My name is David Herbst and I have been training with Coach Michelle since January 2023. I joined The Runners Den clinic with the intentions of bettering my marathon time (3:59) and improving my overall running abilities.

I realized after my first training block that I was looking for more personalized training rather than group work. After having a conversation with Michelle we were able to come up with a personalized plan for me to train for the Niagara Marathon.

Michelle's ability to work with me and create workouts that pushed my limits while ensuring that I remained injury free was incredible. Her communication has been great, providing weekly training plans through email and replying to messages throughout the week.

I would suggest Coach Michelle to a wide range of runners. From those just getting started to people looking to better their personal bests. I was able to bring my marathon time down from 3:59 to 3:18 this year and am excited to see where training with Michelle takes me in 2024!

Michelle has always been a great coach and someone in my corner. I can always go to her for running advice and to celebrate my accomplishments. I knew that going into the Chicago Marathon, I needed a more individualized program to achieve my goal of going sub-4 hours. I knew right away she was the right coach to reach that goal!

We started the plan with a one-on-one meeting to discuss my goal and what our approach would be. Having known my running style, she thought that it would be best if we focused on my speed work, a strength of mine, which would translate to faster times at longer distances. She also tailored my weekend long runs with longer distances in mind since I was going into this training block with a solid base. Once the program started, she would send me weekly emails with my workouts/long runs and the paces that she knew I could do for those individual runs. We were in constant communication throughout the training cycle and we would discuss my fitness levels, any injuries or fatigue, etc. She was incredibly flexible to tailor my program to my needs at that time.

Going into Chicago, I felt incredibly prepared both physically and mentally. I put in all the work and knew I had no doubts going into the race. I felt great throughout the entire race, the best I’ve felt in any of my races, and was able to click into another gear at 35-42 km since I had been doing multiple 35 km runs. In the end, I achieved my goal of sub-4 hours (3:59:42).

I can’t thank Michelle enough for her hard work, dedication, and flexibility. I would recommend Michelle to anyone who has a running goal and would like to achieve it in their next race. She helped me reach my ultimate goal that I have been wanting since I started running.

Last year, I made the commitment to run my first half marathon and decided to join the Runners Den group clinic under the guidance of Coach Michelle. In just a few weeks, my confidence as a runner soared, my times improved, and my runs felt noticeably easier. The fall of 2023 when I completed my first half marathon in 1:50.33. Fueled by the exhilaration of that achievement, I eagerly signed up for another Half Marathon in the spring and the challenging Around the Bay 30k. Simultaneously, I entered the lottery for the Chicago Marathon – and to my excitement, I got in.

Returning to the group clinic in the winter, under Michelle's coaching and encouragement, I achieved a remarkable 7-minute personal best in my half marathon, clocking in at 1:43.31 during the Chilly Half marathon. Shortly after, I conquered my first Around the Bay race.

As I embarked on Marathon training, recognizing the need for more personalized guidance, I turned to Michelle for one-on-one coaching. She crafted a plan tailored to my current abilities and marathon goals, helping me stay on track and adjusting the plan when necessary. Chicago Marathon day arrived, and the results exceeded my expectations. I felt strong throughout the race, adhered to our pacing strategy for a negative split, and finished with a time of 3:40.33.

I cannot express enough gratitude for Michelle's coaching over the past year. Her expertise, encouragement, and personalized approach have been instrumental in my running journey. I wholeheartedly recommend Michelle to anyone seeking a dedicated and effective running coach!