Katie Cope – Portland Running Coach
*** Roster is Full *** Passionate runner and coach dedicated to helping you dream big and achieve your goals! Come run with me!
Description
Portland running coach Katie Cope is excited to work with beginner through advanced runners ready to get after their goals. Whether you are working towards a new PR or distance or coming back after a break, from 5k to marathon, trails to roads, Katie is here to help. Reach out below to get started!
*** Roster is full, please reach out below to get started with Katie ***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan including strength and mobility for runners
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Portland, OR
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Yes. Please reach out to Katie first.
SPECIALTIES
I work with runners who are training for their first 5k all the way through athletes running multiple marathons a year. I love helping athletes get consistent with running and strive to help develop mental and physical strength, endurance, speed, and running economy. I really enjoy coaching athletes training for the half marathon and marathon distances but am happy to support you in any distance. You tell me your goals and I will meet you where you are and help you reach them. I am here to motivate and empower you and keep you accountable in daily training all the way through to your goal race.
PHILOSOPHY
My coaching style is very communication oriented and I believe that every athlete is an individual who deserves customized training specifically focused on their life circumstances and goals. I provide daily communication, motivation and encouragement, support with selecting races, and race prep including gear and nutrition. I believe that running should bring you joy and I will be there to encourage you even when things get challenging.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
My experience coaching ranges from individuals just starting to run to athletes racing multiple marathons a year. I’ve worked with athletes returning to running postpartum and have experienced starting at square one after having two babies myself. I love working with athletes who have big goals and seek to balance a full life while going after their dreams.
ABOUT ME
I live in Oregon with my husband and two little ones. Running has been a big part of my life since I was young and it is something that brings me so much joy. I love being able to push myself to new limits and accomplish distances I didn’t think possible. I recently completed my first unsanctioned 50k, running the Wildwood Trail in Forest Park from end to end. I founded and lead a running club in my town and creating community with others who also love running has become a huge passion for me. When I am not running, I love to hike, fish, go to concerts, and travel with my family.
BIG INFLUENCES
- Pete Pfitzinger
- Megan and David Roche
- Ben Rosario
- Jason Koop
RACING HISTORY
I have been running since I was ten and ran my first half marathon in grad school. Since then I have run over 20 half marathons and 5 marathons as well as trail races from 5k-25k.
CERTIFICATIONS
- UESCA Running Coach Certification
PRs
- 10K: 46:23 (5/15/2022) Run on the River, 1st place female
- Half Marathon: 1:42 (3/18/2018) Shamrock Run
- 25K: 2:34 (6/10/2022) Mt. Hood 25K, 4th age group
- Marathon: 3:37 (9/8/24) Appletree Marathon, 10th place and 3rd in age group
CONTACT KATIE
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.
SOCIAL
Ashley H –
Katie has been an incredible coach! I’ve been working with her since May as I train for a full marathon, and I couldn’t be happier with my progress—especially after coming back from a six-month injury. Katie is supportive, attentive, and always quick to respond whenever I have questions.
I really appreciate the variety in my training plan. Each week is different, blending running workouts with mobility and cross-training, which keeps things engaging and effective. It’s been amazing to see my speed, endurance, and confidence grow week by week.
I can’t wait to see how much more I improve leading up to race day. I highly recommend Katie to anyone looking for a knowledgeable, encouraging, and results-driven running coach!
Aimee –
Katie has been a wonderful coach and support system as I am trying to challenge myself with running goals and keep having fun with this hobby and sport. I treat running as a great release from work and parenting duties, and having a coach has made my limited free time that much more beneficial. She has introduced me to routine yoga and mobility training, which I love with incorporating with different types of runs. I look forward to the runs and activities she plans each week, including having flexibility on which days to schedule workouts with parenting 3 kids and shift work.
I also have had on/off again hip pain and Katie will check in regularly to adjust my plans and make sure my mental and physical health are intact.
As my goals change either in distance, races I want to run or personal goals, Katie is right there being flexible with me. Highly recommend her as being part of your run journey and team!
Ali C –
Katie helped me safely come back after an injury took me out of running for six months. She has a kind, joyful, and caring demeanor and is so prompt with responses to any questions. Hiring her as my first official coach was the best decision I could have made this year!
Allison –
I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Katie from day 1! In our first meeting, she took the time to understand where I was at, how I had previously trained, and what my goals were. She is super positive and encouraging even when I wasn’t feeling the most confident.
She understands working around a busy schedule and is flexible in her training plans. Communication has been so easy, she regularly checks in and rapidly responds to any questions I have.
It’s been a joy to work with Katie and I would highly recommend her to anyone!
dawn weaver –
Katie is great to work with as a running coach. She is super supportive even when training workouts do not go as planned! She understands work/family/life balances and embraces it all.
She will always reply and be available for her athletes. She cares about her community and it shows through her attitude and actions.
Ashley Parisella –
I can’t say enough good things about Katie! I am lucky enough to have met her in person, joined her run club and then started to receive coaching. From the moment we met her, I felt welcomed, supported, and genuinely seen—not just as a runner, but as a mom navigating life with a soon to be toddler.
As a fellow toddler mom, she completely understands the challenges of balancing training with motherhood and makes every workout/run achievable and effective.
She helped me train for my first half marathon, something I never even thought about attempting before meeting her. Katie is always professional, encouraging, knowledgeable, and incredibly kind!
What makes having her as a coach even more special is that she’s now become a friend. We have bonded over motherhood, weekly runs together and real life chats that went beyond pace and mileage.
If you’re looking for a running coach who truly gets it, who builds a community, and will be in your corner every step of the way, Katie is your girl! 🙂
Bianca Pacheco-Mayberry –
Katie has been incredible to work with. Prior to working with her, I completed my first half marathon in October 2024 though my training was pretty spotty. In January 2025, I started working with Katie to prepare for another half marathon. She took the time to understand my goals and created a personalized training plan that fit my schedule and goals. By March 2025, I completed my second half marathon and beat my previous time by over 20 minutes! Thanks to Katie’s guidance on fueling, I felt significantly better during the second race — just eight weeks after we started working together.
Katie’s support goes beyond just helping me meet time goals. She’s always responsive and eager to help. She provides great suggestions and solutions. If you’re even considering a running coach, I highly recommend taking the leap. There were a few weeks when I struggled with motivation and consistency, but Katie was always there to offer encouragement and keep me on track.
Erika Dizon –
After only relying on marathon coaches and self training plans for a couple years for running, I realized I needed a coach who I could rely on who knew what they were doing. Katie is the ONE! She’s super sweet, knowledgeable, and accommodating! Once you start working with Katie, she’ll guide you based on YOUR goals for running, whatever that may be! Ever since I’ve chosen her to be my coach (Nov 2024), my running habits have actually improved quite a bit (fueling correctly, running faster, etc). I would definitely recommend her to anyone, no matter what running level you are at!
Kara Eckstrom –
Katie is ABSOLUTELY amazing! She is easy to connect with, supportive, and flexible with your needs. She is great at communication and taking the time to understand your goals and adjustments. I couldn’t have asked for a better coach to help me achieve my running goals!
Zach W. –
Katie’s coaching successfully guided me through a marathon training block. With her help I was able to complete the Portland marathon just under my target time AND without injury! I couldn’t be happier with the results!
Nikki –
I enjoy working with Katie. She is positive and so encouraging!! Having a coach like her helps with self esteem, motivation, and consistency. I wanted to work with a coach who would keep me accountable, sets my schedule, and tailor the daily activities to enhance my long term goals and Katie does just that…. and more! She is so personable and just incredible all around! I am so grateful to have her as my coach!
Ari –
Katie has been a great coach as I prepare for my first 25K. It’s such a relief to have the uncertainty taken out of workout planning and to have someone provide advice on nutrition and pacing. Katie’s strengths are her excellent communication and flexibility in adapting work-outs around conflicts, injuries and fatigue. I am so grateful to have Katie’s support and guidance and am a better runner because of it!
Marina H –
Katie is a one of a kind coach! She tailors a training program that is designed specifically to meet you where you are at and where you would like to take your goals. Many of us know that running is not one size fits all and can pivot from time to time. Katie is knowledgeable and will be your biggest cheerleader. She picks you up and encourages you along the way! Katie is communicative and responsive, I simply couldn’t have done marathon training without her!
Kevin –
Katie is the bombdigity! As I try to run 5 marathons in one calendar year, Katie is keeping me grounded and focused. She listens to me when I provide feedback and knows when I need to dial it down a notch. I’ve had many coaches in the past and some have tried to force me to use RPE, which I really don’t enjoy using. Katie listened to me and has geared my workouts to hard numbers. I really respect that from a coach. I can’t wait to see where we go for my next race!
Michelle Benes –
I am thrilled to share my experience with Katie, who has been an absolute game-changer for my training and overall well-being. Her patience and unwavering support have been invaluable, especially given my complicated schedule. She consistently goes above and beyond to accommodate my time constraints, ensuring that my training plans are both effective and manageable.
One of the standout qualities of Katie is her exceptional communication skills. She maintains regular check-ins and is always prompt in responding to my queries, providing clear and encouraging feedback. This level of communication has made a significant difference in my progress, as I feel continuously guided and motivated.
Moreover, her ability to tailor plans to suit individual needs is remarkable. She takes the time to understand my goals, strengths, and areas for improvement, crafting personalized training programs that are both challenging and achievable. Her thoughtful and customized approach has helped me make consistent progress while avoiding burnout and injury.
In summary, Katie is not only a skilled professional but also a compassionate and dedicated mentor. I highly recommend her to anyone seeking to improve their running performance with the guidance of a knowledgeable and supportive coach
Alex –
My coaching experience with Katie has been more than I could have ever expected. My first week into running again, I suffered an injury that sidelined me for a full month. Katie was still there for me the whole time and we texted almost daily as she provided support and encouragement on some very dark days. Once I was able to run again, she worked with me to make sure I was good to go for my first 5k since high school cross country. Katie is not only a perfect coach but also a great mentor and someone who encourages me and is there for me whenever I need an extra push. She is not someone who just writes you a running program and that’s it, she truly cares about you. Would strongly recommend her to anyone.
Kaylin Partlow –
Katie has been the BIGGEST support in my quest to get back into shape and running after having a baby. She takes my weekly schedule and plans workouts and runs around it. She also makes it fun and inclusive for my 2-year-old! She’s encouraging and gives accountability without placing any guilt and shame! She’s amazing and Inhighly reccomend!
Suzy Wintjen –
It has been so fun working with Katie! She is so supportive and very responsive! I feel like she has worked hard to get to know me as a runner and to plan workouts and weeks to help me with my goals! Katie would be a great coach for runners at any level and with a variety of goals!
Caitlin –
Katie is amazing! Highly recommended for everyone, but especially busy moms!
As a busy mom, getting back into running has been challenging. Katie’s support, encouragement, and guidance kept me going! I am so thankful to know her and to have her coaching me!