Frank Fisher – El Paso Running Coach
$130.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Coaching for runners/triathletes. Looking for a BQ, 1st time ultra, or just want to level up or break an injury cycle, I’ve got you!
Description
El Paso based coach Frank Fisher provides coaching for runners and multisport athletes. His background in strength training, Pilates and decades of coaching and competition experience makes him a great fit for a wide range of ages and abilities. You’ll find Frank is great at listening to you, understanding what your needs and goals are, and building you up mentally and physically to achieve the success you’re looking for.
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: El Paso, TX
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
I coach runners and multi-sport athletes from high school ages through masters on the track, trails, roads and everything in between. I have a wide-ranging unique background that has allowed me to help athletes find success at a number of different levels in different sports (running, cycling, triathlon, swim, etc.). The recipe for that success; build a strong coach/athlete relationship, create smart, well designed training, develop the mental and physical components, and have fun!
In addition to my coaching education, my background as a personal trainer and Pilates instructor allows me to put together well-rounded holistic programs. Athletes that train with me find they stay healthier, get faster, and often develop far past what they thought was possible.
Specific specialties:
- Trail runners – from short fast stuff to 100 miles, 1st time ultras to competitive
- Runners who’ve plateaued or feel stuck, or need to break an injury cycle
- Running mechanics – video analysis and exercises needed to build posture and improve form
- High school runners wanting to develop and see what potential they have in track and cross-country
- Road marathoners – 1st timers to BQ and 6-star chasers
- Triathletes – super sprint to 70.3
- Military – improving run times on PT tests to building high-speed special forces operators
- Multisport athletes – people who switch it up throughout the year; running, tri, HYROX, cycling, etc.
- Former collegiate runners looking to find a healthy balance with running again
*For high school athletes, potential elites and native (enrolled members) runners, I will work with you on coaching fees.*
PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy is simple; with smart, well designed training anyone can achieve their goals. During our first phone call I begin to put together a profile of you that includes work schedule, family commitments, athletic background/goals, injury history, etc. That way I can build a unique program that fits your life. When training is sustainable, rewarding and works for you, success is sure to follow.
As a coach you will find that I am professional, prompt and pride myself on what I do. I communicate clearly and effectively, and I’m happy to teach and explain any of the training concepts I use. I do believe trust is earned, not given, and the coach/athlete relationship is a special one that I take seriously. The best way to earn that trust is to get results!
How I work:
- Training plans via Final Surge 1-2 weeks at a time with modifications as needed
- Weekly touch base message with training analysis/feedback and a heads-up for the coming week.
- Effective progression of training load (mileage, intensity, pace variability)
- Recovery built in to the plan to keep you healthy and ensure adaptation to training
- Strength and stability work included
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I’m into my third decade of coaching now. I started coaching runners and triathletes in Austin, TX over 20 years ago, and moved into youth club track shortly afterwards. I spent several years as a certified personal trainer and have had multiple certifications including USA Track and Field, USA Triathlon and Pilates. I’ve been a high school head & assistant coach for track, cross-country, and swim. I ran a youth track club in Federal Way, WA for several years, and I’ve been running a Pilates studio since 2012 in Washington and now Texas. As a high school and club coach I helped turn out several state champions and podium finishers, and dozens of collegiate athletes in multiple events including all conference DI athletes in cross-country and track. Over the last 10 years I’ve helped a lot of athletes complete their first trail ultras, qualify for Western States, and complete their 1st 100 milers. I’ve had a lot of success in triathlon as well, from first time triathletes all the way to athletes competing for Team USA at Worlds. More recently, I’ve coached a number of runners to road marathon PR’s, Boston Qualifiers, and have been enjoying guiding several runners through their 6-Star journey.
ABOUT ME
I love coaching, it’s been a big part of my life for a long time. I’m capable of working with a wide range of people and abilities. I really like to communicate and have fun with my athletes, and I value that coach/athlete relationship. I like to work with self motivated people, I don’t really care how fast you are, but I want to coach athletes that are goal oriented and enjoy an active lifestyle. I’m happy to work with athletes for a single event as long as you give me enough time to properly prepare you, but I really enjoy people who want to make a long term investment in themselves and see what they’re capable of. That can look a lot of ways, some people I work with take breaks for extended periods, and come back when it’s time to get “serious,” others I coach year round. I’m flexible with how it works.
In addition to being a coach, I am also a small business owner with a wife and three very active kids, so I know all about having a busy life! Currently, we live in El Paso, TX. I grew up in west Texas and southern New Mexico, and have lived in California and Washington. I went to the University of Texas at Austin, and also spent time in the Marine Corps infantry.
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 road and mountain bikes when I was kid over 30 years ago. I had lots of success on the roads and criterium style racing, taking several overall wins and podiums across a wide range of events and distances throughout my teens. When I began running my junior year of high school I had lots of initial success with a number of podium finishes and wins, before struggling with injury for a while my senior year. I passed on running in college and went back to bike racing for a while before converting to triathlon in my mid twenties. I did well as a triathlete with lots of age group wins, overall podiums and qualified for nationals multiple times eventually earning USA Triathlon All American honors. In my mid thirties I began racing on the trails in the Pacific Northwest. Since then I’ve raced all over the western US with several top 10 and podiums in distances all the way up to 50k. I’ve completed a number of longer distance ultras up to 100k, but no podiums…yet! I continue to race triathlons in the summer and trails as much as I can during the rest of the year.
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
Ashley Gunderson –
I’ve been training under Frank for roughly 12 years now. I started out as a novice runner in middle school. Frank approached me early into my journey running and offered to coach me and make me faster. It was truly the best decision I could have ever made in my journey as an athlete. Over the years, Frank got to know me not just as an athlete, but as a person. I struggled a lot with my confidence and believing in my abilities as an athlete. He helped instill that confidence that I lacked and made me believe in my self and ability to run paces I never thought possible for me.
With Frank’s training methods, I went from barely making it to districts my freshman year of high school track/ cross country, to running state cross country the remaining 3 years of high school, and eventually for track as well. I broke school records, and got fast enough to early a college track/ cross country scholarship, which I attribute all of my success to Frank. After college, I decided I wanted to pursue longer distance running, and asked Frank if he could coach me into qualifying for the Boston marathon. As usual, Frank was game. He talked me through what to expect, my goals, and helped strengthen me through various injuries I dealt with along the way. He was flexible with my schedule as I trained working a full time job. I managed to run a Boston qualifying time with my very first marathon, which I went to run the following year, and again after that. I managed to take over 8 minutes off my time the following year with Frank’s help. Now he is training me as I work to run all of the world marathon majors, and continue to get faster.
Frank has beyond exceeded my expectations as a coach. He is very knowledgeable, flexible, informative, and supportive. If you are willing to work hard, he can help you accomplish your goals. I plan to train with Frank as long as he will have me.
Thomas Cannon –
Frank is a pro. His training insights were highly tailored for my experience and goals. The detailed training and race plans shaved hours off my ultra trail running times.
He even did a race with me and showed me the ropes!
I am a better athlete because of what Frank taught me.
Tag Humble –
Started working with Frank a little over a year after I picked up distance running. It’s only been a few months but I am already seeing progress and feeling much more relaxed when running. I attribute this to the detailed interval training Frank put together for me. Recently had to dial back my running due to injury and when I let Frank know he had no problem pausing my subscription for me until I can manage my injury. Professional but friendly and reliable response time.
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.