Frank Fisher – Austin Running Coach
$130.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
I’ve been coaching for over 20 years, everything from track, to road, to trail, with a background in Pilates and strength conditioning
Description
Austin running coach Frank Fisher has a background in strength and conditioning, with years of experience teaching Pilates, so he specializes in athlete development, posture and mechanics, from the short, speedy races, to the longer ultras.
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, weekly analysis email
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Austin, TX
SPECIALTIES
I specialize in athlete development, posture and mechanics, and consider myself a builder of athletes. I tend to do really well with the faster side of things (50k and down), but have had a good track record with coaching people for longer events. I work well with people who like to change focus over the year and build a well rounded game, and/or like to try different things from triathlon to ultra’s, to running a fast 5k. My background in strength and conditioning, and my years teaching Pilates gives me a unique ability to help build people into well-rounded strong athletes. Over the last 20 years I’ve helped to produce dozens of collegiate athletes, national and state champions/podium finishers, and world championship qualifiers in triathlon, track & field and cross-country.
PHILOSOPHY
I’ve worked hard to build my knowledge and skill as a coach, its something I continually strive to improve on. I always put the human being before the athlete keeping in mind that we all have a life outside of training and racing, and that if we do it right, sport remains a positive healthy part of our lives. In general, I believe in building strong versatile athletes with relative amounts of speed, strength and endurance. My goal with all the athletes I coach is to develop them into “complete athletes” who have a solid of understanding of training, recovery, nutrition, and all the ancillary needs like core work and strength training. I tend to think outside the box in terms of training structure, but hold consistency and a detailed focus towards achieving one’s goals as the keys to success. I like to make training challenging, adventurous and rewarding.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I’ve been coaching at some level most of my adult life, but the last 10+ years it has become a priority for me. I started coaching runners in the late 90’s, and moved into triathlon and club track in 2007. I was also a certified personal trainer for several years beginning in 2006, and continue to work as a strength and conditioning coach. Upon moving to Washington in 2011, I founded a track club here in Federal Way (The Speed Factory) that focuses on sprints, distance, hurdles and horizontal jumps. We work with high school age and up athletes. In 2013 I started working at Mt. Rainier High School where I am assistant coach for cross-country and swim, and am the head coach of track & field. I also run a Pilates and strength training studio in Federal Way (Studio 1). I work with all levels of athletes from beginners to DI collegiate track athletes and developing elites.
ABOUT ME
Born and raised in West Texas and spent a good portion of my life in New Mexico. I attended the University of Texas at Austin where I lived for many years afterwards. After doing some time in the Marine Corps I moved to Washington in 2011. I’m a small business owner with a wife and 3 daughters, and tend to have a lot of irons in the fire with a pretty busy life. I really enjoy seeing athletes develop and grow over time, and really appreciate that I have been able to make a living doing what I love.
BIG INFLUENCES
I’m a big reader and spend a lot of time developing myself as a coach, so I have a lot of influences from track & field, S&C as well as triathlon and marathon. My biggest influences that have had the most direct impact on me are the coaches I’ve worked with over the years, particularly Coach Smith of the South Austin Steel and my old high school coach one, David “Skippy” Medlin.
RACING HISTORY
I started racing mountain bikes and road racing in the early 90’s. I had a lot of success as a cyclist as a teenager and didn’t start running till my junior year of high school. I ran sub 4:30 in the mile, and low 9 minutes in the 2 mile, and sub 16 minutes in the 5k. After high school I bounced back and forth between cycling and running. Eventually, I became a triathlete. I racked up several age group wins, top ten overall finishes, national championship qualifiers, and USAT All-American honors. In the last few years I’ve focused more on running, finished 6th in my first 50k, and have had a number of top 10 finishes at different distances on the road and trails.
CERTIFICATIONS
- USA Triathlon Level I
- Certified Pilates Instructor
CONTACT FRANK
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
- Franklin Mountains 55k – 1/21/23
- Hoka Bandera 25k – 1/8/23
- Salmagundi Trail Half Marathon – 11/12/22
- Cap’n Karl’s Night Trail Race 20k – 6/25/22
- Franklin Mountains King of the Mountains – 11/12/21
- Wy’east Howl 100k – 7/31/21
- Red Devil 50k – 6/5/21
- Porter Creek Trail Runs 25k – 12/14/19
- Backcountry Rise 50k – 9/7/19
- Postural Strength and Strength and Stability for Runners and Triathletes
- Lord Hill Half Marathon – 2/23/19
- Ft. Steilacoom 5k – 9/15/18
- Chuckanut 50k – 3/17/18
SOCIAL
Stacey Gilmore –
Frank has been amazing through my friend and I’s marathon training! We had not run one in a while and half way into training for our race, I feeling stronger than I ever thought I would! I’ve loved the programming and it has been fun but also challenged us to push harder! I would 100% recommend Frank as a coach!
Jennifer Gause –
I’m so grateful to have found Team Run Run and Coach Frank! It has made a huge difference in my running and training. In the two months we’ve worked together my HR, stamina and pace have all improved. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results thus far. In the past, I have either under trained or over trained; Coach Frank created a training schedule with realistic goals that fits perfectly with my schedule. Communication is a breeze thru the app and email. I have always loved running but Coach Frank has helped me develop smarter habits and altered my mind set when I’m too hard on myself. I am particularly grateful that we speak the same Pilates language so overall I feel much more confident with the direction of my training. Best decision and super grateful to be working with Coach Frank!
Sawyer Dagan –
It was a very long journey finding this gem of a coach, but I could not be happier that we did. My son’s success as a competitive runner and his personal development from a young man to adult collegiate athlete can largely be attributed to Frank’s coaching and mentorship.
Until high school, my son had never run in his life other than on the basketball court. He played basketball day in/day out from as early as he could hold a ball. When he started his freshman year, the mom of one of his best friend’s was the XC coach and she encouraged him to try out for the XC team. Since it was the season prior to basketball, he decided to show up for practice, of all things in basketball shoes, unknowing that this was not considered proper attire! After his freshman year, he showed potential qualifying as the first runner-up in the State competition, although he did not compete that year.
After that season, running had my son’s attention and he wanted to commit fully to this sport. Unfortunately, this coach moved out of State and sophomore year was met with a huge change. There was a decision to hire not one, but two coaches. From the beginning, there was a lack of leadership, noticeable tension between the two coaches and no cohesive coaching strategy. My son wanted to run, be competitive and put the work in to be the best he could be. He had the talent, but he lacked someone who could help him ignite the fire. While he ended his sophomore season placing 36th in State, the coaching tension was beginning to override the goal of a select few runners that were determined to make it on the collegiate stage.
My son was quickly understanding that, if he was to realize his greater goal, he could not do it alone and he needed to seek outside coaching that would complement this strategy. Paying for this seemed frivolous, but watching my son’s passion over road our apprehension and we set out to find the best we could. Frank is who we found, and the rest is history!! My son took 5th in State Junior year, 1st in State senior year. No doubt he was fortunate to be blessed with talent, but talent alone is not enough! Coaching with Frank absolutely took my son to the next level! My son started working with Frank bruised, uncertain of his abilities as an athlete and hanging on by a thread of any capabilities that could be salvaged to attain his dream. Frank changed all of that! From day one, Frank created a relationship with my son, believed in him and heard and understood his determination and Frank rose to the challenge to help my son realize his goals. He worked with him physically and mentally and challenged him daily to realize his dream. This was a partnership that could not have happened without Franks mentorship and Frank’s unique ability to gain my son’s attention and create a desire to trust in his targeted plan for my son’s personal success. In the end, my son was blessed with many D1 scholarship offers and opportunities. This was my son’s goal, but despite yours, whatever your goal, Frank will listen and personally plan and deliver results that will surpass your expectations. Frank wants the best for you as an athlete and he will sit humbly alongside his athlete, not looking for accolades when they succeed under his direction. Frank’s gratification is in his athlete exceeding their personal goals…Isn’t that what the best coaches should be about?! Hire him, he is worth every penny!
Robert Shawhan –
I have been working with Coach Frank for about 3 months. I have been very pleased. I am fairly experienced runner but he taught me many things about trail running, and how to train smart. I am running less, but much faster and stronger than I would have been without his help. Under his guidance I am happy to say I just finished by first ultra race months ahead of when I thought I would have been able too. He has also been super accommodating with working around my schedule and some training limitations that I have had at times. I plan on working with him to train for some additional ultra distance races over the next few months. I have been very pleased and would highly recommend.
Karen Johnson –
I’ve been working with Frank for over 2 months (after a procedure that hindered my running for 6 weeks) and have been very impressed with his coaching style. Checking into Final Surge for my weekly workout plan is great way to communicate. He looks at the big picture of the workout/rest day patterns and allows for where I have more time for longer runs and he also coaches my hubby and coordinates our gym days, long runs and rest days the best he can given our needs…so thankful!!???? He can see my uploads a few minutes after I complete them. I give him feedback on my perceived effort and injuries (if any) and a fun commentary of thoughts around struggles or things I enjoyed and went well.???? He’s modified many workouts based on small issues I’ve noticed during them even after already posting the plan. He already has an outcome in mind and pushes me to hit those targets. He has constructive comments weekly on what went well and where to improve. His knowledge as an athlete has been helpful in offering nutritional tips, attire for the elements, ramping up and tapering down before and after races. He’s helped me train for two 5K Trail runs (my intro to running in large slippery muddy puddles and snow slush)????. He’s really big on enjoying running long term! He’s reiterated that the mental part of it is half the battle…and avoiding injuries is another part! He’s suggested a couple of times that there was the potential for injury that could affect me physically and mentally so he offered different training solutions. He’s great in modifying my workouts and tailoring my needs to increase my endurance and speed. I’m happy to have him as my coach!
Renee Gale –
Frank gives me valuable, detailed and motivating weekly reviews that give me substance to work with each week. The workouts he schedules for me have been structured and tailored to my current abilities and issues. I feel like he takes a serious look at each week’s results and personalizes my workouts based on those results for each upcoming week. These progressive workouts have 1) helped me build my mileage back up coming out of an injury in the early fall and 2) have moved me steadily towards my speed and endurance goals. My expectations of the value of this online coaching have definitely been exceeded!
Jayna Paradise –
From high school cross country to ultra marathons…
Frank has been my coach since my freshman year of high school in 2015. Frank started coaching me in cross country and track and helped make me a better runner and a person. He helped me improve my running form ( which was very poor my freshman year) and my speed and endurance. In fact, I was able to improve and drop time in my races every year in high school with Frank as a coach despite facing injuries or iron deficiency. This is because he takes measures to help athletes who are facing problems like these instead of pushing them further until they can’t run or suffer from a worse injury (like some coaches do). Frank catches the issue at the beginning and changes an athletes workout to accommodate to the pain they are feeling in their body. He also provides strength training workouts for his athletes so that they can improve and strengthen weak areas in their bodies to assure they don’t suffer from an injury further down the road in their training. Frank inspired me to keep running all 4 years in high school and even helped me get into triathlons and eventually ultra marathons. When I started my triathlon training in 2016, I barely knew what a triathlon consisted of and didn’t know how to ride a road bike or swim efficiently. Although, Frank taught me proper swim stroke form and how to ride a road bike safely. He also taught me how to transition in between stations during races quickly and effectively. Eventually, I competed in my first triathlon in August of 2016 and (to my surprise) placed first for women in the super sprint triathlon. This qualified me for the 2017 National Triathlon Championships in Nebraska. Frank continued to coach me for this event and set up a long-term training plan so that I was prepared to compete against the best age-group athletes in the nation. He even swam and cycled with me to make sure I was using the most efficient techniques possible. When I wasn’t training with Frank, he would check up on me and look at my workouts that I completed on the Final Surge app to make sure I did the workout correctly and to see how I felt. Frank truly cares about his athletes and how they are feeling not only physically, but mentally. He always sets high goals for me in my races and training and makes sure I feel confident in my abilities. If I fail during a race and don’t meet my time goal, he always gives me constructive feedback and makes sure I am prepared for my next race event. At Nationals, I placed 14th in my age group and qualified for the World Triathlon Championships in Australia. With frank’s coaching, I was able to go from not knowing what a triathlon is to a World Triathlon Championship competitor in the span of less than 3 years. After the Triathlon World Championships, I decided to shift my focus from triathlons to ultra marathons. Frank and I did long runs together every weekend in the mountains where he would show me which gear to carry and how to eat and hydrate properly for ultra distance races. Frank coached me through my first 50km race and 50 mile race. Overall, Frank goes above and beyond what a typical coach does for their athletes. I seriously recommend that athletes at any level choose Frank as a coach if they want to improve their race times or fitness level or try a new sport or race distance. Frank is a very knowledgeable coach and you will continue to learn from him no matter what level of fitness you are at. He is also just an enjoyable and fun person to be around!
jj91709 –
I’ve been training with Frank for a couple of months now and am getting excellent results. I’ve hit my target weight and he was able to accommodate a medical procedure I had which required changing up the type of exercise. He’s a pleasure to work with and I’m looking forward to building towards longer runs.