Run
Coaching
No matter what your goals are, where your fitness is or how much experience you have, we would love to work with you and be a part of your running journey! We work with athletes at every stage of their running lives, helping them achieve and discover all sorts of amazing things with their running. Whether it’s one mile or 100 miles or anything in between, for completion or for competition, there is no goal too small too wild or too big in our book!
The Pace of Me coaching style is customized and personal. Our coaches care very much about the people we work with, applying our extensive knowledge and experience to guide each individual towards their goals through the ups and downs of running and life.
We will push you to be your best and elevate you to give your all. We will ask you to do hard things because we believe in you, and will offer you unconditional and ongoing support every step of the way. You can be assured that we will never sacrifice your health, happiness or overall wellbeing as you pursue your potential. We will work together to help you discover all that is possible for you!
We believe that our best running and racing comes from our healthiest and happiest selves, so it is our utmost goal to drive you towards your potential while keeping you injury-free, healthy and able to consistently put in the work. It is a priority for us that you enjoy the process while discovering what you’re capable of!
Coaching Philosophy
We believe in the magic of the process and love to help runners find the courage to go after their dreams and take chances on themselves. We love helping others achieve all sorts of amazing things through this sport in sustainable and fulfilling ways.
We offer unlimited, wholehearted, and genuine support, expert guidance, encouragement and enthusiasm at every step, stumble and stage of the runner’s journey. With a more holistic approach to running and coaching, we are here to drive you to discover the utmost awesomeness of your potential, celebrate every high with you along the way, hold space for you and help you learn and grow through the inevitable obstacles and challenges that will come your way. Whenever we are striving for great things, we will have moments that lead us to question whether or not we can keep going – that is the nature of dreaming big, working hard to be better and taking chances!
We all have our own unique journeys, and the leaps forward and setbacks you may see others take will be different than what’s on your path. As coaches, we are here to help you navigate each step in your journey, at the pace that’s right for you and your long term goals. As your coaches, it is our mission to help you learn through those moments and get stronger because of them.
We are in it together for the long run here, and it is our goal to help each of our athletes gain confidence, courage and know-how to make the best decisions for themselves – one step, one run, and one day at a time – for their short term goals and for years to come!
We believe that our best running and racing comes from our healthiest and happiest selves, so it is our utmost goal to help you pursue what you’re capable of while keeping you injury-free and healthy – and ensuring that you have lots of fun along the way! We are here to help you run better, pursue your dreams and love the heck out of the process!
What To Expect + What's Included
- An initial kick-off call via phone or video
- A fully personalized training program that is based on your current fitness, running history, short and long term goals, and your work/life schedule
- Recommended paces for all of your runs, races and workouts based on your current fitness
- Unlimited schedule adjustments, updates and modifications as needed
- Unlimited contact and ongoing communication via text, e-mail, and the VDOT02 coaching platform
- Unlimited support, encouragement, enthusiasm and real talk – you will never feel alone!
- Access to a private Facebook group exclusively for Pace of Me athletes – an awesome and diverse group of inspiring and wonderful people!
- Videos and instruction for pre run routines, core and glute exercises, and more
- Monthly Strength Training plan (two workouts per week) programmed specifically for runners by Coach Steph with instructions and videos for each exercise accessible exclusively to Pace of Me athletes through the SuperSet app.
- Assistance with specific exercises and strategies for managing niggles and preventing injury
- Race day strategy plans in writing as well as a pre-race call via phone or video (or in person if you are local to us and we can make it work!)
- Your customized run schedule will be published in the VDOT02 app on a weekly or bi-weekly basis, with updates as needed.
How It Works
If you would like to sign up for private coaching or learn more about our services, click on the button below and complete the short form. One of us will contact you right away to schedule a call to discuss your history, lifestyle and goals as well as to answer any questions you may have. We’ll get to know one another and take it from there!
We believe that the true success of an athlete and coach is founded on a strong relationship, trust and open communication. As such, we will be in touch on an ongoing basis via text, phone and email.
Our rate is $165/month. We do not require that you commit to a certain number of months of working together, though we do recommend giving it a minimum of 3-6 months. Running progress takes time and consistency! We have been working with many of our athletes for several years, and are so excited to begin this journey with you!
meet the coaches
Coach Jess
As a certified running coach with both the RRCA and VDOT02, Jess has been coaching women, men and children since she founded Pace of Me in 2009. Over the years she has enjoyed coaching private clients and being involved with various training groups and programs, including:
- Distance Training Programs coach for Potomac River Running in the Washington, DC area (specializing in both the marathon and half marathon)
- The program creator and head coach for the Reston Runners Women’s 10k Training Program
- Coach and co-creator of the Sunrise Valley Elementary School Girls Running Club
- 2x coach for the Saucony 26 Strong program
- Lululemon Ambassador and coach for a weekly community run club (which she also taught Pilates for) in northern Virginia
- Lululemon Ambassador in Raleigh, NC
- Run Ambassador for Raleigh Group Fitness and leader of Raleigh Mural Run!
- Pilates for Runners workshops at Oiselle Bird Camps and for The Running PTs in Cary, NC
- Goal Setting workshop at Bull City Running in Durham, NC
- Co-Coach (with Coach Amy!) for all traditional programs from 5k to marathon for Another Mother Runner
In addition to her expertise as a running coach, Jess is also a Pilates instructor with certifications from both Peak Pilates and Power Pilates, and has over ten years of experience teaching in studios and with private clients. Jess is also a passionate artist and the creator of We Run On Art. She makes custom portraits, cards, prints, apparel and gifts that celebrate running and the people who do it. She currently lives in Cary, NC with her husband, their three kids and their two dogs.
You can email Jess directly at jess@paceofme.com and learn more about her by following her on instagram at @paceofme.
Coach Amy
As a certified running coach with both the RRCA and VDOT02, Amy has been working with athletes of all abilities and ages for some time. She has been honored to be a part of their journeys and appreciates the trust they place in her.
Amy is an active member of her community. She created and coaches an all-comers run club for her local elementary school, coaches Girls On the Run, and co-chairs her neighborhood wellness club, where she helps organize a number of 5Ks throughout the year. She is also co=coach (with Coach Jess!) for all traditional training programs from 5k to marathon for Another Mother Runner.
Amy brings over 10 years of running experience at all distances ranging from the 5K to the marathon, all of which she continues to pursue as a T1 diabetic. She found that her passion for running and desire to perform at her best grew exponentially not long after giving birth to her daughter, which is when she started running Boston Qualifying times. As a lifelong athlete, Amy brings an abundance of energy to her coaching, draws on her vast experiences, and invests herself completely in every one of her athletes.
You can email Amy directly at amy@paceofme.com and learn more about her by following her on Instagram at @amysruns.
Coach Michelle
As a certified running coach with the RRCA and VDOT02, Michelle has been actively involved in the run space for many years and is very excited to support Pace of Me athletes in their goals as they embark on each of their journeys.
Michelle brings two decades of personal and career running experience. Her career has focused on sports, specifically the endurance space, working for well-known sports nutrition and shoe brands and some major marathons. Her hands-on experience working with athletes, coaches, sports scientists, and nutritionists supports her vast experience and knowledge of maximizing potential, making her someone you can count on to help attain your goals.
Personally, following countless races using cookie-cutter training plans starting in 2003, she hired her first coach in 2015 and has never looked back. She was searching for accountability, support, guidance, and, most importantly, a community. Through that, she ran her first sub-4-hour marathon, then a year later ran another marathon cutting 17 minutes off her PR and running a BQ, but most importantly, she feels strong and healthy and continues to love the running journey!
Michelle is also active in her community, from co-chairing her local 5k race to starting a local run club to coaching her two kiddos’ school track and field and cross-country teams.
As a lifelong athlete, Michelle brings calm energy to her coaching and is always ready to listen, guide, and support while tapping into experiences. Michelle coaches the 5k up to the marathon. Her basis for coaching is to ensure a foundation for a healthy runner that loves having structure and accountability but also enjoys competing and accomplishing their running goals well for years and years to come.
You can email Michelle directly at michelle@paceofme.com and learn more about her by following her on Instagram at @MkzMartin.
Coach Steph
Coach MADDIE
As a certified running coach with VDOT02, Maddie has loved being in the running space for over a decade, coaching Track and Cross Country to young athletes at the middle and high school level for several years before moving into coaching athletes working towards goals of all distances and levels. She feels joy connecting with others and helping them work towards goals alongside them in their journey.
Maddie has been running since her high school soccer and track days, quickly realizing the benefits that running could bring to all aspects of her life. After hanging up her cleats and focusing on running, Maddie ran her first marathon in 2014 and has since run over 30+ marathons and an Ironman 140.6, continuously finding happiness in challenging herself in distances back down to the mile- where this love for running began. She brings a knowledge of all racing distances to her coaching toolkit.
In addition to coaching, Maddie has been a passionate Art teacher for the last 7+ years from the elementary to high school level and is dedicated to creating a space for her students to connect with themselves and enjoy the process- a theme weaved into her running and coaching. Maddie brings with her an ability to listen, connect, and show flexibility in creating a plan that promotes growth toward running goals and beyond!
Maddie can be reached directly at her email address: maddie@paceofme.com, and you can learn more about her by following her on Instagram at @marathon_mads94
