Welcome to Run The Long Road Coaching! I’m a RRCA-certified running coach with 12 years of personal experience. I’ve completed races of all distances but my favorite is the marathon. I’ve been coaching friends and family for years and decided to make it official in April 2010 with RRCA (Road Runners Club of America). I have experience coaching runners of all levels from the 5K to the marathon.
Runner’s World “Ask The Experts” – April 2013
My coaching is personalized and adaptive. The training plan I create will be tailored to your current fitness level and goals. My training plans are delivered in small increments so I can constantly adapt and adjust the plan based on how you are progressing.
SERVICES
I mostly do online coaching but would be open to other methods (group and in-person if you live in the Philly area). Please contact me for more details.
Fees are $75 per month for online coaching. This includes:
- an initial consultation (in-person or via phone) where we’ll discuss your current fitness level, any injuries, recent training, goals, etc. This is essentially a Q&A session where I get to know you more as a runner.
- a customized training plan for your race
- weekly check-ins to track your progress and adjust your training plan as necessary
- access to a coach for questions, advice and tips, racing strategies, etc.
CONTACT
Questions? Please feel free to contact me at runthelongroad@gmail.com.
TESTIMONIALS
Kristy is an amazing coach! I came to Kristy with a few years of running under my belt, but little knowledge about a proper training plan. The attention dedicated to my training plan and race goal was unparalleled. She was beyond accommodating when my training plan needed to be adjusted. Her knowledge of training and race preparation is unparalleled. Her guidance and encouragement along the way made long runs easier. I felt so prepared and confident heading into race day. I credit all future race successes to Kristy!
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After battling ITBS for several months, I contacted Kristy in hopes that she could help me overcome this aggravating injury and start running again. I was impressed from the start when she responded to my initial email immediately. She developed a plan for me adjusted to fit my needs, and after just a few weeks, I was running again!! I even completed a 10K recently! I loved having Kristy as my coach. She always responded immediately to my emails, was very professional, and is extremely knowledgeable about running. Anytime I had a concern, she addressed it right away and altered my training plan if necessary. The next time I decide to train for a race, I know exactly who I will turn to!!
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I contacted Kristy at the start of the summer with the goal of completing a half marathon in the fall. At that time I would not have defined myself as a runner. From our first e-mail exchange Kristy was so enthusiastic. She devised a training plan specifically for me. She introduced me to so many aspects of the running world such as fueling (before, during, and after runs). Kristy made herself available and answered all of many questions. Her services far surpassed just creating a running schedule and calling it a day. If I ever had pain or soreness she would recommend different stretches and strength training moves. If I were in the marker for new running clothes she would give recommendations. I can confidently say that Kristy has turned me into a runner. She encouraged me and gave me positive feedback and helped me reach my goals. It is evident that Kristy is passionate about running and wants to help her clients cross the finish line. I know that Kristy and I will someday work together again because with Kristy I know I can reach all the goals I set for myself.
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A friend of mine referred me to Kristy and it must have been fate – and not just because we share the same name! I was a runner in my former life, before children, and even though I had made it all the way to running a full marathon, I could not seem to get my act together as a running mom (who also works full-time). Enter Coach Kristy, and voila! I’m back in the game. She helped me plan a training schedule around my crazy life (no small task!) and her advice and encouragement along the way were invaluable. I needed those weekly check-ins more than I ever would have guessed. She helped me figure out what I could still draw on from my previous running experience, but also what needed to change in terms of my new schedule and my nutritional needs. I completed the Valley Forge 5 Mile run in April and plan to continue drawing on her expertise to increase my speed over the summer – always a weak point for me, but even more so after taking a few years off from running. Whether you are a seasoned runner, a newbie, or somewhere in-between, I would highly recommend Coach Kristy. She is simply AWESOME!!
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I came to Kristy after taking a 2+ month hiatus from running, an activity which is not something that comes easily to me in the first place. Prior to teaming up with her, I completed three half marathons, but after the self-imposed vacation, I knew that I would need help from someone who knew more than “hey, these shoes are pretty – I bet they would work great.” (Hint – pretty does not = effective).
From day one, Kristy was helpful, knowledgeable and made herself more than available to me and my myriad of questions and, let’s be honest, the whining. She assisted me in getting my base back and under her assistance, I completed three more half marathons. I love her spirit, her ambition and the fact that even when I completely did not believe in myself, she unquestioningly always did. Her excitement was palpable and contagious. I would frequently be feeling blah about a particular workout but after emailing Kristy and getting her reply, I always felt better.
There is no doubt that anyone can benefit from her assistance, wide base of expertise and upbeat, you-so-can-do-this attitude. She helped me more than she will ever realize and I absolutely believe that enlisting her help is like giving yourself a huge, well-deserved gift.
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I found Coach Kristy on the RRCA site. I liked that she shared her personal story, had a personal site and blog, with photos and seemed positive and upbeat. Being a beginner, I thought working with her would be good for me. I was a roller blader prior to running and had not run for years. I got started with a group and worked my way up through different races, starting with the 5K to the 1/2 marathon. I felt that in training for a Marathon, I would need guidance, accountability, positivity and some firmness if/when I went off track. Coach Kristy provided all of this. An added perk was that she had run the exact race (Steamtown) and told me what to expect. She made a training plan and modified it when I skipped two long runs, ran longer than I should have on others and became overtrained. She was friendly but firm when I got overambitious when cautioning me to beware or risk getting injured and not making it to my marathon. She was also encouraging and occasionally sent me inspirational messages. I would recommend her to beginning runners, begin again runners and anyone contemplating a challenging race that they have not run before. I had a wonderful experience with her as my coach and I would hire her again.
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I am a novice runner and have never trained for anything before. Kristy is currently assisting me in my quest to build up my endurance and train for my first 5K. Kristy’s passion and enthusiasm for running combined with her skillful and insightful coaching methods have started me off on the right track! Kristy formulated a plan built around my activity and comfort level. I find it easy to consult with her if I am having a rough week or a tough time with my weekly running drills. She will adjust my plan as I go, if I seem to be having any issues, so I have the most beneficial results. My confidence level, as well as my running ability, has improved since starting my 5K plan with Kristy.
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Kristy has customized a few training programs for me over the last couple years. I was somewhere between a beginner and an intermediate runner and she helped me nail down a good training program specific to my needs. Kristy is very responsive to all of my inquiries and always gives thorough answers to my questions. She takes her running very seriously and has a unique passion for the sport. Under Kristy’s tutelage I have been able to achieve my best times in both a half marathon and a 5K race.
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I’ve worked with Kristy over the past few years mostly for training plans. I started casually running a few years back and Kristy was able to provide my training with some structure. I’m definitely someone who will ignore a training plan and just show up on race day and hope for the best. She’s been able to give me plans that suit my needs (I have a FT job and 3 kids) and get me to where I need to be, both physically and mentally, on race day. She’s also great for answering questions – she’s super knowledgeable with regard to all things running!
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Kristy helped me build my confidence for my first race (a 5-miler). I pulled a muscle in my calf and Kristy helped me revise my training plan through it. She showed me tips on how to heal it and still move towards my goal of completing the race. I love that Kristy is always available for questions. She is extremely enthusiastic. I’ve never been embarrassed to talk to her, even when she’s talking about running twenty miles one day and I’m worried I won’t make 4-5! You can tell she has a real love for running and a desire to help people meet their goals.
