Strong Finish: Run Coaching & Sports Nutrition

Today marks 12 years since I officially launched Strong Finish Run Coaching & Sports Nutrition, and what a journey it has been.

It all started with my own running journey back in 2011. In 2013, I took over a small local women’s running group and watched it grow into an incredible community of more than 1,200 runners across Central Florida. Around that same time, I ran my 1st marathon, earned my 1st coaching certification, and the rest is history.

For the last 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of doing what I truly love every day.

Through divorce, moving to multiple houses, raising kids, becoming a single mom with no family to help, remarriage, and all of life’s ups and downs, 2 things have remained constant: running and coaching.

One of the greatest gifts of this career has been the relationships. Some athletes come to me for one race. Others have trusted me with their training for 5 years, 10 years, or longer. I’ve watched athletes get married, have babies, overcome injuries, navigate career changes, send kids off to college, and accomplish goals they once thought were impossible. Many have become lifelong friends.

Coaching has never been just about writing workouts. It’s about building confidence, developing mental toughness, learning how to fuel your body, getting stronger, balancing training with careers and family life, and helping people become the best version of themselves.

I coach runners of every level. Brand new runners. Runners returning from injury. Busy moms chasing their first marathon or a Boston Qualifier. Athletes working toward a sub 3 marathon. Those focused on a 5k or half marathon PR. Men, women, and my incredible master’s runners who continue to prove that big goals don’t have an age limit.

And if you know me, you know the marathon will always be my favorite distance to both run and coach.

To every athlete who has trusted me over the last 12 years, thank you. It is a privilege that I never take for granted. Your goals become my goals, and celebrating your successes is one of the best parts of what I do.

I’ll be opening my roster to new athletes again in September after things settle down with the opening of Degree Wellness. If you’ve been thinking about working together, I’d love to chat.

Here’s to 12 incredible years and many more Strong Finishes ahead💙

Check out Strong Finish athlete Bob Greene - I’m so proud to see him featured in the Village’s Daily Sun after completing the Boston and London marathons just 6 days apart. He’s worked incredibly hard, both on the pavement and in the gym, and the progress he’s made is no accident. His consistency, discipline, and long-game mindset continue to pay off.

I’m excited to see what he does this fall as he keeps chasing big goals and adding to his world marathon majors journey.

Congratulations to Jennifer on a great performance at the Coeur d’Alene Half Marathon. This was a really meaningful race after a challenging stretch following Tokyo. Jennifer stayed patient, raced strong on a tough course, and reminded herself what racing is supposed to feel like again. Proud of her resilience and excited for what’s ahead.

Huge congratulations to Katie on a strong performance at the Buffalo Marathon this weekend, finishing in 3:07!

This was her 12th marathon and one of the more challenging training cycles she’s had in recent years. Between a brutal Central New York winter, treadmill miles, illness, lack of sleep, and some frustrating mechanical issues affecting her stride, there were plenty of opportunities to get discouraged. Instead, she stayed patient, adapted week by week, and continued showing up.

What stood out most to me was how smart she raced. She respected the distance early, stayed controlled, and kept fighting when things got difficult late in the race.

A 3:07 marathon on a day that wasn’t “perfect” is incredibly impressive and a testament to years of consistency and experience.

Athlete spotlight on Natalie from Pennsylvania who ran a sub 21 5k this weekend. Natalie is a longtime athlete of mine and continues to show what consistency and experience can do. She raced smart, competed hard, and finished with an impressive performance on a challenging course. Really proud of her and excited for what is ahead as we continue building toward Chicago this fall.

Shannon showed up and put together a strong Colfax Marathon, finishing in 3:57. The best part is how much strength and confidence she built this cycle, especially on hills. This is the kind of race that sets the table for what’s next. Proud of the work and the way she keeps leveling up🔥

Morgan just delivered a huge breakthrough at the inaugural Durham Garmin Half Marathon, running a 2:12:52 PR. What makes this performance so meaningful is everything that led up to it. Over the past several weeks, she battled multiple setbacks.

Going into race day, the goal was simply to run easy, enjoy the experience, and not worry about pace.

She stayed patient, adjusted her strategy early, and focused on running her own race instead of getting caught up in what others were doing. She settled into her intervals, stayed controlled, and let the race come to her. The result was 13.1 miles at a 10:05 pace and a new personal best, something she didn’t even realize until after she finished.

This is a perfect example of what happens when you trust your training and stay consistent, even when things are not perfect. More importantly, she finished strong and pain free. A huge milestone and a very well earned result.

Huge congratulations to Emma on a fantastic runDisney Springtime Surprise weekend.

She started with a relaxed 5k, came back strong with a new 10k PR, and then finished the challenge with a fun 10 miler where she stopped for photos and still felt strong the whole way.

This was such a great bounce back after a frustrating 10k last month, and I’m so proud of how she handled the entire weekend. Smart pacing, strong fitness, no shin drama, and a whole lot of confidence gained.

Way to go, Emma. What a great way to close out the runDisney season.

Our resident runDisney Queen was back at it again this weekend at the Disney 10k, and as always, she showed up in style. Annika’s costumes are always a highlight, but what stands out even more is her consistency and love for the sport.

She continues to show that running can be both fun and meaningful, and she brings that energy to every race she does.

So proud of you, Annika. Another great race weekend! ✨

I am so proud of Bob after an incredible Boston to London double!

Last Monday, he ran the Boston Marathon in 4:39:07 on one of the toughest and most historic marathon courses in the world. 6 days later, he ran the London Marathon in 4:40:36 on a hot, crowded day where the narrow streets made it hard to find rhythm and forced constant braking, zigzagging, and adjusting.

What stands out to me most is how well he managed the day. After dealing with cramping late in Boston, he came into London with a smarter electrolyte plan, adjusted during the race, stayed on top of his nutrition, had zero cramps, and finished strong. That is exactly what experienced athletes do. They learn, adjust, and execute.

This was never just about the clock. This was about getting to both start lines healthy, running smart, finishing strong, and collecting two World Marathon Major medals in six days. Bob did all of that, and he should be incredibly proud.

Boston and London in one week. Around 4:40 for both. Strong, smart, and steady all the way through.