Natalie Lutz – Philadelphia Running Coach
Masters elite runner and World Marathon Major Marathon Championship Qualifier with 25 years of running experience who loves to tackle FIERCE goals and wants to help you to achieve them!
$99.00 / month
Running Coach Description
Philadelphia running coach Natalie works with dedicated runners in all distances with a focus on passion and motivation. She has a strong track record of assisting athletes in achieving sub 3-hour marathons, BQs, and huge PRs. If you’re working towards that next BQ or PR, level up and reach out to Natalie below to get started!
Specialties
- Distance ranging from 5k to marathon
- Road races
- Intermediate/advanced level athletes
Philosophy
I believe that running is about much more than just running; it mirrors life, and it is a journey of passion, self-discovery, resilience, and personal growth. My philosophy is rooted in the foundation that every runner is unique, and through personalized guidance and support, every athlete can unlock their full running potential.
I advocate for a holistic and balanced approach to running that goes beyond miles and splits. Using my professional background in psychology and rehabilitative medicine, I encompass a deeper understanding of both the physical and mental aspects of the sport. While physical conditioning is crucial, I recognize the significance of mental strength, emotional well-being, weight training, nutrition, and recovery in a runner’s success. As a working mother of two, I understand the importance of balance within a training plan. My coaching philosophy integrates these elements, fostering a well-rounded and sustainable approach to training.
No two runners are alike, and I tailor programs to align with each athlete’s abilities, aspirations, and lifestyle. I work collaboratively with runners to design personalized training plans and this approach ensures that each training session serves a purpose, contributing to both short-term achievements and long-term development. I truly enjoy tackling fierce goals and with patience and persistence, we can “Dream Big” and have athletes to sub-3 hour marathons, BQs, and huge PRs!
Coaching Experience
- Former Collegiate Men’s and Women’s DIII Assistant XC coach
- Personal running coach for 5 years
- RunDNA Certified Endurance Coach
About Me
My passion for running began as a high school cross-country runner who went out for the team to get a free ride home from my sister, who was the team captain. Later that season, I ended up passing my teammate, the former state champion, broke several school records, which still stand today, and my competitive running years were born. I went on to run collegiate Division I cross country for two years and then coached collegiate Division III cross country. For several years, running took a back seat while I attended graduate school and later started a family. In 2019 after having my second child, I had a sudden desire to run again competitively, and I have been dedicated ever since. I cannot express what it has done for me both emotionally and physically to be back to doing what I love. I am currently attaining PR’s and I am proof you can get faster with age!
Big Influences
One of my biggest influences is a friend and former track teammate of mine who passed away in adulthood. She reminds me of the bigger things in life and that we are just lucky to be out there doing this thing called running. I typically sport a red ribbon in memory of her during races. An equally influential person is my former cross-country coach who found potential in me that I didn’t know existed and she showed me that running was about something much deeper than just running. I’m also a fan of the everyday runner that is out there grinding and producing without any recognition. It’s those runners who really inspire me.
Race History
My racing history started with racing 5ks in cross country and entering into the world of the marathon in my mid thirties. It wasn’t until I went from a 3:24 to a 3:08 marathon at the 2021 Boston Marathon that I thought the marathon just might be my distance. Since then, I bridged the gap to break the 3-hour barrier in the marathon and ran a 2:59:06 at the 2024 Chicago Marathon and subsequently ran a 2:54 at the 2025 Chicago Marathon!
Certifications
- Run DNA Endurance Coach Certification
Awards & Accolades
- 2026 World Marathon Major Marathon Championship Qualifier
- 2025 Chicago Marathon Top 20 Age Group Finisher (16th) & 8th American-2:54:58
- 2025 D.C. Half Marathon Masters Female Winner-1:24
- 2025 Cambridge Half Marathon Overall Female Winner-1:26
- 2024 Chicago Marathon Top 20 Age Group Finisher (17th)-2:59:06
- 2023 Indianapolis Monumental Marathon Age Group Winner-3:00:10
- 2023 Long Island Marathon 2nd Overall Female-3:04
- 2022 Jacksonville Marathon 2nd Overall Female-3:04
- 2022 Delaware Coastal Marathon Overall Female Winner-3:05
- 2022 Philadelphia Distance Run Elite Entry Half Marathon-1:26
- 2021 USAT Team USA Duathlete
- **11x Boston Marathon Qualifier**
Personal Records
- Marathon-2:54
- Half Marathon-1:24
- 5 Mile-31:52
- 5K-18:38
Publications
Contact Natalie
14 reviews for Natalie Lutz – Philadelphia Running Coach
Derek Hunter –
I honestly can’t say enough about Natalie and what she has done for me as a runner.
When I started working with her, I knew I wanted to get faster and become a better runner, but I don’t think I fully understood what I was capable of. Natalie has helped completely change that. She has pushed me outside of my comfort zone, taught me to trust the process, and most importantly, helped me start believing in myself.
The results speak for themselves. I’ve continued to get stronger, set new personal bests, and recently ran a 1:38:51 half marathon in the middle of marathon training. But what means even more to me is the confidence I now have when I step onto a starting line. I’m becoming a runner I didn’t know I could be.
Natalie knows when to push me, when to pull me back, and when I simply need to hear that I’m capable of doing something. Marathon training isn’t always pretty. There are great workouts, bad workouts, tired legs, doubts, and days when things just don’t go according to plan. She never lets one bad day define the work we’ve put in.
What really separates Natalie is how much she cares. I never feel like I’m just another training plan or another athlete on a spreadsheet. She knows my goals, pays attention to my training, and is genuinely invested in seeing me succeed.
I still have some big goals ahead of me, and we’re not finished yet. But when I look at how far I’ve already come, I know having Natalie in my corner has been a huge part of it.
If you’re willing to work and you want a coach who will believe in you, challenge you, and help you discover what you’re truly capable of, I couldn’t recommend Natalie enough.
Thank you, Natalie. We’ve come a long way—and we’re just getting started.
Shane Pierce –
In just 4 months of working with Natalie, I reached a level of fitness faster than I expected. I trained for and ran my first marathon in Atlantic City last fall with a goal of 4 hours, but fell short at 4:12. I was consistent on my own, but dealt with nagging shin and hip pain throughout training. On race day, I fell apart around mile 16 and struggled the rest of the way.
After that, I knew I needed some guidance, so I got in touch with Natalie. I kept things light through the fall, and we officially started working together the first week of January 2026.
When we started, I set three goals: 4:00, 3:45, and 3:30. At the time, 3:30 felt pretty unrealistic. But in just about 4 months of training with Natalie, I just ran my second marathon in 3:16 – a 56 minute PR.
Training went incredibly well. She increased my mileage in a way I never would have on my own, gave me challenging workouts, and I went through the entire cycle completely pain-free. On race day, I felt strong enough to push the pace and hold on the entire race, finishing 14 minutes faster than my top goal for the year.
I can’t recommend her enough, and I’m excited to see how much further I can go with her coaching.
Michael Arnold –
Natalie is a wonderful coach. Very knowledgeable and has been responsive to all my questions and concerns. Her training plans are clear, easy to follow and address my specific running issues. I have never used an online coach and so I was a bit concerned about the whole process. Natalie has put all those initial concerns and worries to rest. It has been a great experience for me. I will gladly recommend Natalie to anyone needing a running coach.
Jeni –
Been working with Natalie for a couple of months. I have been a runner for many years, but recently decided to try and push my own abilities in the last couple of years. Natalie helped me to meet my goals in a recent marathon, after not having run a full in 17y. I had some injury setbacks, but she was there to listen and support me through it, every step of the way. I was able to meet my goal and was thrilled – and Natalie was there virtually cheering me on with a congratulatory message as soon as I crossed the finish. Tons of encouragement and guidance! Her goals are reasonable yet challenging. She helps me believe I can do more, even in my 40s now. I am looking forward to continuing and seeing how far I can go with her!!
Courtney K –
If you want to take the guesswork out of training and reaching your goals, choose Natalie. I thought I was signing up for a tailored marathon training plan, but I’ve received much more. Natalie is extremely knowledgeable, which is reflected in her plans, advice, answers to my questions, and frequent, proactive tweaks to my training. She’s supportive and realistic, and perhaps most notably, is just an awesome and modest human being despite also being an absolute stellar runner at the very top of her game. She’ll both coach and inspire, and I can’t think of a better combo!
Christin Scheib –
Natalie is not only an amazing coach with deep knowledge and experience, but she also genuinely cares about your goals, your progress, and your well-being along the way. She helped me train for my second marathon, and thanks to her guidance, structure, and encouragement, I improved my time by 20 minutes. I’ve never felt stronger or more confident as a runner. If you’re looking for a coach who will support and challenge you in all the right ways, she’s the one.
Mary Katz –
I cannot imagine having a better coach than Natalie. I am training for my first Marathon and she has helped me gain confidence and strength along the way. She is caring, attentive, experienced, and gladly shares her own experiences and expertise. When I am running 5Ks or Halfs, I know I have Natalie there at the finish line virtually waiting to cheer me on and support me. She is concerned, always focusing on my performance and physical and mental well-being. I could not ask for a better coach or mentor. She is so wonderful that I want to make her proud by completing my first marathon!
William Curtin –
*** Review as of October 2024 ***
I just wanted to circle back now that I have had my marathon that Natalie coached me in. We had set up a couple goals knowing that being my marathon anything could happen on race day. First was to just get to the marathon without being anymore injured that I already was prior to starting. Which we crushed. If I felt small pain or possible injury she was always very quick to respond with a game plan. My second was two time goals one which no doubt in my mind if I would have been a good athlete and listen to the race plan she laid out for I would I have crushed that but I came out like I was getting ready to break Chicago’s world record and missed it by a little. But I did hit my second time goal which in reality still wouldn’t have been possible with her skills and vast knowledge of the sport. If you looking for a coach who actually cares about you as a runner and not just as someone who’s putting money into her bank account look no future she is top notch and worth every penny. I’m leaving her today as a much better runner than I ever could have done on my own. So I wanted to thank her and share with everyone that she really is worth it and just do it you won’t regret it.
*** Review as of July 2024 ***
I have been working with Natalie for 2 months now she is helping me train for my first marathon (Chicago). She has been great from the beginning. I had picked 3 coaches to message about my training one never got back to me and another one wanted me to sign up before even talking with me, Natalie asked to set up a phone call right away talked to me about my experience, goals, life situation, and then told me about herself and told me what she thought we would be able to accomplish if I put in the work. I am never wondering what my next workout is gonna be my plan is always ready and she is always been available to answer any questions she is really a wealth of knowledge. As a very family oriented woman she understands that life sometimes throws a curveball or a small injury and she’s really with a plan. If you’re on the fence about hiring her as your coach I would really recommend giving her a month of your time and let her prove herself to you as a coach cause she is worth every penny. She has me on track to crushing my original marathon time goal.
Matt –
I can’t thank Natalie enough for her coaching services this far. I decided to take her on as my coach, as we have very similar running goals and training styles. Immediately after our first phone call, I knew we would be compatible as an athlete and coach duo. I highly recommend her services to anyone looking to take their training to the next level.
I just want to say thank you to Natalie for all she has done to help me train for my upcoming race in Berlin. I look forward to partnering with her for many years and training blocks to come. Seriously—thank you, Natalie!
Sarah –
Natalie has been a game changer. She is attentive, personalized, knowledgeable, and genuinely brilliant at what she does. Over the few months we have been working together, I have already noticed multiple improvements – speed, improved mindset, and an overall better understanding of everything that makes up the sport of running. I am looking forward to completing races in a more comfortable manner and hopefully setting some PRs along the way.
Todd Socket –
Look no further folks, Natalie is conscientious, attentive and has the understanding to take you to the next level. She has provided me with great feedback a philosophy or a a shift in my thinking and has gone the “miles“ to make the difference in your specific situation.
Oscar Pelaez –
Natalie is great. She’s gotten me on a path to sustainable running with consistent, measurable improvement. She checks in regularly enough to keep me focused, but never so much that I feel like it’s work. She’s very responsive and generous with her time when I have questions. Critically, she listens and is mindful of my personal goals. Plus she’s a rock star within the community! I have no doubt that my best running days are in front of me. 10/10 would recommend!
Candace –
When looking for a coach I wanted someone that would help me tap into that next level of my abilities to help progress me to my goals and aspirations as a runner. I started working with Natalie back in June of 2023 and to say I have grown as a runner would be an understatement. I have not only grown as a runner, but also as an individual. The amount of confidence I have gained in myself through conquering workouts and challenges Natalie has thrown at me is truly amazing. She really took time to listen to my wants and needs, my lifestyle and my current abilities. I’m a full time working mom who picked up running later in life after becoming a mom. I had no intel on runner lingo or workouts. I would literally just put on my sneakers and run. I was hungry to find more potential in myself and it in fact was after seeing Natalie win Coastal Delaware Marathon and finding out she too was a working mom that I knew we needed to get in touch. She knew the struggles I would face with day to day challenges and asked I just keep an open mind and go into each day giving the best I can that day. She took time to go over the workouts with me to make sure i understood what the workout was and why we were doing it. She always asked for feedback and for me to be truthful on how I was feeling because no 2 people are the same so she wanted to find what worked best for my body. I can say I’m well on my way to crushing my ultimate runner goal and I can’t wait to post a part 2 review on how Natalie helped me achieve it.
Michael –
Responsive, interesting plans, and reasonable advice (not afraid to tell me what I don’t want to hear–like I should rest when injured). I am looking forward to (hopefully) set some PRs after I am healthy enough to follow the plan for a bit. Overall, been a positive experience.