A few years ago, Alexis came to me with a clear goal: keep running without getting sidelined by injury. As a seasoned runner and triathlete, she didn’t want to spend hours in the gym, she just wanted to get stronger in a way that supported her sport. Our mission was to build strength without stealing time or energy from her miles.
We started with in-person personal training. Right away, I noticed that Alexis had a bit of joint hypermobility, which can be a common trait among distance athletes, and can contribute to instability and injury if not addressed. So we took a smart, strategic approach by focusing on full-body stability, followed by strength work that complemented her running. We dialed in exercises that felt good in her body and supported her goals, like dumbbell RDLs, which quickly became her favorite. (She even maxed out the weights she had at home! This is a strength athlete’s badge of honor!) She follows a program that we adjust to fit with her travel schedule. She even recently got to go on a cruise and trained through that trip!
Over the past three years, Alexis has hit PRs, crushed race goals, and (perhaps most impressively) stayed injury-free. Her movement quality has improved, she’s become incredibly consistent, and we’ve collaborated closely to schedule deloads and adjust her training for peak performance during big events. She recently set a course PR at her last race!
These days, Alexis follows a remote program, and let me tell you, she’s a model client. She communicates clearly, fills out her weekly check-in forms (yes, every week. Take notes, folks), and trusts the process. Remote coaching works best when it’s a partnership, and Alexis has absolutely nailed it. She was able to hit a full push-up a while ago, and was really proud of her progress there.
Her story is a perfect example of how strength training can support endurance athletes by preventing injury, enhancing performance, confidence, and longevity in the sport. While we’re best known as a strength gym, we work with athletes in other sports and can help anyone from runners to disc golfers to build strength that supports your main sport.
