Jen Steele – Carlsbad/San Diego Running Coach
$110.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
50% off your 1st month! As someone who believes chasing run goals should be fun, I’m here to help you find joy–run your next race differently with my support
Description
Carlsbad/San Diego running coach Jen Steele will meet you where you are at in your running and with a personalized training program and will help you progress, whether you’re aiming for a new 5k PR or working up to your first marathon. Reach out to Jen below to get started!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%jsteele ***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: VDOT
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Carlsbad, CA
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Yes, meet within 5 miles of zip code 92009. Sessions purchased separately from online coaching and are tailored to the athletes goals and can include an easy run with form feedback, a structured workout (like intervals or hills), or even a trail run. Reach out to Jen for more information!
SPECIALTIES
With over 5 years of experience coaching hundreds of runners and 14 years as an adult runner myself, my specialty is helping runners conquer their road running goals, from 5k to marathon.
I believe one of my greatest specialties as a coach is the ability to help athletes, especially busy mother runners, make their training and run goals work for them and their lives, without sacrificing the other parts of life they love.
As a mom of two school-aged girls, I understand the challenges of balancing training, motherhood, and work. I’ve been through it all and can provide valuable insights and strategies to help you navigate these demands while still achieving your running goals.
I’m the right coach for you if you:
- Want to get “better” (faster, longer, feel stronger) at running, but what you’ve been doing isn’t working
- Don’t know what to do next or how to improve but you’re willing to try
- Are good at following a plan (until life happens and then you’re not sure how to adjust your training for travel, sickness, life with kids, and everything else in your full life – let me help you!)
- Have struggled with burnout, injury, or lack of motivation in the past and are ready to “do it right”
- Want to find more joy and fun in your running
- Aren’t sure how to fit running in your day to day schedule, but also aren’t ready to hang up your running shoes yet
What you can expect working with me:
- Training plan that is timely – one or two weeks at a time to make sure it’s adjusted to your growing fitness and busy life (hello vacations, sickness, school, and more!)
- A plan that includes your favorite non-running exercise – that peloton workout, OTF class, barre, whatever it is you love outside of running, I want to help you include it in your training
- Weekly communication from me on your workouts
- Unlimited access to me for texting questions, calls to review workouts, the more you communicate with me, the better coach I can be for you
- Recommendations for fueling your runs, from how often to how much to different ideas for fuels to try
PHILOSOPHY
I BELIEVE you can achieve big run goals without sacrificing the rest of your life. My goal is to help you find the balance between training to achieve run goals and the rest of life. We do this running thing because it is FUN, so I want to take on the mental load of creating the plan, modifying it for your life, and giving you trusted resources as needed. All you need to do is…run (and have fun!).
In my coaching training, the answer to most questions was “it depends.” I fully believe this to be true. No runner is exactly alike. No one’s life is exactly alike. That’s why each training plan should be unique to every runner, their fitness, their goals, AND their life outside of running.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
With almost 5 years of experience, I have coached hundreds of women to achieve their run goals. Through my own one on one and group coaching as well as group coaching programs with Another Mother Runner, my athletes have run for the first time ever, tackled distances they didn’t think possible, BQ’ed, and had fun along the way.
Since I started running in 2011, I was self coached for a number of years and was able to PR in every distance — taking 30 minutes off my half marathon time and an hour and 40 minutes off my marathon time.
I have also worked on and off with coaches myself throughout my running journey (from 2017 until now). I have learned what makes a good coach! By having my own coach, I have been able to see the benefit of having a good coach and what I value most from coaching. I can bring that experience (both the good and the bad) to my athletes!
As a former teacher with a Masters in Teaching, I LOVE learning and sharing that knowledge with you. I do my best to stay on top of all the newest evidence based research on all things running related (fitness, strength training, gear, etc.) and then bring it to you in all the ways that benefit your training! My goal is to help you achieve your run goals with more FUN and less stress.
ABOUT ME
I’m a former elementary teacher turned run coach and mom of two school age girls. In my free time I am probably at the beach, running, reading, or planning our next Disney trip!
BIG INFLUENCES
My biggest influence is the other women I see showing up and training every day. I love that running can help us to dream big dreams and show up and work hard. For my coaching, I following the Jack Daniels approach, which my own take, based off of the most recent science on women in sport I can find thanks to resources like Stacy Sims, Christine Yu, and the FASTR program.
RACING HISTORY
I started running at the age of 21 and couldn’t run a mile. I struggled to run a 12-minute mile on a treadmill while my girlfriends ticked off 10-minute miles easily.
Once I signed up for my first race, the love for running was born.
Since I started, I’ve gone from 2:37 to 1:47 half marathon time, taken my marathon from 6:48 to 4:31 marathon time, and run a 50k trail ultra!
CERTIFICATIONS
- RRCA Level 1
- Revo2lution Running
- MA Teaching St. Mary’s College of California
PRs
- Half Marathon: 1:47:57 Big Bear (11/22)
- Marathon, 4:21:39 (6/2/24) Rock and Roll San Diego
- 50K 6:56:00 (1/6/2024) Run Catalina 50/50
CONTACT JEN
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
- Mastering the Marathon Hustle
- http://www.misadventuresofamarathoner.com/blog
- Another Mother Runner Podcast – Advice for Back of the Packers
- StrongHer Way – Improve your Running Game with these Simple Strategies
- On the Runs Podcast
SOCIAL
Sarah North –
Almost a year ago my family moved to a different city and I lost my running community. I knew I needed someone to help me reach my goals and to also hold me accountable and that’s when I found Jen! She has been so helpful along the way and had been such an amazing sounding board. The best thing about working with Jen is that she truly understands what’s it like being a busy mom. She pushes me when I need the extra push but also helps me understand when it’s ok to rest. I had one of my best training blocks yet working with Jen and I can’t wait to see what’s to come! You can not go wrong when it comes to hiring Jen as your coach!
Josh –
I started working with Jen in September 2024 in preparation for my first marathon in January 2025. Throughout the entire process she was amazing. She devised a schedule and plan that fit around my work and family schedule and always made the time whenever I had any questions or concerns. As the race got closer, I grew more nervous about being able to complete the marathon. Jen helped me mentally prepare for the race and gave me the confidence I needed to know that I could do it. When things got tough during the race, I returned to the mantras Jen encouraged me to come up with to push through. Finishing the race was one of the best moments of my life. And I couldn’t have done it without her. Jen has helped me to become a better runner and more mentally strong. I highly recommend her and can’t wait to work with her again when I sign up for my next race.
Catie –
My mental game is what has improved THE MOST with Jen’s help. I struggle to be positive and believe that I can accomplish my goals – I am not a “natural” runner and it is always so freaking hard for me to get out there and do it. Somehow, running became a goal of mine anyway, and Jen has been an anchor in the storm of life when it comes to building a base, establishing good habits, and not giving up no matter how “fast” I can complete a given run. I am running the d*** thing, and that is ABSOLUTELY ENOUGH. She’s done such amazing things for my brain positivity that I signed up for a freaking MARATHON this year after having stated, out loud, numerous times, that I was perfectly happy running half marathons only. Cannot recommend working with her more!!!
Zak Fazal –
Jen is the BEST coach I could’ve asked for!! She was so motivating, communicative and easy to work with. I couldn’t be more appreciative of all her efforts as I went through the long and arduous journey of marathon training. If ever I missed a run, she was so quick to give me an updated workout for next time round. Jen totally understands that life gets in the way sometimes and there are, on occasion, more important things than putting on your running shoes, but no matter the circumstance she’s always incredibly supportive. I’ll definitely be back again when I identity my next challenge, but until then good luck to anyone whose lucky enough to sign on with Jen 😀😀
MELISA SCHELL –
I’m not sure when we started working together, but it has been a couple of years. Jen has been through my good races and my bad races all with enthusiasm and encouragement. I would have told anyone before that I am pushed more by a “David Goggins” type of coach; however, these last couple of years, with a gentler kinder type of coaching, she has made me a better runner – mentally and physically. Don’t get me wrong, it isn’t all rainbows and butterflies; but I get real feedback to encourage, or to praise, or to tell me to get over it! She schedules workouts that pertain to me and my schedule as a regular runner/mom/business woman/wife. Despite her being in California and me being in Florida, she is always available for questions and answers. I would totally recommend Jen to anyone.
Dana Stenvick –
Jen helped me chop almost 20 minutes off my full marathon time and accomplish my first BQ with a 12 minute buffer. The details: under her careful, compassionate guidance, I went from running a PB of 3:47 in my 20s to running a 3:28 at age 41. And there’s more! She doesn’t just push out one-size-fits all training plans, she carefully crafts workouts around my ever changing work/life schedule that have helped me become a stronger, faster, more confident runner. I love being able to outsource the burden of planning my training and worrying about whether I’m doing enough and doing the right workouts to someone who understands how to put together a solid, flexible training plan for someone who already has a busy life working full-time and raising a family. If you are looking for real results in your own running journey and want to work with a wonderful human being, hire Jen. You won’t regret it.
Jessica –
I have been “internet friends” with Jen for a long time and have always appreciated her expertise. She understands the life of a busy mom and teacher and the need to be flexible. Jen helps take away the intimidation of training and makes it much more doable!
Amy Gulasy –
I have been working with Jen since October 2021, when I set my sights on a sub-2:30 half marathon. Although I have not managed to hit it yet, I’ve gotten very close and I did set a PR in the 15k which was very exciting! Jen has now coached me through 4 half marathons as well as shorter races. I continue to work with her not just for the individualized training plan, but for the support and encouragement she has provided me along the way. She has talked me off a ledge more than once when I felt like all my runs were going horribly! I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a coach.
Angie –
After struggling through COVID to find my running groove, I started working with Jen. She did a great job of creating a schedule that works for me, my life, and my goals. My base fitness has improved tremendously. I am a stronger both physically and mentally. I have improved my half marathon time by more than 15 minutes. She is always available, friendly, encouraging and your biggest cheerleader. During my last race, I was starting to hit a wall and was encouraged by her timely text message telling me that I could do it and I had put in all the training to crush my goals. I went on to crush my race and finally hit the time goal I had set for myself pre-Covid. Highly recommend Jen!
Elizabeth –
My running took a back seat for several years when I had my kids but I wanted to work back towards my previous level of competitiveness. Since working with Jen my training has become more consistent and focused. Her knowledge and guidance has helped me to strengthen the areas that need it most. As a mother she understands when life and a long run don’t mesh and has adjusted plans to keep me on track. Jen is committed to helping her clients realize their potential and reach towards their goals. It’s been such fun getting to work with her!