Meet the RunnersConnect Coaches

Learn more about our expert team of coaches dedicated to helping you train smarter, stay healthy and achieve your goals!

Jeff Gaudette

Position: Founder

Years Coaching: 11

Best PR: 2:22 marathon

Michael Hammond

Position: CEO

Years Coaching: 8

Best PR: 3:37 1500m (~3:54 mile)​

Finn Melanson

Position: Podcast Host

Years Coaching: 1

Best PR: Ultra

Dylan Belles

Position: Head Coach

Years Coaching: 6

Best PR: 2:16 marathon​

Hayley Munn

Position: Coach + Community Manager

Years Coaching: 5

Best PR:​

Ruairi Moynihan

Position: Coach + Media Manager

Years Coaching: 4

Best PR: 2:22 marathon​

Andie Cozzarelli

Position: Coach + Instagram Manager

Years Coaching: 6

Best PR: 2:38 marathon

Alex Ostberg

Position: Coach + Community Manager

Years Coaching: 3

Best PR: 13:31 5k

Cory Nagler

Position: Executive Producer and Showrunner

 

Learn More About

The Faces Behind Your Success

We Love Running As Much As You

Jeff Gaudette

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.

“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.”

Michael Hammond

Michael is our resident middle distance runner with a sub 4 minute mile under his belt. He started running when he realized he was too short to dunk, too scrawny to hit home runs, and had a strange knack for running laps around the track!

Now after 5 years with RunnersConnect, he’s our head honcho.

Michael specializes in runners across the board – from brand new beginners to multiple Boston qualifiers. He’ll help you become a stronger runner in body and mind through targeted strength training, injury prevention, smart training, and mental strength sharpening.

“When I first joined RC I thought of it as a progression in my coaching career. Now after 5 years and helping thousands of runners to personal bests, I love the RC community and I’m stoked to lead the charge to bigger things for all of you!”

Finn Melanson

My own running story began with a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2014.

After finishing the trail, I wondered how I could recreate the experience of moving my body daily, enjoying the outdoors, and pushing my limits.

After coming across Youtube videos and books about legends of the sport like Scott Jurek, Anton Krupicka, and Ann Traso, I felt deep down the trail running rabbit hole and devoured everything I could to become better, stronger, and faster and finish races ranging in distance from 50 to 100 miles long.

Along the way, I developed a deep appreciation for the community, the culture, and everything else that shaped me into the runner I had become.

I wanted to give back. I wanted to contribute to the sport that had given me so much. Now, as the Host of the Run to the Top Podcast, I blend my unique experiences in the trail and ultra running world with the curiosity of a passionate student to bring you interviews with the top minds in the sport that can change your running for the better!

Dylan Belles

Coach Dylan is an Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Marathon and former athlete for Brooks Running. He currently holds a Marathon Personal Best of 2:16 and still trains at a high level today.

Prior to his athletic feats, Dylan received his degree in Kinesiology Fitness – Leadership and later continued his coaching education under the likes of some of the most well known coaches and athletes within the sport.

He dedicates his coaching style to those mentors and considers this a key source of his ever growing passion for learning and contributing to the sport.

Hayley Munn

If you’ve listened to any of my podcast episodes, you may already know that I’m British. If you don’t already know, you’ll likely soon find out from use of English terms, which may cause confusion (pants are underwear here!).

As a runner, I am naturally suited to the longer distances and one of my claims to fame (or embarrassments!), is that I basically run the same pace at anything from 10k to the marathon. I’m most at home running in the mountains with my Springer Spaniel, Kenneth.

I have been coaching since studying Exercise Physiology at university and love using my knowledge of sports science to help my athletes’ achieve their goals. I have a special interest in helping athletes return from injury and stay healthy and am currently studying to be a PT alongside my coaching passions!

Ruairi Moynihan

Although born in New York City and a die-hard Yankees fan, Ruairi considers himself a Midwesterner. Growing up in Fargo, North Dakota is where he discovered his love for running, a passion that followed through college to St. John’s University (MN) where he competed in cross country and track.

After earning his teaching degree, Ruairi sought a warmer climate in Arizona where he taught ninth grade English Language Arts and served as head cross country coach for five years. While Ruairi has stepped back from the classroom, he hasn’t discontinued teaching. He now uses his teaching skills to help lead our community of runner as a coach and leader among our team.

“I love that RunnersConnect allows me to impact an even larger running community that I have been able to in the past. I have a blast interacting with runners of diverse backgrounds, from locations all over the world. The encouragement and feedback from both coaches and athletes makes for a positive environment where runners can learn and chase their goals.”

Andie Cozzarelli

My name is Andie Cozzarelli and I am a semi-professional distance runner for Oiselle.

In my last several years as a runner I have learned many things along the way, but more than anything I’ve learned what drives my passion for running. Being an influence and help to others within the running community feeds my journey.

Every runner is different. What works for one person may not work for the other.

My coaching style centers around that statement. Getting to know our athletes and understanding their lifestyle, goals, history, and everything else in between allows me to focus on creating a plan that works best for each individual athlete.

We also believe in developing the whole athlete by instilling confidence and creating purpose. We always say, having a purpose, a motivation, or a goal that is bigger than yourself will allow you to reach farther. 

Alex Ostberg

I started my running career as a 7-time All-American at Stanford and then moved to being a grad student at UNC Chapel Hill.

My 13:31 5k PR was good for 8th at NCAA’s  and also placed 5th in the indoor NCAA 3k in 2019 (and led off the runner-up DMR) and 13th at NCAA Cross Country in 2018.

Throughout my life thus far, running has gifted me many of my closest relationships and most cherished memories. There has been nothing more inspiring for me in life than to pursue competitive goals and a life of health and wellbeing through this sport. I’m excited to give back to the sport through coaching and help others achieve that on their own journey.

Cory Nagler

My love for running started with cross-country in primary school but after finishing my degree in business I’ve caught the marathon bug and never looked back.

Since racing my first marathon in 2019, I’ve taken my PR at the distance from a 3:16 to 2:30. My passion for the sport comes from a personal pursuit for self improvement. I can often be found pounding the pavement before sunrise even in snowy Canadian winters because I believe that doing challenging things makes us better as runners and people.

When I’m not running or putting together podcasts, I work full-time as a Loyalty Specialist and contribute to the marketing team at the Canadian Running Magazine.

For me, running is all about a strong community that supports each other to achieve lofty goals. Through the Run to the Top Podcast, I want to explore together how we can each maximize performance while balancing running with the rest of life because I believe a happy runner is a successful runner.