overall // 2024–Teanaway Country 100M
— 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 Mile Run
— 4th Female, 8th Overall // 2022–Run the Red Desert 100K

— Norda Shoe Comparison Review
— Bear 100 Endurance Run Race Report
— UltrAspire Legacy 3.0 Race Vest Review
— Hardrock 100 Mile Endurance Run Race Report
— Hardrock 100: TRR Coach Dandelion’s Race Rundown
— COROS Heart Rate Monitor Review
— UltrAspire Waist Lights Gear Review
— Teanaway Country 100 Race Report – 10/11/24
— Never Summer 100k Race Report – 7/27/24
— 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