Duluth Runner Coaching
Philosophy
We specialize in coaching working parents and other busy people. As full-time career people with families of our own, we understand the intricacies of logging miles amidst life…being flexible is key (hence our own late-night long-run routine together)!
Our training philosophy is based on being committed to your long-term health and happiness. If everything is going well, the training process should enhance your joy for running and life in general at the same time. We believe that personalized programs unlock potential in such a way that everyone can improve.
Our plans are process oriented, and we believe you should enjoy that process – you’re allowed to have fun along the way!
Approach
While we believe long-term relationships are the most beneficial for all involved, there are no long-term commitments and you can cancel/pause anytime.
We take pride in creating a different plan for each person (truly individual plans!) and focus on 1-2 weeks at a time (no four month schedules here). This approach involves a much better feedback loop for custom training going forward based on your most recent week of running.
What You Get
Two Coaches! Both of us will be providing feedback and offering support – with a combined 60+ years of running experience!
We will use Final Surge as the primary platform for communication, including: planning purposes, daily workouts, data recording, and post-run recaps. Final Surge highlights:
- Free for you
- Phone app available for both iOS and Android
- Automatic sync with Garmin Connect and Strava
- Automatic alerts and/or emails when coach or athlete comments
Pricing
Full coaching services with regular feedback and plan development (including recommended strength/maintenance exercises and a foam rolling routine to keep injuries at bay), along with scheduled check-in phone or video calls (as desired) to discuss progress/answer any questions, and unlimited text/email communication — $150/month
Recurring monthly payments are made via Venmo
Testimonials
“There are plenty of reasons to work with a coach, but one I didn’t think about is the one that I appreciate most about working with Duluth Runner Coaching. I wanted to get faster and stronger, of course. And I wanted guardrails, to keep me focused and moving toward a goal. Kyle’s wisdom and experience has made it possible for me to arrive better prepared, with less trial and error. But that’s just the start.
What I’ve come to appreciate most about working with Kyle is his process of collaboration. It’s not just that I have someone in my corner, cheering me on—although that’s a great perk. It’s that I have someone in my corner who cares about my running life as much as I do. Kyle excels at co-creating goals, and he revisits training plans on an ongoing basis, which makes a big difference at times when life stress piles on. Kyle is an athlete/dad/all-around hard-working guy, and the joy he brings to everything he does makes it clear that it’s as important to have fun as it is to go fast. What I’ve found is that when Kyle’s in your corner, it’s impossible not to have a good time.” — Mark G – Duluth, MN
“Highly recommend! I have been working with Duluth Runner Coaching now for about 3 years. I have noticed significant gains in my overall fitness and times with the help of their personalized training program. I am very excited to see what this coming year of running races will bring for me. I am hopeful for several PR’s in the process!
I appreciate how they customize my workouts weekly with close communication on a regular basis. They provide the perfect structure for a training plan that fits well into my life, work, and family life while still achieving my individual goals. They are very knowledgeable about training and also provide excellent game plans for race days. Best decision I could have made to help get me to my personal goals! I would highly recommend to anyone!” — Eddie B – Two Harbors, MN
“Working with Duluth Runner Coaching has been an absolute game changer for me. Thanks to the “run by feel” approach, the structure, the one-on-one coaching, and overall running philosophy, I’ve had a blast following a training plan for the first time in my life! Within the first month of working with Kyle, I felt noticeably stronger and was recovering better and faster in-between runs.
The personalized training plan is easy to follow and has helped me exceed my own personal expectations. Kyle is approachable and has always graciously answered any questions I’ve had. I always saw myself as “too-average” of a runner to have a coach, but with the success and pure joy I’ve experienced working with Duluth Runner Coaching, I couldn’t give a higher recommendation!” — Kala P – Duluth, MN
Interested?
If you are interested in taking the next step in your running journey, please fill out the quick form below to get in touch with us. Provide several details about yourself, including a note about why you would like to hire a running coach at this time. Thanks!
Meet the Coaches
Kyle Schmidt – Passionate about being active and getting outdoors, Kyle has been training year-round in Duluth, MN for the past 12 years since hanging up the skates – see the About page for more info.
Greg Hexum – Greg has been a Duluth Area runner for most of the past 40 years. His current passion is for long, technical trail runs and races, but he’s trained for and competed in endurance races on every imaginable surface. Greg was an All-State cross country and track & field athlete, an NCAA Cross Country All-American, and a two-time USSSA National Snowshoe Racing Champion and World Masters Snowshoe Champion. At 53, he’s moving slower each year, but he’s learning to age gracefully, savoring each step of his runs.
