Testimonials
Our number one priority with coaching all of our athletes is offering wholehearted support and professional guidance, applying our knowledge of and passion for the science of training and racing to each individual’s goals and needs. We believe that we perform our best when we are healthy and happy, and work hard to get to know each person we coach. This enables us to create training plans and paths to success that suit their lifestyles, challenge them to grow and also encourage them to seek and discover a deeper sense of fulfillment they might not have known was possible throughout the process. Personal run coaching is about running and so much more, just like the sport itself!
Read below to hear from some of our athletes about what it’s like to work with us and how being part of Team Pace of Me has helped them achieve their goals and grow as runners and people!!
“I came to Coach Jess as an experienced runner who knew I could do more but wasn’t sure how to approach my improvement. Coach Jess took the time to learn who I was as a runner and how I approached training. Through her guidance I have become a better distance runner and dramatically improved my times in just a few months. So excited to see what 2020 brings!”
– Paul L.
Jess has an incredible ability to connect with her runners beyond just their running goals. She’s supportive, understanding, and flexible while still challenging you to build your fitness. She focuses on the whole athlete beyond the physical aspects and helps build the inner strength and motivation in her athletes. She is an amazing coach and friend.
– Brenna L.
Steph is the perfect balance of friend and coach! She has improved more than just my running. My nutrition and my mental game are leaps and bounds ahead of where they used to be! Through working with her, I have learned how to fuel, run slower to run faster, and believe in myself. From a 5k or to Boylston St., Steph can get you there! I’m grateful for our friendship and shared love of running! I look forward to continuing to grow as her athlete and friend!
– Kim K.
"I started working with Steph when I was cleared to workout postpartum. I had 2 babies in under 2 years and was excited to finally chase some big running goals. However I quickly found out that it was easier said than done. There were sleepless newborn nights and early morning toddler wakeups that cancelled my runs. Oh and debilitating postpartum anxiety. Steph just “got it”. She helped me rearrange my workouts and scale back on mileage while I worked through new motherhood. And yet. She very gently encouraged me to set tangible goals to lace up more consistently and gradually added mileage. It’s been six months working with Steph and I’m running faster and more consistently as a 35 year old mama than I did in my 20s. She knows her stuff, sets the “just right” challenge, is responsive and so incredibly upbeat and encouraging. I can’t wait to see where we can go from here!" — Shannon B
– Shannon B.
Coach Jess is not only an expert in her field , she is an amazing inspiration and the most supportive coach a runner could ask for !! She has helped me continue running smart and with gratitude as I age . She has even coached me to new PRs in the half and full marathons along the way. Simply magic!! I 
POM .
– BETH M.
“As much as I want to gatekeep working with Stephanie, this girl deserves all the praise in the world. Working with her is like working with the best running friend you’ll ever have– she’ll challenge you as a coach but hype you up like a teammate. She is a pro at navigating postpartum life and respects the recovery process while getting fundamentally strong to chase big goals. Steph completely understands that life happens (as a busy mom herself) and fits training into your lifestyle. The girl also delivers results– she coached me to take over 45 minutes off my marathon time in just 2 marathon cycles!”
-Shannon B.
My entire life I have been involved in sports, relying on the guidance and support from coaches. Historically my favorite coaches were the ones who really believed in the craft, who put in the work, and really understood what it meant to be an athlete. They brought personal experience because they had been there, in the trenches, thriving through the grind of intense training. They encouraged with a kind heart and spirit, and they believed in me, oftentimes more than I believed in myself. I had found myself, a few years out of my collegiate running days, without a team and without a coach. I was just running with my heart and soul, but without the cheers of encouragement from a fellow runner or coach, and I really missed that. That’s when I began considering enlisting the help of a personal coach. I was ready to tackle a few more goals; achieve race times that I knew I was fully capable of because the data, the science and my experience as a life-long runner indicated that my dreams and goals were absolutely realistic. Before I started working with Jess, I was feeling a little lost in my running. I had already achieved big goals like qualifying for Boston and running a sub 3:30 marathon. I knew what I needed to break that 3:20 marathon barrier and that sub 1:30 half marathon was someone to challenge me with scary speed workouts, someone to hold me accountable to a training plan, and someone to listen to me when I had concerns. Someone who understood that life sometimes gets in the way of our ultimate goals, and that’s okay. I needed a coach that was excited for me when I achieved my dreams and also empathized and encouraged me when I didn’t quite hit my goal. I wanted someone who truly cared about me as a person first and a runner second. Under Jess’ guidance, I was able to find my roar; I achieved those big lofty goals like a 3:18 marathon and a 1:29 half marathon. I broke the 20:00 barrier in the 5K more than once. And I did it all with a smile on my face, and a gratitude in my heart. If you are looking for a coach that will encourage you, challenge you, and most importantly, be your biggest cheerleader, then Jess is the coach for you!
– Molly S.
– Mary J.
Coach Michelle is the perfect balance of encouragement and accountability – after many years off of consistent training, she helped me train for my first half marathon that resulted in a PB of ~15 mins! She was more than accommodating of how life gets in the way of planning and I appreciated how encouraging and understanding she is too. I would happily recommend her to anyone who is considering coaching as I think both her thoughtfulness in planning workouts as well as ability to engage with any questions I had (Zone 2, anyone??) was more than worth it. Beyond the PB, I always felt like Coach Michelle and the Pace of Me Community was very supportive and that’s important to me as an athlete.
– tushar k.
"My running has improved immensely since I started working with Coach Jess in spring 2022. She is the most supportive, inspiring, and amazing coach!! I love Team POM because everyone is so positive and encouraging, and we are all rooting for each other!! 💜"
– vanessa v.
