Hannah Breedlove – Baltimore Running Coach

Description

Baltimore running coach Hannah Breedlove specializes in beginner runners looking to take on the 5k, 10k, and half marathon distances. She’s here to be your support, your cheerleader, your motivator, and go-to coach for questions!

Contact Hannah

LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Baltimore, MD

SPECIALTIES

I specialize in working with runners who are either new to the sport and looking for one-on-one guidance or have been running for a bit but are looking for ways to mix up their routine and/or go after a new goal. I’m here to offer accountability, support, and always a dedicated cheer squad in distances from 5k to the marathon. I will work with you to crush whatever goals you have, or help you identify them if you just don’t know where to start! You don’t need to be running a race to have goals, though. Sometimes it’s just nice to have someone in the game with you. I work with runners who choose roads, trails, or both.

PHILOSOPHY

Running should serve you. I’m a huge proponent of finding where running fits in your life so that it supports you and makes you feel amazing, not stressed or pressured (it happens!). Sometimes the relationship is elating and unstoppable, and sometimes it feels hard and we need to adjust to see how it can fit at any given time in your life. Things happen, life happens, priorities change – I want to help you find a way to make and keep running a positive part of your life. With that said, I also have the experience, knowledge, and tool kit to really go after whatever you goals you have and help you be successful in whatever way you measure it.

As a coach, my main goal is to be your biggest cheerleader. Of course, we’ll make a plan that fits your needs and aims to help you chase down your next achievement, but I see myself as your hype person, question-answerer, milestone celebrator, sounding board, or whatever you personally need to feel supported and motivated.

Practically, I’m all for adjusting training methods and volume to meet the individual’s needs — I personally would love to be a high-volume runner but just am not! Maybe you are! There’s no one plan that works for each person. I highly encourage athletes at a minimum to incorporate regular injury prevention exercises into their routine. I also encourage strength training to support the muscles we may not think about but that make us stronger runners. If you’re a fan of the run-walk method, so am I! It’s a great tool to have in our running toolbox.

Running and training can be hard, whether you’re building consistency or going for a shiny new PR. The mental side of running is so important, and I love to advocate using the tough workouts or the runs that just don’t feel good as opportunities to flex that muscle and build mental strength. I’m a huge fan of finding something good or some way to grow from every workout.

COACHING EXPERIENCE

I have been a coach (not just in running) for 6 years and feel confident in my voice as a coach and a leader. I started one-on-one run coaching with Team RunRun in July of 2022 and have experience working with athletes of all abilities. In Baltimore, I’ve co-led a 5k/10k training group with my local running club where I get the absolute joy of combining my love of coaching with my love of the running community.

ABOUT ME

I fell in love with running in 2014 while training for my first half marathon. I was hooked on researching and modifying training plans, mapping out routes, building strength programs for myself, all of it. The real fun started for me when I moved to Baltimore, MD and found my running community. I’m a social runner, but I learned over time how fun it is to push the limits. Now there’s a place in my routine for both my weekly social group runs and pushing my limits at a race.

When I’m not running, I’m an architect, a volleyball coach, a beach volleyball player, a TV enjoyer, and a lover of studying languages. I live with my fiancé and our two cats and our senior dog.

BIG INFLUENCES

I’ve always appreciated Hal Higdon’s methods and approaches to training, especially in these more recent years as he’s reflected on how his plans weren’t historically well-researched regarding female runners. I believe in rest, strength, easy runs, slow increase in mileage, and a hard workout day. These are staples of his plans.

I also coach and practice Jeff Galloway’s run-walk method. I started run-walking this year while coming back from an Achilles injury and began reading more about it as a science. Physical benefits aside (of which there are many!), I found it especially great mentally when I was struggling with my relationship with running post-injury.

One thing that I learned from being coached is the importance of honesty between athlete and coach. If goals need to be adjusted (in either direction!) for whatever reason, I want to have that conversation with you. If you need something from me, whether in my approach or communication, I want you to be honest with me, too! I’m in this to be on your team.

RACING HISTORY

I had a tough fall/winter one year filled with injury and lack of motivation. I was signed up for one of my favorite races, the Frozen Finger 5 miler, and thought a nice, lowkey race near a pretty lake with friends would be just what I needed. I had raced before but until that point, racing for me was running as fast as I could comfortably. I started that race too fast but I felt amazing. And then I felt uncomfortable. And I remember thinking…. “Let’s see how long I can hold this.” I stayed uncomfortable the whole race and I pushed myself for the first time ever. No, I wasn’t racing “wrong” before, but I had never raced like THAT before. I got such a rush out of pushing myself as hard as I could and now there’s a place for racing both ways in my life! But finding that gear that I’d never even tried to tap into before was such a turning point for my relationship with running. This sport is so cool, there are just so many different ways to do it.

PRs

• 5k: 24:26 (5/8/21) HHS Music Boosters 5k
• 10k: 58:01 (9/25/21) Susquehanna River Running Festival 10k
• Half Marathon: 1:58:59 (9/24/22) Susquehanna River Running Festival
• Marathon: 4:44:38 (10/20/18) Baltimore Running Festival

CONTACT HANNAH

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

• What Running Apps do I Need?
• Susquehanna River Running Festival Race Report

SOCIAL