Nick Stricklen – Akron Running Coach
Doctor of Physical Therapy and experienced coach committed to helping runners of all levels reach their peak performance safely.
From: $90.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Running Coach Description
Akron running coach Nick Stricklen has an exercise science degree and he coaches runners of all levels, whether you’re just starting out, or looking for a breakthrough performance in the marathon.
Specialties
As a dedicated private running coach, Doctor of Physical Therapy, and former assistant coach at Kent State University, I bring a wealth of expertise to crafting personalized training programs tailored to individual goals and fitness levels. With a background in collegiate athletics, I understand the intricacies of high-performance training and injury management. Integrating my knowledge of biomechanics and physical therapy, I prioritize both performance enhancement and injury prevention for all my athletes. Whether you’re training for a marathon, aiming to improve speed, or seeking overall fitness gains, my comprehensive approach ensures tailored guidance for optimal results. I am committed to empowering runners of all levels to surpass their goals and cultivate a lifelong passion for running and wellness.
Philosophy
My philosophy centers on forging a transformative journey where dedication to fitness intertwines seamlessly with the pursuit of a fulfilling life. I believe that running is not just a physical endeavor but a path to self-discovery and holistic well-being. My coaching ethos revolves around personalized, goal-oriented training plans that harmonize with each individual’s lifestyle and aspirations. Through a blend of cutting-edge physical therapy insights and proven coaching methodologies, I empower clients to exceed their running ambitions while nurturing resilience, mindfulness, and overall health. My mission is to cultivate a lasting passion for running, fostering a balanced approach that enhances both athletic performance and quality of life.
Coaching Experience
I’ve been coaching running for over four years, with a solid background in both the private and collegiate settings. As a private running coach, I’ve worked closely with clients for three years, tailoring training plans to help them achieve their goals, whether it’s preparing for a first 5K or tackling an ultra-marathon. My college coaching experience spans two years, where I coached events ranging from the 800m to 10,000m. This journey has equipped me with a deep understanding of how to optimize training for different distances and levels of experience, ensuring each runner I work with gets the personalized guidance they need to excel.
About Me
I grew up in Mansfield, Ohio, and graduated from Lexington High School, where I was fortunate to be a part of multiple state championship teams under the guidance of inspirational coaches and with the support of a loving family. I continued my running journey at The University of Akron, specializing in the 3k and 5k distances, where I secured top 5 times in school history. After winning the Akron Marathon the following summer, I began my coaching career with TeamRunRun and later used my eligibility at Kent State University, where I set the school record in the 5k with a time of 14:06. I went on to coach at Kent State, discovering a true passion for helping others achieve their running goals.
Now, as a Doctor of Physical Therapy, I bring a unique blend of professional knowledge and personal experience to my coaching. My background allows me to create customized training plans that focus on performance, injury prevention, and long-term athletic development. I love working with runners of all levels, from beginners to seasoned athletes, and helping them reach their full potential in a safe and sustainable way.
As an outdoor enthusiast, I’m always looking for new adventures. Whether running, skiing, backpacking, biking, rock climbing, or hiking, I embrace an active lifestyle. My Australian Shepherd, Mac, is my adventure partner and occasionally joins me for runs—especially in the winter, which she loves!
Big Influences
My coaching style is a blend of the mentorship I received from three incredible coaches. My high school coach, a 12-time state champion in New York, taught me the power of building a strong team culture and a disciplined, supportive environment. My collegiate coach guided three Olympians, including a 2016 Rio bronze medalist, and emphasized individualized coaching and mental toughness. At Kent State University, I was mentored by the head cross country coach who balances hard work, empathy, and attention to detail who helped produce the men’s team’s first NCAA national qualifier in cross country in over 10 years.
These experiences have shaped my philosophy of combining rigorous training with a personalized approach, always aiming to help each athlete achieve their best.
Race History
From 2012-2016 I was a competitive high school athlete in Ohio and won a couple state titles in team and individual events.
- I ran for the University of Akron from 2016-2020 and secured many top times in program history and All-conference performances.
- I won the Akron Marathon in 2021 and placed 6th in the Columbus Marathon 3 weeks later.
- I ran for Kent State University in 2022 and set a school record in the Outdoor 5k.
- I placed second at the Akron Half Marathon in 2022.
- I placed third at the Columbus Half Marathon in 2023.
- I placed fourth at the Toledo Half Marathon in 2024.
Awards & Accolades
- 4x state champ (2015-2016)
- Mid-American Conference (MAC) Runner of the Week (2018)
- Second Team All-MAC in cross country (2019)
- 4th place at the MAC Championships in the steeplechase (2019)
- Akron Marathon Champion (2021)
- Runner-Up in the outdoor 10k & steeplechase at MAC Championships (2022)
- Akron Half-Marathon Runner-Up (2022)
Personal Records
- 800: 1:52.9
- 1500: 3:58
- Mile: 4:12
- 3k: 8:10
- 3k Steeplechase: 9:06 (3rd fastest time in UA history)
- 5k: 14:06 (Kent State School Record)
- 10k: 30:06
- Half-marathon: 1:06:02 (Columbus Half Marathon, 2023)
- Marathon: 2:25:07 (Akron Marathon, 2021)
Contact Nick
15 reviews for Nick Stricklen – Akron Running Coach
lexussaksith –
I’ve been training with Coach Nick for about two months now and he’s been awesome to work with. I’ve already noticed better cardiovascular fitness, and he really tailors the training to your goals starting with an intro phone call. He’s easy to reach, quick to answer questions, and very affordable compared to other coaches given his wealth of knowledge. Highly recommend.
Scott Greer –
Best decision ever! After years of the “do it yourself“ training, I finally decided to hire a run coach and it was a total game changer. If you want to take your runs to the next level this is your next step and I highly recommend Nick! Just read his bio this guy is legit!!
Paul –
I started working with Nick about 2 months ago based on the recommendation of a friend. He’s been phenomenal! I really feel my base and my top speed improving and his workouts are varied enough that I don’t feel any injury risk. He is responsive to questions and creative in his workouts. 10/10 recommend!
[email protected] –
Nick has been exceptional building my base and speed up from being self-trained. He gives varied workouts and is always willing to change a plan based on feedback. He improved my half marathon time by 4 minutes in 6 months and I can’t wait to see how the marathon times will drop moving forward!
Stan Domanski –
I’ve been training with Nick for the past 3 months. Best move I’ve made. I’ve never been coached before and I’m seeing improvement and feel very confident we will be ready for our race in May 2025.
His record speaks for itself.
He’s an elite runner and a great person.
I’m very grateful he’s my coach.
Danelle Villers –
I started working with Nick about 8 weeks ago with the goal to achieve a new marathon PR in Berlin this September. I chose him based on his credentials, knowledge, running achievements and that he lived locally. I appreciated that he gave me mobility and functional exercises specific for runners and the much needed, speed workouts. I have been able to reach new PRs in each race distance and cannot wait to see what I can accomplish in Berlin. Nick is very knowledgeable and creates customizable running plans for beginners to advanced runners. I highly recommend!
Jon Olson –
Nick is helping me train for a 50k right now and it is fantastic to be trained by such an amazing athlete. I have set a reasonable goal of 6 hours for this 50k which would best my best time by 30 minutes. Nick is going to help me with fueling for the race in the longer runs so I can what works well.
Banaclet1 –
Where do I even begin, Nick has been an amazing coach the last 5+ of months as I prepared for my marine corp marathon, where he coached me to a personal best of 3:10!! Throughout the whole training cycle, he provided great workouts and easy to communicate with whether that was over text or facetime. He provides great care and support for his athletes, I will continue to work with Nick for the track seasons where I know I’ll be with someone who will get me to more PB.
Tara –
I have been working with Nick for a few months now and it has been great! The training plan is challenging, but do-able. Nick is very responsive and has customized the plan on the spot based on my feedback!
[email protected] –
I have been working with Nick for the last two months. As a big guy, 109kg when I started (102kg now), with a goal to run a marathon below 4 hours, I need careful guidance in order to prevent injuries and yet stay on course. Nick is keeping me on track, always available and provides additional advice beyond just the running plan. He is, above all, a good sports psychologist.
Kaleb K –
I picked Nick because of his running accomplishments and similar running locations in Ohio. I’ve been following his plans for two months now and could not be happier. His plans have the variety that my body and mind need to grow, and his plan is personalized to my goals, capabilities, and feedback. Thank you, Nick!
Erika B. –
I started working with Nick when I needed help training for my first marathon. I know a lot of people tackle this challenge on their own, but I was planning to run the race with my dad (an avid racer) and it was important to me to at least hold my own! I had also been running off and on for a while, but knew I could use some help with planning and motivation in the long months leading up to the marathon.
Working with Nick ended up being the best training decision I could have made! We settled on an aggressive plan with lots of run days, and Nick was able to adjust times, distances, and workouts for how I was feeling, extra shifts working, illness, and any other factors that came up. He laid out strength training workouts for my off days and gave advice on nutrition and fueling for long runs.
When race day came, I was dialed in and ready. I maintained a pace I was happy with and truly enjoyed my time on the course. The 26.2 miles was a challenge, but not the miserable gut wrenching experience I’ve heard from a lot of first-time marathoners. I know a huge portion of that was thanks to excellent preparation, which was all thanks to Nick. (Not to mention, I left my dad more than a little impressed!)
I’m very grateful to Nick for helping me achieve my goal. If you’re like me and looking to take the marathon challenge, consider working with Nick to help you absolutely crush it 🙂
Heatherly Benedict –
I started working with Coach Nick a couple months ago, and I have only great things to say about him. I feel like my training is back on track and I’m quickly seeing the pay off of entrusting my training to someone with such expertise. He is a good communicator and works well with my hectic schedule. I never feel overwhelmed or confused as he is super explicit in instructions and gives great feedback and tips.
karolina647 –
After over two months of working with Nick, I can’t recommend him enough. He’s super responsive, patient with all my schedule changes, and enthusiastic about running and training. The training plan has been great, and I feel like I’m making a lot of progress while having fun along the way.
seth rotz –
I’ve been working with Nick for about 2.5 months and it’s been a wonderful experience. He is incredibly responsive and resourceful and has been a joy to work with