Wilson Komen Rocks Division in DC Half Marathon

Coach Komen finished first in the 45-49 male division in last Saturday's DC Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon. He finished in 1:19:07. This was Wilson's first race of 2023 and the first half marathon race that he has run in several years.

Congratulations to all of the runners.

Up next for Coach Kiprunning: the 2023 Cherry Blossom Ten Miler.

Year-End Record Roundup

As we close out 2022, Coach Kiprunning wishes a hearty congratulations and thanks to all of our runners.

From Coach Komen:

Dear Runners, It is my privilege to have accompanied you on the journey we have taken together as you have successfully achieved your training and racing goals. Thank you again for choosing Coach Kiprunning. You have demonstrated hard work, discipline, and commitment throughout your training. I wish you all the best for a prosperous 2023, and I am looking forward to working with you again soon. 

Here is a rundown of significant Coach Kiprunning records from the past year.

• L’kel: after five months of one-on-one coaching, she set a new marathon PR at 4:31:53 in the 2022 New York City Marathon, bettering her previous marathon time by 53 minutes.
• James: in preparation for the Richmond Half Marathon, James worked with Coach Wilson for an intense month of one-on-one coaching. James's previous half marathon time was 2:05. This year, he shaved 30 minutes off of his PR, setting a new record at 1:36:26.
• Sarah: over the past year, Sarah has been training according to a series of customized training plans designed by Coach Komen. This past September, she set a new PR at the New haven Half Marathon, finishing in 1:55:58, which marked a 5-mminute improvement on her prior best time.
• Tom: Tom's goal was to train with Coach Wilson to complete his first marathon. After six months of individualized coaching, Tom ran a time of 3:30:28 in the 2022 Chasing the Unicorn Marathon.  
• Salvatore: after receiving an installment of one-on-one coaching as a gift from his wife, Salvatore set his sights on running a new half marathon PR in the 2022 DC Half marathon. Salvatore achieved this goal, finishing in 1:24:19, a nearly ten-minute improvement from his previous PR at 1:33:20.
• Sebastian: Sebastian broke the Three-Hour Barrier in this year's Chicago Marathon. He finished in with a new PR of 2:55 after three months of training with Coach Wilson.
• Kenny: in preparation for his marathon debut at the 2022 Philadelphia Marathon, Kenny worked individually with Coach Komen. Ultimately, he ran a finishing time of 4:03:23.
• Jed: an experienced trail runner and hiker, Jed came to Coach Kiprunning for one-on-one coaching. In June 2022, he completed a 40-mile hike in Maryland, setting a new PR in the process.

Coach Kiprunning Testimonial: L'kel

L'kel set a new marathon PR at the 2022 New York City Marathon, and she also set a new PR at the half marathon distance. Here is her training testimonial.

Running has always been an outlet for me. And although I had run races that included several half marathons and one full marathon on my own, because of my difficult experience with the full marathon, I was pretty convinced that I was going to only run one more marathon in my life: the NYC marathon. My plans were to run this one last marathon and to give it my best shot by working with a coach. I learned about Coach Komen through my running network, as he had a positive reputation amongst DMV runners. After an introduction call with Coach Komen, I decided to move forward with the Coach Kiprunning in-person training program.

What I appreciated most about Coach Komen's training method is that it was tailored for my lifestyle. For example, if I had to travel or if I dealt with injuries, instead of the program remaining rigidly the same, Coach Komen adjusted the plan to work for me, and by doing so, I still kept on track to meet my goals. Additionally, Coach Komen's plan not only provided me with accountability, something that makes a world of difference during marathon training, but it also provided me with a gradual mileage increase that eased my body and mind into longer distances in a thoughtful and manageable manner, reducing the risk of unnecessary injuries. Furthermore, Coach Komen was easy to talk to, allowing for a trust-based, judgment-free rapport that is necessary for a transparent coach-athlete connection.

For example, I could mention various self-doubts or insecurities that inevitably arose over the 5.5 months of us training and working together. Rather than ridicule me, he normalized the experience and dispelled my concerns in a genuine manner. Although the NYC marathon occurred on November 6, 2022, it was a historically hot day—high of 76 degrees and over 70% humidity. Despite this, I felt confident that I was going to have a great race because I had Coach Komen's training and race day strategy that I needed to adjust accordingly. Though the race was tough, I accomplished a 53 minute personal best and walked away from the race wanting to run another! I have Coach Komen to thank for helping me to love the process of training and for being an absolutely wonderful coach who prioritizes runners' health first and foremost.

Coach Komen knows the science of running, and I would recommend him time and time again to any runner who is seeking to unlock their full running potential.

Thank you, Coach Komen!

(See a complete list of trainee testimonials for Wilson Komen.)

Kipresults: 2022 Richmond Half Marathon

It's been a busy fall season for Coach Kiprunning.

This week, we congratulate James for setting a new PR in the 2022 Richmond Half Marathon.

James improved his previous half marathon PR by quite a lot, bringing it from 2:05 to 1:36:26. He was a Coach Kiprunning trainee for one month prior to the race.

Congratulations to James and to all of the race finishers.

Kipresults: 2022 New York City Marathon

Congratulations to L'kel for setting a new marathon PR in this past Sunday's New York City Marathon.

L'kel holding a well deserved finisher medal 

Despite the warm weather, L'kel improved her marathon time by 53 minutes, setting a new PR at 4:31:53.

L'kel trained with Coach Komen for five months prior to race day.

Congratulations to L'kel and all of the finishers.

Coach Kiprunning Testimonial: Tom

Tom recently ran in the 2022 Chasing the Unicorn Marathon, finishing in 3:30:28 for his first marathon finish. Here is his training testimonial.

I connected with Coach Wilson after suffering several overuse injuries when training on my own. He helped me recover from an injury and then skillfully brought my mileage up over time to a point that I didn’t think was possible when I was training on my own. Our work together culminated with a successful first marathon, and I am looking forward to working with him again next season to run an even better marathon time.

(See a complete list of trainee testimonials for Wilson Komen.)

2022 DC Half Marathon: Congratulations Kiprunners

Sunday's racing dual was a success! L'kel and Salvatore each set new PRs at the half marathon distance. L'kel finished in 1:59:34, shaving about five minutes off of her previous 2:04 record, and Salvatore came in at 1:24:19, down from his previous PR of 1:33:20.

Congratulations to all of the runners. Confetti for everyone!