MEET YOUR COACH

Running has been a part of my life for more than 30 years. Today, I help runners train smarter, build consistency, and run with confidence.

MEET THE FOUNDER & CEO

Hey, I'm Kayla!

Running has been a part of my life for more than 30 years.

I started as a sprinter and later transitioned into distance running, learning firsthand what it takes to build endurance, stay consistent, and train with purpose.

Today, I coach runners who want to train smarter, build confidence, and stay consistent in their training.

I believe running should challenge you, but it should also be something you enjoy and can sustain long-term.

My Running Journey

I’ve been active and competitive for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was always outside playing sports with my brothers, football, baseball, soccer, hockey, and basketball.

Basketball quickly became my favorite. I started playing organized basketball in 5th grade and continued through middle school, high school, and my freshman year of college.

I didn’t start running track until my junior year of high school. Some of my friends were doing it, and I decided to give it a try. I had always been fast, but I had never considered myself a track athlete.

It turned out to be a natural fit. My senior year, my relay team made it to the state tournament, and that experience solidified my love for competition.

After transferring to Butler University for my sophomore year, I focused on track and field, competing in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and the 4x400m relay.

After college, I transitioned into distance running and began exploring road races. That shift introduced a completely different approach to training, one that I didn’t fully understand at the time.

Learning the Right Way to Train

When I first started distance running, I approached it the same way many runners do. I pushed too hard, ran too fast, and didn’t fully understand how to build endurance the right way.

Eventually, that approach led to injuries, including a stress fracture.

That experience forced me to slow down and rethink how I trained. I began learning how to build mileage gradually, balance effort levels, and train in a way that supports long-term progress instead of burnout.

Those lessons completely changed how I approach running, and they are the foundation of how I coach today.

Movement Is My Ministry

After one of my injuries, a friend said something to me that completely changed the way I see running.

She told me, “Movement is your ministry.”

I’ve always believed that the gifts we have come from God, but I had never thought about running as a way to serve others.

That moment shifted my perspective.

Running the Race Coaching was built on the belief that running can be more than just workouts or race results. It can be a way to encourage people, help them grow, and remind them of what they’re capable of.

My business name, Running the Race, is inspired by the verse Hebrews 12:1, which reminds us to run the race set before us with perseverance.