Jason Pohl – Berkeley Running Coach
From: $89.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Certified in ultrarunning science and backcountry safety, I’m here to help you succeed in trail races and off-grid adventures.
Description
Berkeley running coach Jason Pohl has raced both road marathons and trail ultramarathons. With a science-based training approach and an understanding that life gets busy, he’s here to help you tackle your next big endurance goal — whether it’s a road race, a mountain ultra or a multi-day self-supported adventure. Reach out to Jason today!
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Berkeley, CA
SPECIALTIES
I learned to love running when I was a kid logging miles on the PCT in Southern California. After a decade of racing road marathons — from local races in Colorado to the Boston Marathon — I went all-in on trail in 2019. I haven’t looked back. Working a demanding full-time job with occasionally wonky hours and stress, I know how difficult it can be to get training in. I’ve also learned how to balance those demands and be successful on the trail. As a versatile athlete who enjoys moving through wild spaces, my specialties include:
- Marathons to 100 milers
- Transitioning from road marathons to trail ultras
- Mental strategies for endurance running success
- Strength training for injury prevention
- Route-planning, backcountry safety
- Backpacking/fast-packing (trip planning, gear, training)
- Embracing running as a hobby and lifestyle
PHILOSOPHY
My role as a coach is twofold: To use science to help structure physical workouts to obtain physiological adaptations for success AND to help athletes discover what makes them want to go farther and dig deeper — in running and in life. With custom training plans, responsive communication, and an emphasis on proper fueling, my goal is to help athletes find joy while moving efficiently for extended periods of time.
I believe races are great events to test overall fitness. More importantly, these events are opportunities to structure our day-to-day process and learn about ourselves in ways that transcend running. Not interested in racing? Let’s work together to find some scary goals and get after it! Each runner is different. But all runners deserve support to help them unlock their potential.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I have been running for over 15 years and coaching on and off for about five. I have helped friends finish their first marathons, discover a love of trails and bounce back from injuries. As a former college instructor and occasional backcountry adventure running guide, I’ve seen the success that comes from teaching how to navigate trails and find long-term success.
ABOUT ME
I had never been a “runner” or an athlete when I was little. Instead, I was convinced I was too slow, too out of shape, too far behind the fast kids. But I had a coach who recognized I did have something that’s difficult to teach but essential for running and life success: I was disciplined. He took me under his wing and, cliché as it may be, those miles on the Pacific Crest Trail showed me the power of running.
I studied journalism in college and ran my first marathon when I was 19. I ran Boston when I was 20 and a dozen other marathons in the years after that, logging miles while working as a newspaper reporter. In that time, I also bicycled across the country with my partner, hiked dozens of Colorado’s 14,000-foot mountains, and backpacked across the West. While I’d always spent time on trails, I began to focus on trail training in 2017 and have fully embraced the joy of going longer and faster ever since.
After 10 years working in newspaper journalism, I transitioned into university communications, writing about important research and fascinating people.
Movement is a focal point of every day. Aside from escaping into the hills whenever possible, I’m an occasional adventure running guide and certified Wilderness First Responder who loves stringing together long trail adventures. I’m also an avid reader who loves cooking — I’ve been a vegetarian for most of the past decade, but believe there’s value in all diets in moderation.
A couple other things: I’ve got two cats, a Subaru and love breakfast burritos and black coffee.
BIG INFLUENCES
- Megan and David Roche for their outlook on running and life — and for reminding us to embrace our weird and not take ourselves too seriously
- Jason Koop for his science-based training that is advancing ultra-running in the smartest ways
- Addie Bracy for her instruction manual on mental strategies for succeeding in ultras — and life
- Dylan Bowman for his enthusiasm and dedication in bringing trail running to the big stage
- Clare Gallagher and Dakota Jones for their work bringing awareness to climate change and prioritizing what matters in life
RACING HISTORY
- First marathon: Colorado Marathon (2010 — eked out a BQ)
- Biggest marathon: Boston (2011, 2018 — the year of the storm)
- Fastest marathon: Colorado Fall Classic Marathon (2016, 2:58)
- First trail marathon: Blue Sky Trail Marathon (2014) 4:09
- Favorite ultra: Never Summer 100k (2022 — also the most difficult)
- Full trail racing history on UltraSignup: https://ultrasignup.com/m_results_participant.aspx?fname=Jason&lname=Pohl
CERTIFICATIONS
- UESCA Ultrarunning Certification – United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy, 2022
- Wilderness First Responder
- CPR/AED
PRs
- Mile: 4:56
- Marathon: 2:58 (2016 Colorado Fall Classic Marathon)
- 50k: 5:03 (2019 Big Chief, near Lake Tahoe)
- 100k: 14:03 (2021 Cuyamaca)
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- M3 (Fall Classic Marathon)
- Top 10 (Marlette 50k, Big Chief 50k)
- Top 20 (Blue Sky Trail Marathon, SOB)
CONTACT JASON
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
- My day job is in university communications, but I sometimes write about running and other adventures. Most recently, I wrote a profile about how running can link our diverse interests:
https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/07/05/forager-runner-election-auditor-this-expert-seeks-answers-on-the-trail/ - I’ve also written about problem solving when things go sideways on multi-day stage runs: https://www.aspireadventurerunning.com/expecting-the-unexpected/
SOCIAL
psymon –
Jason is a confident, supportive, thoughtful, and adaptable coach. I started working with him to step up to my first 50k, and am just coming off a
strong, confident finish. We put down a terrific first big training block together and I’m excited to build on our success. He has been an excellent guide and source of validation as I made my way into (for me) uncharted running territory.
Jason’s communication is excellent—he sets expectations well and makes himself available. He does a great job putting each week of a training block in perspective and holds ample space for me to talk my way through challenges. He’s responsive when I have questions.
Jason and I matched well on coach-to-athlete attitudes. As a coach myself in other sports and areas of life, we have connected on finding joy in the process and building not just toward my racing goal, but toward a stronger long-term running practice. We also vibe particularly well when it comes to mental toughness. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to work on mindfulness with athletes and it was a joy to immediately click with someone who is genuinely curious about all facets of the athletic life and, at the same time, has a deep familiarity with the demands of the ultra and trail running pursuit.
Andy Dakshina –
I am glad to be working with Jason. He is very supportive and flexible with the schedule to accommodate my non-running life chores. He is every ready to present you with training options to suit your needs. I appreciate his holistic approach to running as I am learning to develop a life long running practice, while hoping to maybe one day run closer to podium!!!!.
Justin Savaso –
Jason is a very thoughtful coach who constantly checks-in with his athletes and adapts training plans based on what is unfolding in real-time. He communicates well, giving athletes the “big picture” view of training, while also checking-in on daily workouts. He also is a very strong runner himself both on the trails and roads, and I appreciate how he can emphasize with what the athlete is going through during tough training blocks. I’ve really enjoyed working with Jason and he brings a very thoughtful, balanced approach, while also not being afraid to kick-ass in assigning some challenging workouts 🙂