Athlete Spotlight & Success Stories
Meet the athletes of Strides for Strength
Strides for Strength celebrates the incredible achievements and inspiring journeys of our athletes. Here, we highlight the stories of runners who have overcome challenges, reached new milestones, and transformed their lives through dedication and hard work. These athletes embody the spirit of perseverance and determination and are here to motivate you on your own journey.
We would love to support you with your running journey!
We truly believe that our athletes' relationship with running is built on a foundation of joy, patience, and trust in the process. We have an individualized approach to each athlete's training plan leading up to the big day or goal they are working towards where we focus on mileage, ability, experience, goals, and each individual person.
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Alyssa N.
I decided to work with Coach Michaela to help me go from non-runner to tackling a bucket list item of running a half marathon. To say it’s been a good decision to work with a coach is an understatement. She truly meets me where I’m at every step of the way. The training is so individualized, and she takes a holistic approach in caring about what’s going on in other areas of my life besides running. Coach Michaela puts her heart and soul into her athletes and the community she has built in Strides for Strength is something incredibly special. It’s a blessing to be a part of it!
Laura P.
Laura came to Coach Michaela after she had been using our Strides for Strength half marathon template.
She knew that she had a big 2024 race season coming up, including the goal to run her first full marathon.
On our first call, she said, "I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing — I have no structure/goals, not sure what’s realistic for me, I am not super consistent, and I want to learn to love running."
Laura has been a go-getter since day one. Coach Mich and Laura only had a couple of weeks of training together before this race, but Laura claimed the goal, "I want to run a sub 2:00 half marathon." After we talked through the mindset block and got a race plan in place, she did it!
I truly am so freakin' stoked to see what your 2024 race season has in store for you and the potential you are about to unleash!
Makenzie M.
“I know its not the PR I wanted but it’s still a 30 minute PR”
Coach Michaela and Makenzie have gotten the chance to work together thought a couple of Half marathon training cycles and now a full marathon training cycle
Makenzie ran Berlin this fall and walked away with a 30 minute PR
It wasn’t the original time goal she her eyes set on but during her training cycle she showed so much resilience. She spent time fine tuning the things likelier mindset and nutrition which is going to take her so far as an athlete past this race
I know this is only the beginning for you my friend, can’t wait to see what lies on the other side of this off season you are in.
Beth H.
Congrats to Beth for being a first time half marathon finisher!
Beth came to Coach Michaela wanting to run her first half marathon. Beth is also a full time nurse & serves in the Navy. We worked closely on making a training plan that worked WITH her already busy schedule without adding stress or pressure to squeeze in runs and really focusing on the QUALITY > quantity of runs!
After navigating some shin splits and modifying training to accommodate more rest when the body needed it, Beth was able to get to the start line HEALTHY and she had a whole lot of FUNNN the whole race!
Beth was always asking questions, learning how to be a better, stronger, more knowledgable athlete and it showed on race day!
Kristen R.
New York City Half Marathon Finisher
“I approached the weeks before race day and the day of with the attitude of “Let’s see what you can do”, particularly after having a fairly conservative build with no pace or time goal for the race.
It turned out that what I could do was to take on the hills of NYC feeling strong, yet very challenged, and to find myself able to get a negative split as I pushed through those last miles in Times Square and Central Park!
That was so much more valuable than a PR in that moment, and I was still incredibly happy with my time.
Coach Michaela was a steady voice through this build to keep me focused on myself as a whole athlete beyond just this race. The best side effect of that mindset was that it helped me have an NYC race that I am proud of and will never forget!”