Book Private Strength-and-speed Lessons with Coach Katie

I am a former Division I track & field and cross country athlete with five years of collegiate competition at the University of Central Florida, where I also served as a team captain and earned All-Conference honors. After completing my Master’s degree in Kinesiology, I began coaching middle and high school athletes, helping them achieve personal records, podium finishes, and state championship performances. My coaching approach is rooted in biomechanics, injury prevention, and sports psychology, allowing me to create individualized plans that support safe and sustainable athletic growth.

As a coach and mentor, I am passionate about developing the whole athlete physically, mentally, and academically. My experience as a true student-athlete taught me the importance of balance, discipline, and strong time management, and I work to instill those qualities in every athlete I coach. I focus on building confidence, consistency, and healthy long-term habits that support success both on and off the track.

Outside of coaching and training, I still love to run and stay active. When I’m not working with athletes, you can usually find me outdoors, fishing, exploring new places, or spending time with my golden retriever, who is always ready for a walk, adventure, or beach day. I’m committed to helping young athletes reach their full potential while enjoying the journey along the way.

I can improve your game by bringing my experience as a former 800m runner, a unique event that blends both speed and endurance, into your training. Because I’ve competed at a high level in an event that demands power, strategy, pacing, and strength, I understand how to develop athletes who need both explosive speed and aerobic capacity.

For younger athletes, I take a development-first approach that focuses on proper mechanics, low mileage, and smart cross-training to protect growing bodies and reduce injury risk. I believe in building a strong foundation through technique, mobility, functional strength, and efficient movement patterns before increasing training volume. This helps athletes improve safely while still seeing consistent progress and gaining confidence.

My coaching style is personalized and supportive. Whether your goal is to get faster, improve conditioning, hit PRs, or prepare for future collegiate opportunities, I create a balanced training plan that fits your age, experience, and long-term development. My goal is to help you train smarter, not just harder, so you can stay healthy, improve steadily, and enjoy the sport for years to come.

Training sessions with me are customized to your goals, your event, and your stage of development. Because every athlete is different, no two sessions will look exactly the same. We’ll start by identifying your strengths, areas for improvement, and long-term goals, then build a structured plan that supports steady progress throughout the season. Whether you’re preparing for your first meet or aiming to peak at championships, your sessions will follow a purposeful progression so you’re performing your best at the right time.

A typical session may include warm-ups designed to activate key muscle groups, mobility work, running mechanics and form drills, interval training, speed development, pacing strategies, and a strength or conditioning component. For younger athletes, I prioritize low mileage with smart cross-training to build strength safely while reducing injury risk. For competitive runners, sessions will become more event-specific with targeted speed, endurance, and race-plan development as we move closer to your key competitions.

Looking to build strength and speed? We’ll incorporate explosive drills, functional strength work, acceleration mechanics, and targeted speed intervals that help improve power, form, and overall performance. Looking to improve endurance or pacing? We’ll focus on aerobic development, race strategy, tempo work, and efficiency. No matter what your goals are, every session is intentional, supportive, and designed to help you become a stronger, faster, more confident athlete over time.

The best coach I’ve ever had is Cody Schovitz. I actually found him online when I realized I needed more personalized coaching than my school could offer. From the start, he completely changed the way I trained. He taught me the basics, the strategy, the mindset, honestly everything I know about the sport started with him.

What made Cody different was how invested he was. He didn’t just show up for a workout and leave. He paid attention, listened, and pushed me when I needed it, but also knew when to back off. He motivated me in a way that felt real and supportive, and he helped me grow both as an athlete and a person.

Over time, Cody became more than a coach. He became a mentor, someone I trusted, and eventually someone who feels like part of my family. We’re still close to this day, and his influence is a big reason why I care so much about being the kind of coach who makes a real impact on athletes’ lives.

My coaching is fully individualized. Every training plan is customized to each athlete’s age, experience level, goals, and personality. No two athletes are the same, and I never believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. Whether your child is brand new to the sport or already highly competitive, my priority is to support their passion, not dull it. I want every athlete to love the process and feel excited to grow, not overwhelmed or pushed beyond what’s healthy.

I value open, honest communication and believe it’s the key to understanding when to push an athlete and when to pull back. Not every practice or competition will go perfectly, and that’s normal. I teach athletes how to adjust, learn, and stay mentally strong through both good days and tough days. My coaching style is flexible and adapts to what each athlete needs in the moment, whether that’s motivation, technical correction, rest, or encouragement.

Above all, I am committed to helping athletes develop safely, confidently, and sustainably, both physically and mentally. My goal is to meet them where they are and guide them forward in a way that keeps their passion alive and builds long-term success.