Personalized Run Coaching for the Beginner Runner and the Runner Navigating Grief and Trauma.
I help new runners and those navigating loss find their strength from the first mile to the finish line. 1:1 personalized coaching for road and trail.
More than you thought possible.
Running for those who never imagined themselves as endurance athletes.
Many people think endurance is reserved for "other" athletes—the ones seemingly born to run. At Harper Endurance Coaching, I believe it’s for anyone with the courage to start. Endurance sports can feel intimidating if you don't know where to begin, but whether you’re eyeing your first 13.1 or a 50K trail, I help you bridge the gap between "I’m not sure I can" and "I just did."
I also recognize that, for many, the long run can be a place to process emotions. I understand grief, and if you are navigating life after loss, I use endurance as a path for healing. Running can help you move forward, one mile at a time.
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I didn’t start as an endurance athlete. In 2008, my only goal was to run five miles by the time my fiancé returned from his deployment to Iraq. When he died and didn't come home, that five-mile goal felt like a lifetime away.
But I kept moving. What started as a 10K in his honor became my first marathon two years later, trained for alongside a fellow survivor. That experience changed everything. Running was a way to quiet the noise of grief and rediscover a version of myself that was still strong, still capable, and still whole.
Since then, I’ve summitted Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro, finished two Ironmans, a 50K trail race and tackled the trails of the Santa Cruz Mountains. But I didn't get there alone. I reached those finish lines because I had a coach and a partner who helped me demystify the gear, the terminology, and the hard parts of the process.
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As a UESCA-certified coach with over 15 years of experience supporting those who lost a loved one, I bridge the gap between technical endurance training and emotional resilience. I know that navigating grief isn't a straight line, it’s a series of builds, rests, and gradual ascents.
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Whether you are training for your first 13.1 or a 50K trail race, my job is to take the intimidation out of the distance. I’m here for the people who aren’t sure they’re "the type" to run a marathon.
I’m also here for those who have lost someone and decided running is a place that they can process their grief. We make a plan to run and incorporate our grief into the plan.
If you have the desire and the patience to commit, I have the plan and the tools to get you there.
Services: One-on-One Personalized Coaching
Personalized coaching is for the runner who wants more than just a static PDF. It is for the athlete who wants a roadmap built specifically for their life, a coach to hold them accountable, and a partner to help them navigate the miles when they feel impossible.
Everything I do is 100% virtual, allowing us to work together regardless of where your home, trail, or road is located.
How We Build Your Plan
The Foundation: We start with a comprehensive intake. We discuss your athletic history, your current fitness, and the goals, big or small, that are on your heart.
Goal Setting: If you have a specific race on the calendar, we’ll set realistic benchmarks to get you there. If you’re still deciding, we’ll look at what challenges excite you and choose a path together.
Dynamic Programming: I write your plan one week at a time. I don't believe in "set it and forget it" schedules. Every week, I review your previous week’s data and personal feedback to write the next seven days, ensuring the training evolves with your body and your life, and if applicable, your grief.
Constant Connection: You’ll have a weekly check-in call (if needed) and unlimited access to me via email and text. Whether it’s a quick question about a workout or a longer conversation about a hurdle you’re facing, I am in your corner.
More Than Just Miles
Endurance athletics is a technical sport, and I am here to help you demystify it. My coaching includes support that goes beyond the training calendar:
The Toolkit: Recommendations on gear, shoes, and hydration strategies.
The Basics: General guidance on fueling and nutrition to keep you moving (as a coach, I provide practical endurance advice rather than clinical dietary plans).
The Mentorship: Encouragement when the motivation dips and technical support when you're trying to understand your watch data or cross-training needs.
Training Through the Weight of Loss
I understand that, for many, running is a place to process. Grief isn't linear, and neither is training.
Sometimes, a workout can release emotions stored deep in the body. Other times, the weight of a "hard day" makes it impossible to even lace up your shoes. In our partnership, we talk through these moments. Your training plan is a living document that takes your emotional energy into account, allowing us to adjust, pivot, and work through the healing process together.
Investment
$200 / Month. No long-term contracts. Just a month-to-month commitment to your goals.
