I still think it’s somewhat strange that I ended up an endurance athlete. Running or doing a triathlon wasn’t on my radar until my mid-20s. And even then, I didn’t start out believing I was going to complete a 140.6-mile race; I found running because I needed something to make me feel strong and, for a moment, in control of my life. 

In 2008, my fiancé deployed to Iraq. I needed to distract myself, and I had been trying ot keep up with him while he trained prior to the deployment, but I couldn’t. So, my goal was to run 5 miles by the time he came home from Iraq. However, he died halfway through the deployment. Running 5 miles fell by the wayside. I was just trying to survive.  For a long time, just getting through the day felt like an ultramarathon.

Finding the Rhythm

Two years later, I was living in DC, and the Army 10 miler literally had soldiers running outside my window. I decided to try running again and picked a 10K race. For the first time since the loss, I felt my brain go quiet. I felt in control, connected to my late fiancé, and strong and purposeful. Running helped me release the tension and trauma stored in my body. And training gave me a space to feel something other than sadness: it showed me I was still strong.

That 10K became my first marathon in 2012, followed by two more marathons. From there, the distances grew, and so did my world. I eventually found myself on top of two of the seven summits, Mt. Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro, crossing the finish lines of two 140.6-mile Ironman triathlons and a 50K trail run.

Why I Coach

I know exactly what it feels like to stand at a starting line or the base of a mountain and feel like you don’t belong there. And I remember how brutal the feeling was: a run or a climb was such a big goal, and I couldn’t even figure out where to start.  I remember the intimidation of the gear, the confusing terminology, and the fear that I wasn't one of those people who could run or hike effortlessly. 

I reached those summits and finish lines because I had people in my corner who broke down the process for me. My now husband and my amazing triathlon coach both helped me learn how to train, what gear to buy, and how to change a tire or tape a blister. I learned how to run slow to get faster, why practicing my nutrition was important, and how to effectively pack my trail vest.

I founded Harper Endurance Coaching to be that person for you.

My Philosophy

With over 15 years of experience working in the nonprofit sector supporting grieving survivors and my UESCA coaching certification, I view endurance through a unique lens:

• Progress is not linear: Just like healing, training has builds, peaks, and necessary rest weeks. Every step doesn't have to be faster than the last to be moving you forward.

• Demystifying the Distance: You don't need to arrive with all the answers. I help you navigate the everything that comes with training, gear, nutrition, and mechanics, so you can focus on the run.

• The Trail as a Force for Good: Whether you are running to hit a PR or running to find healing after a death, I believe running leads to transformation.

Currently

I live in the Bay Area, where I train in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Stevens Creek Trail. I am currently training for the Golden Gate Trail Classic 50-Mile Race. continuing to learn from the miles every single day.

If you have the desire to see what’s on the other side of "I ," I’d love to help you get there