Lauren Ettin – Chicago Running Coach
Passionate people-first run coach, helping everyday runners gain confidence, find joy in the journey, and achieve their personal best.
$75.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Running Coach Description
Chicago running coach Lauren Ettin knows what it’s like to juggle parenting, work and running, and specializes in coaching women, especially working moms and single moms. Her style is flexible, realistic, and supportive to help you train and race your best.
Specialties
Distances from 5k to Marathon for the beginner to intermediate runner. I specialize in coaching women, especially working moms and single moms—because we just get each other. I know what it’s like to juggle a million things and still want to carve out time for yourself. My coaching style is all about being flexible, realistic, and supportive. I create training plans that fit into busy lives and help women feel strong, capable, and proud of what their bodies can do.
Philosophy
Every runner is unique, and every journey deserves its own personalized approach. I believe there are no limits with the right mindset and a smart training plan. My coaching approach is rooted in positivity, personalization and progress – not perfection. I focus on building confidence through smart progressions, celebrating small wins, and helping you develop both the physical and mental endurance needed to reach your goals. I’m not just here to hand you a plan, I’m here to guide you through the highs and the lows, to believe in you when struggling to believe in yourself, and to celebrate every milestone along the way.
Coaching Experience
My experience comes from years of being deeply involved in the running community and supporting others in meaningful hands on ways. I’ve served as a running buddy with Girls on the Run and a race buddy for Run for the Future, a program that introduces high school aged women to running, and encourages them to discover their strength and confidence through movement. I’ve also guided friends of all experience levels from brand new runners to marathon hopefuls across finish lines. I am passionate about meeting runners where they are, building them up, and helping them achieve what they once thought was impossible.
About Me
I’m a passionate, people-centered run coach who believes in the strength of community and the power of possibility. Proud mom of two boys. Single mom. Working mom. Running is my me time, my “happy hour(s)” with friends and my mental sanity. In addition to my passion for running, I am a dedicated supporter of Cycle for Survival, marking 2025 my 10th year of participation. Whether I am supporting my boys at their sporting events, crossing a finish line, or managing global events, when it comes to running, I am all about building purpose and creating a lasting impact, one run at a time.
Big Influences
My biggest influences and sources of inspiration are my sons, and my partner. As a mother and a coach, I want to lead by example – to show them with consistency, effort, and heart we truly can accomplish anything we set our minds to. My partner is the heart behind so much of what I do. His unwavering support and belief in me is powerful and deeply inspiring. He reminds me every day why it matters to show up, push forward and never stop believing in what’s possible, all elements that I put at the center of my coaching.
Race History
- Abbott World Marathon Majors Six Star Finisher: Berlin (2019), Chicago (2022), New York (2022), Tokyo (2023), London (2023), Boston (2024)
- Other Races: Sydney Marathon (2024) and numerous additional races ranging from 5k to half marathon distances
- Upcoming Races (currently registered for): Indianapolis Monumental Marathon (November 2025), Antarctica Marathon (March 2026)
Certifications
- RRCA
Personal Records
- 5k: 24:02 (7/4/24) Rotary Family Days Run
- 13.1: 1:51:52 (3/17/24) Hillstriders March Madness Half Marathon
- 26.2: 4:00:09 (9/9/22) Bank of America Chicago Marathon
It is important to note that prior to these PRs, I had run these race distances several times before, however, later in life I am hitting PRs as I learn from experience, adaptability and smarter training


jbanovic –
Lauren is an amazing coach! She coached both me and my teen daughter as we trained for a marathon together, uniquely guiding me as I transitioned from one marathon to the next, and my daughter on her first marathon. She evaluated our training data on a weekly basis and provided the following weeks training runs based on our performance. Her guidance on long run and race day fueling, fluids, electrolytes, and injury prevention was invaluable. She always made herself available for texts and calls. We greatly appreciate all of Lauren’s coaching advice and highly recommend her!