Testimonials

Take a look at what some of my athletes have to say! 

" I started working with Katie about 18 months ago and it has been an incredibly positive experience. I am a 60 year old woman who came to Katie with a big dream of qualifying for Boston. She has helped me through 3 marathons, leading to PRs of 25, 10, and 14 minutes! The last one was my BQ minus 4:27!  I can say with complete confidence that I would never have achieved any of this without Katie’s help.  She is very knowledgeable about all aspects of training and running. She helped me work through injuries, schedule adjustments, health scares, and self doubts. I find her to be available, sensitive to my needs, and very positive in her approach. Her training plans are challenging but not intimidating. The training cycles Katie devised for me allowed me to gradually feel stronger and more confident than I ever imagined. I called on her racing advice throughout my marathons and felt as though she was cheering me on the whole way.  I wholeheartedly recommend Katie to any runner looking to improve their performance and their enjoyment of running. "
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         -Janet R.

"I’ve worked with Katie for four years now, and in that time I have set new PRs in the 10k, the half-marathon, and the marathon including a 12 minute BQ. More importantly, I’ve become a smarter and more confident runner thanks to Katie’s positivity and encouragement. "
                                                                                                                                             – Erin T. ​

“You won’t find better! I’m a competitive age group runner, and Coach Katie is there for me 100%.  She knows when to nudge me forward, and she also knows when I need some gentle encouragement to make it through a rough patch.  In addition to being an amazing coach from a technical perspective, Katie brings a depth of compassion and understanding that motivates me to push to the next level.”
​                                                      – David H.​

“I have been working with Katie for about two years. I am a 57-year old runner who has only been running for 5 years. Katie helped me achieve a dream that I thought was not possible. I went from being a 5:00 marathon runner to qualifying for the Boston Marathon with a 3:31 time.  In terms of day to day coaching, Katie always readily answers any questions I have and also helps me work through any minor pains or strains.”
​                                                         -Steve H.

"Katie is absolutely fantastic! I started training with Forward Focus Running earlier this year and in just over 3 months, Katie helped me BQ for Boston 2020 with 4 minutes to spare (and an 8 minute PR!). Her workout plans are intense and challenging, but also incredibly rewarding and fun. And, if followed, they truly work. I appreciate the blend of easy and tempo runs each week. My legs/body felt strong and capable of hitting every workout, even while running 6 days. More importantly, Katie is incredibly supportive and attentive and she knows how to push me to help me hit the next level in my training. She is responsive and knowledgeable, and happy to answer any and all questions. I really value this type of communication and support from a coach. Without a doubt, I would recommend her to anyone whether you’re new to racing or an experienced athlete."
​                                                                                                                                                                                                     -Paige D. 

"Working with Katie brings almost guaranteed great results. If you put in the work, follow the challenging but entirely doable training plans, and take advantage of her thoughtful guidance PRs will follow. Katie has gotten me previously inconceivable times in five marathons, including busting through and going well beyond the 4-hour barrier. Before her coaching, I just could not put things together and execute a 'clean' 26.2. Now, solid improvement and lower times are the norm. Working with such a successful and experienced elite runner who has trained with and competed against the country’s greatest athletes inspires confidence. Interacting with her is easy through email and the Final Surge app, and she is extremely responsive. Katie makes the whole process of training and the races themselves fun and rewarding on so many levels. She is simply The Best!”
                                                                                                                                                                                                            – Daniel G. 

 “Katie is the perfect coach and has helped me bring down my marathon time over half an hour since we began working together! I'm actually beating my PRs I set in college! She always knows just what to say and she strikes a great balance of keeping realistic expectations but also pushing me to do things I didn't think I could.”
                                                  -Isabella S. ​

"Katie recently coached me to a 9-minute marathon PR!  I have had a wonderful experience being coached by her, and I can’t wait to continue working with her to achieve more running goals in the future!"
​                                                    – Jason S.

 “I have been a runner since track and cross country in high school and college. Katie is the first online coach I have had, but she has also been the best.  In the past year since she became my coach, I have PR'd at all distances from 15 km to the marathon while also getting my first BQ (with an 8 minute cushion), something I have been chasing since my first marathon over 20 years ago. Her coaching, insights and encouragement have been invaluable. She has thoughtful, personalized responses to questions about everything from shoes, pacing, heat, illness, mental toughness and workouts that go south. Katie inspires me to enjoy running, set ambitious goals, train hard and race smart. I am looking forward to working with her for many years and PR's to come.”
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         -Bunny E. 

"I've been coached by Katie for four years. Her realistic but challenging advice always helped me stay motivated and focused. I was struggling to break the three hour barrier for years but I am now trying to break 2:50. Big improvement thanks to Katie."
​                                                    -Yuske A.

"Coach Katie has been instrumental in helping me take my running to the next level. She may not always tell you what you want to hear but she will certainly tell you what you need to hear. I am excited to move into our third year of working together and confident in the goals and plan we are working towards. I've become a more confident, more educated, and more self aware runner thanks to Katie. I'm extremely happy with the accomplishments we have achieved and eager to start working towards more!"
                                                     -Chip M.

"Communication and trust are central to every coaching relationship.  Katie’s an ace at both!  She’s guided me through injuries and dozens of business trips to BQ twice in two years.  I endlessly advocate for Coach Katie! "
                                                     -Ryan M. 

'Katie has been coaching me for a year and a half now. In that time, I’ve dropped 20 minutes off of my marathon time (running a BQ by over 10 minutes) and I’ve PRed in every distance I’ve run: 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon. Katie is full of knowledge about the sport and so dedicated to her athletes. She always answers my many questions about workouts and injuries, teaches me how to train and race smart, counsels me after tough workouts, and reminds me to stay positive and trust the process. Katie is truly an inspiration. She has made running more fun than I ever thought possible. I cannot imagine a better coach! I’m looking forward to many more years of being coached by Katie and her kindness, optimism, and encouragement!"
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              -Elyse H.