Pete Brandes – Boulder Running Coach
From: $115.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
RRCA Certified. Roads/Trail. Individualized training plans based on current fitness, lifestyle and goals. Here to help you love to run!
Description
Boulder/Niwot running coach Pete Brandes works with both road and trail runners across all distances, from 5ks up to 50k, 50 miler and 100 milers, working with them to build a strong, consistent base, along with a personalized approach to each athlete’s needs. Reach out to Pete below to get started!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%brandes ***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Track, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Niwot, CO
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
I specialize in creating training plans that are custom made for you and focusing on consistency, building strength, enjoying the process.
My focus is ultra trail training, but I also have a lot of experience coaching anything from 5k to marathon.
Though I’m happy to work with any runner who is looking for a collaborative, supportive, and inclusive process, I specifically enjoy working with:
- First time ultra runners
- First time marathoner
- Athletes who are newer to running seeking guidance on how to safely begin a training program while reducing injury risk
- Athletes looking to set a new PR or take on a new race distance
PHILOSOPHY
I think that the most important part of training is learning to love and appreciate the process as much if not more than the event we work towards. As a father of two that works 2 jobs and tries to train at a top level, I firmly believe that training should fit into YOUR life in a way that pushes you but also works with you. It needs to ebb and flow just as our lives do each and every day. With a focus on life/work/training balance and maintaining consistency, I will help you build a positive relationship with running while working towards goals both large and small. My plan implements honest and consistent communication to aide you in accomplishing the goals you set for yourself!
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I have coached high school track and cross country since 2021 at Niwot High School along with adults ranging from their first ever half marathon to qualifying for their 12th Boston marathon. My athletes have competed in races from 800 meters on the track to trail ultras. I love coaching all types of running at all distances.
ABOUT ME
I strive to get better every day. I grew up in a family of runners (Mom, dad, and sister have 20 Boston marathons between them). I ran cross country in high school and then rebelled against running until after college. Living in Boulder I was big into climbing and when I realized how efficient I had to be in the alpine, I thought that running could help tackle the goals that seemed too big. It wasn’t until I adopted my crazy red healer though that I truly needed to run consistently again. Once I started running pretty much every day again I decided to sign up for my first marathon. I over trained and got injured and walked it in for a solid 6h 38m PB! That is when I started thinking about lifting and injury prevention which is the same time I began teaching anatomy and sports science at Niwot High. I am the coach kids come to for unofficial PT and rehab work. Though I am still working on my personal training cert. (coming this summer!) I am happy to lend some advice or direction on where to look when things do go as planned.
I like set OUTRAGEOUS goals that scare me into doing amazing things so after that marathon I decided to sign up for the Silver Rush 50 miler in Leadville, CO. I found that ultras were just what I needed to keep my drive alive! I joined a running group by the name of the Rocky Mountain Runners which were filled with amazing and like minded people and raced a hand full of 50k-50 milers before signing up for RRR the next year. I always trying to progress and learn from mistakes and implement those lessons into future practice. I love geeking out on the science of running and sport and am always looking to be better in every capacity of my life. Coaching has been so fun because I get to share my experience and help other people besides myself reach the goals that scare them into waking up early to get those miles in!
BIG INFLUENCES
My family, friends and coaches present and past have inspired me throughout my life. I work with some of the greatest coaches in the country and the community and training philosophies have showed me how to incorporate hard work while having a lot of fun!
RACING HISTORY
I LOVE racing! I have raced every distance from 5k to 100 miles. Each one of them is an opportunity to celebrate all the hard work and training I have done leading up to the events. It’s party time! For better or for worse, I have found myself most drawn to the 100 mile distance. I have completed the Leadville 100 (26th place), HURT 100 (Favorite race so far, 16th place), Run Rabbit Run 100 (26th place) and Boulder Bad Ass 100 and all of them were monumental experiences for me. They were all a journey of growth, resilience, and learning. Outside of that, I have run the Silver Rush 50 miler in Leadville, the San Juan Solstice 50 miler out of Lake City (AMAZING RACE), the Golden Gate Dirty 30 (6th place), and the Sage Burner 50k (3rd place) along with quite a few road races at shorter distances.
PRs
- Mile – 4:55
- 5k – 17:42
- Marathon – 2:48:15
- 50k – 4:37:06
- 50 miles – 8:50:57
- 100 miles – 22:33:01
CERTIFICATIONS
- RRCA Certified Running Coach
- ACE Certified Personal Trainer
- Wilderness First Aid Certified
CONTACT PETE
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
Matt Baier –
My biggest downfall as a runner is “sending it” and injuring myself in the process. Pete’s coaching has helped me overcome this and many other detractors in my training. He works with my schedule and makes sure to stay in communication, even when I find myself too busy to reach out to him. His anatomical and biological knowledge allow him to guide me through injury, usually bypassing the need for physical therapy and other doctor visits.
I cannot recommend Pete enough. He got me within 20 seconds of my marathon PR on a difficult course in Boston, and I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish in the leadville 100. Just hire Pete. Trust me.
Hans Brandes –
Peter is very good at setting up a plan and a schedule based on my abilities and goals. I would highly recommend him to guide you to meet your training goals.
Matt Terry –
Pete coaches my son (now 14 years old). I have hired online coaches before with mixed results. Having the fortune of meeting Pete personally — and then finding out I could hire him for remote coaching was a game-changer for my son.
My 14-year-old son, an 8th-grade runner, competes in track, cross country, 5Ks, and even half marathons. Pete’s expertise and encouragement have been absolutely instrumental in his growth, not just as an athlete but also in his confidence. Pete prioritizes maintaining his love for running, not making it a “chore”, and focused on the long term.
Pete keeps in constant communication with my son. I’ve had remote coaches in the past (for me) and many seem like cut & paste communicators. Not with Pete. That’s what I find really impressive: he is personalized. His communication with my son is regular and personal. Pete knows what is going on with him and keeps him motivated, provides guidance and specific feedback.
His training plans are well-structured, very flexible (so important!), and — again — tailored specifically to my son’s needs and goals. Whether it’s preparing for a cross country meet, track meet or fine-tuning the approach for a half marathon, Pete is instrumental in setting my son up for success.
What initially impressed me about Pete was his résumé—not just as a runner but also as a coach for one of the top high school running programs in the country. With such a distinguished background, I knew my son was drawing upon a treasure trove of knowledge and experience.
As someone who had run alongside my son as far back as we can remember, I’ve had the enjoyment of seeing firsthand the impact Pete’s coaching has had. My son is consistently improving and remains motivated to push his limits. I can’t recommend Coach Pete highly enough. He’s not just a great coach—he’s a mentor and a source of inspiration.