MEET THE COACHES
COACH DANA
Hi! I’m Dana—coach, marathoner, wife, mother and founder of True Potential Running. I’ve been running for 30 years, competitively through high school and college, and later, decidedly less competitively as a very pregnant lady. I have found value in running, no matter where I’ve been in my life - at the peak of my training or coming back from an injury or as a mother of three young children.
I understand how our personal circumstances impact what we need as athletes, and I love encouraging others as they begin or continue their own running journeys, wherever they are in their training.
Certifications I hold: VDOT 02 Certified Running Coach, RRCA Certified Running Coach, USATF Certified Coach, Galloway Run/Walk Certified Coach
My favorite distance to race and why? I love half marathons. I think they’re the perfect distance. Whether you’re looking to run hard and get a new personal best or completing the 13.1 miles for the first time, a half marathon is a challenging race that requires patience and persistence.
My favorite quote? Be You.
Partnership: Active Resolute Connected
COACH LARRY
Hi! I am Coach Larry and I am a former D1/D2
Cross Country and Track athlete. I not only love
to run, but I love coaching athletes of any age and ability. My experience and educational background
in Kinesiology allow me to provide athletes with
an appropriate and individualized training plan
to reach their True Potential. I look forward to
working with you!
Certifications I hold: RRCA Certified Running Coach, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer,
USATF Certified Coach
My favorite distance to race and why? My
favorite distance to race is a half marathon! I love
it because it requires a great amount of endurance and training, but you don’t have to dedicate your entire life to training like you would for a marathon.
My favorite quote? Work smarter not harder...unless you can do both. Then work smart and hard.
COACH NATALIE
Hi! I'm Natalie and among many things I am a Coach, 12 time marathoner (and counting!), mom of three athletic and enthusiastic kids, wife to my best friend and a huge lover of this sport. I've been running my entire life—I ran cross country and track competitively in high school and college at a Division 1 University and have trained under some of the best coaches in the sport. I truly understand the needs of runners because I'm living it right alongside them—actively training hard each day to reach big goals in running.
I love working with runners of all abilities and guiding them to become a better, stronger, happier runner.
In my coaching, I place a big emphasis on all the
tiny details in your training and will joyfully meet you right where you are and cheer you along on this awesome journey.
Certifications I hold: RRCA Certified Running Coach
My favorite distance to race and why? I love the marathon! I choose 26.2 because it's like a very complicated puzzle and yet there are so many ways to solve it. I actually don't think you ever truly "solve" the marathon because each finish line leaves you wanting more. There is so much heart, soul (or sole) and grit that goes into the training, prep and proper execution. The marathon provides a unique sense of euphoria that is different than any other distance.
My favorite quote? Expect Success.
Partnership: Active Resolute Connected
COACH RACHEL
Hi! I'm Rachel—lifelong runner, mother, educator,
and coach. I discovered my passion for running in high school where I competed in track and cross country. Running has remained an important part
of my life as I've continued to compete and train in every distance from the 5K to the marathon. I've dedicated years to becoming a better runner both physically and mentally. Moving myself from a
4:22 marathoner to a 3:34 Boston qualifier. I love helping others reach their goals through customized training, constant communication and support, and adaptable goal setting.
Certifications I hold: RRCA Certified Running Coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer
My favorite distance to race and why? I love the marathon! I think the marathon requires just as much mental strength as physical. Training for and running a marathon can be a life changing experience!
My favorite quote? I love to use mantras. My favorites are Be Relentless and Never Settle.
Partnership: Active Resolute Connected
COACH JIM
Hi! I'm Jim—I am located in the NE/N Central part of Pennsylvania in Wyalusing. Located conveniently in the middle of nowhere next to nothing. I recently retired from teaching Physics after teaching for 34 years at Wyalusing Area School District. I have been the head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach at Wyalusing for 32 and 20 years respectively. What excites me about coaching runners is watching them grow as an athlete and person throughout the process of training. As a coach, seeing clients accomplish workouts that they may have felt impossible when they started training is a great feeling.
Certifications I hold: USATF Level 1 and USATF Cross Country Specialist. I also have PIAA Sport Coaching certification and I hold NFHS Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Concussion certifications.
I am currently pursuing my VDOT O2 certification.
My favorite distance to race and why? I really enjoy the half marathon because it is a distance that is substantial, but not overwhelming like a marathon. To be successful you need to make a commitment to the training, yet you do not have to give up everything in your life like you would have to when training for a marathon. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy training and running a marathon, but sometimes it can be overwhelming.
My favorite quote? I have two favorite quotes. The first one is very simple, but effective. I got it from one of my favorite shows, Ted Lasso: "Believe" When you are starting a training program you need to believe in yourself that you can complete the training program. While you are in the midst of the training program you need to believe that the workouts are going to get you to the starting line in the best possible condition for you to achieve your goals. At the starting line you need to believe in yourself that you through all of the hard work that you did in the training program will pay off during your race. The second favorite quote is "Confidence is not having to be right all of the time, it is about not being afraid to be wrong." As a high school Cross Country and Track coach for 32 years, I think of this all the time when I am working on training plans and race strategy.
COACH KRISTIN
Hi, I’m Kristin—I’m an avid marathon runner and coach. I’m a former collegiate soccer player who actually used to despise running. However, I now love the sport of running and everything about the running community. I’ve run 16 marathons, several ultra-marathons including a 50 miler, and too many half marathons to count. I also like to give back to the running community by volunteering with Girls on the Run and Ainsley’s Angels.
As a coach, I love to help runners reach their goals and help them feel confident as a runner. Running has been an important part of my life and I am excited to help my athletes get outside their comfort zone and unlock their potential. I believe that running is for everyone regardless of your shape or size. I’m a firm believer that training needs to be personalized for each athlete and appreciate that each athlete’s lifestyle and schedule are different. I’m looking forward to working with you!
Certifications I hold: RRCA Certified Running Coach
My favorite distance to race and why? Marathon—it challenges both your mental and physical grit. It
is also the distance where I feel most confident.
There is something life-changing about completing
a marathon.
My favorite running quote? "That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is." Kara Goucher
My favorite personal quote? To thine own
self be true.
COACH AMY
Hi, I'm Amy! I started my running journey in middle and high school as a 200m track star. I never thought I would end up loving long distance, but I did. In 2012, I set out to complete my first half marathon with a friend, and I fell in love with the sport from that moment on.
Since then, I've run over 100 races, including 10 marathons. Six of those marathons were World Major Marathons, which means I completed the 6 Star Finisher journey. I worked hard to improve my marathon time from 4:58 to 3:40. Even when I didn't think it was possible; I kept showing up.
Running is so special to me because the journey is more powerful than the destination. The growth, strength, and possibilities are limitless. I love being a run coach because I get to help others achieve their goals and watch the sport of running transform their lives. There's no better job in the world.
Certifications I hold: VDOT Certified Run Coach, Certified Health and Life Coach
My favorite distance and why: I’m a huge fan of the 10 miler. It’s the perfect distance. It’s long enough that you feel like you had to work for it, but it doesn’t have the 3 final miles I like to refer to as “the trail of tears” that a half marathon has. I made it a goal to always be in 10 miler shape simply because of my love for this distance.
Favorite quote: Keep Showing Up.
COACH SARA
Hi! I’m Coach Sara. In addition to being a TPR coach, I am a wife, mother to two daughters, and group fitness instructor. I started running in 2007 at the age of 30, and began coaching other runners in 2016. Since 2007, I have completed one ultra marathon, over 30 marathons, and many half marathons. I have slowly lowered my marathon PR from 3:31 to 3:00 in that period of time. I am still hoping to run a sub 3 hour marathon as a Master’s runner! I am excited to work with runners of all ages and levels of experience. As a group fitness instructor, I have a huge love of strength training for injury prevention and am always encouraging my athletes to incorporate strength work into their fitness routine. I am honored to encourage and support the running journey of others.
Certifications I Hold: RRCA Level 1 Certified Running Coach, VDOT O2 Distance Coach, ACE Group Fitness Instructor
Favorite Distance to Run and Why: I will always love the marathon above all other distances. There are so many variables both in and out of your control, and I love adjusting my strategy on the fly to meet the demands of the environment I am given on race day. I have earned a valuable takeaway from every marathon I have completed, regardless of the finish time on the clock.
Favorite Quote: “You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take” - Michael Jordan
TO GIVE ANYTHING LESS THAN YOUR BEST, IS TO SACRIFICE THE GIFT.
Steve Prefontaine
