Our community is centered around runners of all ability levels, so don’t be intimidated by the times that some of our coaches have run. We specialize in coaching runners of all ages and ability levels. Having run fast ourselves only means that we’ve had the opportunity to train under, and learn from, America’s best coaches. If you were learning to play golf, would you want to learn from Tiger Woods or some guy who played in high school? Running isn’t any different from golf – you deserve to learn from the best. Our coaches are some of the most accomplished you will find anywhere.
Sarah Crouch
Position: Assistant Coach
Years Coaching: 2
Personal Best:
Mile – 4:44
5K: 15:49
10K: 32:37
10 Mile: 54:15
1/2 Marathon: 1:13
Marathon: 2:44
A two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, Coach Sarah has been running for eleven years, first at Hockinson High School, in Hockinson, Washington, then at Western Washington University, then professionally as a representative for Reebok through the ZAP Fitness group in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Sarah currently resides and trains at high altitude in South Lake Tahoe, California with her husband Michael, (also a professional runner with ZAP Fitness).
Coach Sarah first discovered a passion for coaching in 2009 when she began coaching young women through the Girls On The Run program. The passion for running and improvement that Sarah experienced among these young women inspired her to pursue coaching those of all ages and abilities. Respected for her knowledge of the sport, Sarah has been published in Running Journal magazine as well as Adventure Northwest magazine.
“The beautiful parallels that our sport draws between those of all abilities is wonderfully unique. You would never find Michael Jordan playing a pick-up game at the YMCA or find a woman with a baby stroller standing in the Superbowl huddle, yet on race day, at the same time and in the same place, you will find the best of the best competing for the win as well as the very beginners of the sport, perhaps competing for the first time, every person feeling the same emotion, experiencing the same challenge. This is why I love the sport of running and why I am passionate about helping improve anyone who has the motivation to start!”
Jay Johnson
Position: Assistant Coach
Years Coaching: 13
Personal Accomplishments:
National Champions coached – 3
Renee Metivier-Ballie (3,000m – 2010)
Brent Vaughn (Cross Country – 2011)
Fernando Cabada (25 km – 2011)
Coach Jay is one of the most knowledgeable and respected coaches in the United States. His resume includes a master’s degree in kinesiology and applied physiology, director of Boulder Running Camps, writer for Active.com and RunningTimes, presenter for various Nike sponsored clinics and camps, and has coached three athletes to US Championships in the last three years.
In the last few years, Coach Jay has turned his attention to coaching adult runners; including Boston qualifiers, Masters runners, and new runners to the sport. Perhaps Coach Jay’s greatest strength is his desire and passion for learning about the sport and applying the latest research and training concepts into the schedules of his “everyday” runners.
“I strive to form a strong athlete-coach relationship and bond with every runner I coach. I have a passion for helping runners stay healthy, teaching them how to be better and smarter runners, and guiding them so they can reach their full potential.”
Jeff Gaudette
Position: Owner/Head Coach
Years Coaching: 6
Personal Best:
1500: 3:46 (4:04 mile)
5,000m – 13:59
10,000m – 28:46
10 mile – 49:49
Half Marathon – 1:05:30
Marathon – 2:22:02
Coach Jeff has been running for 13 years, at all levels of the sport. He was a two time Division-I All-American in Cross Country while at Brown University and competed professionally for 4 years after college. Jeff has competed all over the world, in numerous marathons, and recorded Olympic Trials qualifying times in the marathon and 10,000 meters.
Jeff began coaching in 2005 while a member of the Hansons-Brooks professional team. He’s had success at all levels of coaching; high school, college, local elite, and everyday runners. Under his tutelage, hundreds of runners have finished their first marathon and he’s helped countless runners qualify for Boston. Jeff has been featured in Running Times magazine, Endurance Magazine, as well as numerous local magazine fitness columns. Jeff currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts, but coach athletes in 36 different states and 4 countries.
“I believe that no matter your level in the sport, running a personal best or achieving a goal is one of the greatest feelings you can experience. Guiding athletes to this experience and watching them succeed is what drives me to always be working to make you run faster. I have a true passion for helping runners of all ability levels reach their running goals. I take pride in bringing the knowledge I’ve accumulated from some of the best coaches in the world to runners everywhere.”
Danny Fisher
Position: Assistant Coach
Years Coaching: 5
Personal Best:
5,000m – 15:16
10,000m – 31:38
Half Marathon – 1:11:58
Marathon – 2:30:18
Danny has been running for 19 years at every level of the sport of running. He ran for Brown County High School leading the team to an 8th place finish in 2001. He went on to compete for one of the top Division II running programs at the University of Southern Indiana and he now competes year round throughout the Midwest. Coach Danny has competed all over the nation and now has his focus set on the marathon in hopes of qualifying for the Olympic Trials in the future.
Danny began coaching in 2008. He’s had success at all levels of coaching; elementary, middle and high school, post collegiate, local elite and everyday runners. Under his tutelage, hundreds of runners have finished their first races from the mile to the marathon including several Boston Qualifiers. Danny has been featured in local and regional magazines and newspapers as well as fitness columns. Danny currently lives in Columbus Indiana with his wife, Courtney and daughter Scout. Danny works full-time at Tipton Lakes Athletic Club as a trainer and endurance coach as well as serves as the assistant coach of Columbus North Cross Country. Danny is certified as a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coach.
Jamie Dodge
Position: Assistant Coach
Years Coaching: 4
Coach Jamie is a RRCA certified coach with 4 years of coaching experience where she has coached new runners to marathoners. Jamie ran in high school track and cross country but stopped as she entered college. She came back to running later in life after the birth of her first child. Since she started back running she has completed 14 marathons including 4 Boston Qualifying time marathons and has been a pacer for 2 marathons.
She balances raising two young children with her love of running, training and coaching. Jamie understand the struggles parents having with balancing the demands of training to meet your goals. She is a great motivator and will be your biggest cheerleader.
She loves sharing her passion with other runners and helping them meet their goals. Jamie lives in the Carolinas, with her husband and two children.
“I started coaching to share the joy that I feel about running and training. I take so much joy in see others achieve theirs goals and being able to be apart of their journey.”
Casey Collins
Position: Assistant Coach
Years Coaching: 6
Coach Casey is one of the most versatile coaches on the RunnersConnect staff. In his 6 years of coaching, Casey has directly worked with athletes of every age and ability level, and has seen success with everyone he has worked with. While at Dakota Wesleyan University, his athletes set 12 school records and recorded 11 national qualifying performances.
The marathon has been Coach Casey’s most successful coaching distance, having guided numerous athletes to huge personal bests. Most notably, Casey coached Thomas Madut to a 2:33.42, 3rd place finish in the marathon at the 2010 NAIA national championships, and helped Ellie Peterson record a 3:07.41 debut marathon, in just 7 months of running.
Coach Casey’s love for distance running began at the age of 14 and the passion for training and coaching has only blossomed with his success. “The joy of coaching for me comes from watching runners develop and grow into the athletes that they know they can become. There is no other job in the world where I can feel that sense of excitement that comes from when an athlete reaches their potential at their most important races.”
Blake Boldon
Position: Director of Coaching
Years Coaching: 6
Personal Best:
1 mile: 3:59.18
3,000m – 7:57
5,000m – 13:46
8,000m – 23:28
Half Marathon – 1:08:07
Coach Blake is a highly decorated athlete and one the most experienced and successful coaches in the United States. During his prolific running career, Blake was a five-time MVC champion and still holds the school records in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500 meters. After college, Blake notched 4 top ten finishes at the US Track and Field Championships, and in 2007 he became only the third Iowa native to run a sub four minute mile when he ran 3:59.18.
Blake has spent his coaching years learning from the best minds in the sport and guiding his athletes to incredible success. Blake’s coaching resume includes the 2005 U.S. Junior Cross Country champion and Lisa Koll, the American collegiate record for 10,000 meters. During his time as an assistant coach at track powerhouse FSU, three of the distance runners that Blake worked with went on to represent Great Britain in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
In 2009, Blake began coaching adult and recreational runners under the tutelage of legendary coach Jack Daniels. Blake has worked with athletes of all ability levels, from 800 meters to the marathon, and has produced amazing results.
In addition to coaching and running, Blake is an accomplished author, with articles appearing in the web edition of Running Times and Fitness Magazine. Blake received his USATF Level I coaching certification in 2004. In 2010, Blake was the recipient of the USATF Coaches Education Level II Scholarship. Blake is currently the assistant men’s and women’s track coach at the University of Pennsylvania.
Tina Muir
Position: Community Manager
Years Running: 14
Personal Best:
5,000m – 16:08
10k – 32:24
Half Marathon – 1:14
Marathon – 2:45
Originally from England, Tina moved to the States in 2007 to pursue her running career.
An 11 time Division II All-America athlete for Ferris State University, Tina capped off her collegiate career by finishing 3rd in the 10k at the 2012 Great Britain Olympic Trials. Tina spent two years working as an Assistant Coach for La Salle University, a Division I University in Philadelphia, while completing her MBA. Tina juggled a full workload with her post collegiate training, improving her personal bests to a 16:08 5k, 32:24 10k, and 1:14 half marathon.
Tina is a member of the Saucony Hurricanes Team, and recently ran a 2:45:51 in the Chicago Marathon, but is hoping for big things in 2015 as she prepares to race on her home course at the London Marathon in April.
Tina has a very popular training and fueling blog; Fuel Your Future with Tina Muir, which attracts readers from all over the world as a source for recipes on how to fuel correctly to maximize performance, as well as training advice and inside information on what life is like as an elite athlete. You can check out Tina’s blog at www.tinamuir.com.
Now living in Central Kentucky, Tina is preparing for a wedding with her fiancé, Steve next summer. Steve was recently appointed Head Cross Country and Track Coach at Morehead State University.
John Davis
Position: Head of Running Research
John Davis is a recent graduate of Carleton College and a long-time student of distance running. Currently, John has immersed himself in scientific research on physiology and biomechanics, trying to answer questions like “why do runners get injured?” and “how does training improve fitness?” At RunnersConnect, John researches the latest trends in fitness and exercise science and breaks down the complicated theories into easily digestible and applicable findings for you to implement. When any of the coaches or our athletes want to know if the latest fad is backed up by true science, John is the man we call upon.
