Chris Clark – Baltimore Running Coach
From: $160.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
50% off your 1st month! You don’t hire a coach because you can’t figure it out yourself. You hire a coach so it doesn’t take injury and months or years to figure it out. I have an MS in Exercise Science and have been coaching runners of all levels for over 15 years. Wherever you are at, I can help you take the next step!
Description
Baltimore running coach Chris Clark has over 15 years of coaching experience in addition to many more training and racing himself as a professional runner. He has experience working with a wide range of athletes. Chris coaches brand new adult runners all the way through D1 scholarship HS and college athletes. Whether its your first 5k, half marathon, full marathon, or your next time at the state championships, Chris has you covered!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching ***
Coupon Codes: 50%clarkrunonly for the Run only package
OR 50%clarkstrength for Run + Strength
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Track
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: New Market, MD
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, Online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
I have coached a huge range of athletes and ages. Wherever you are at, I got you.
- Every year I have HS State champions and D1 full ride athletes all the way to first time marathoners in their 60s.
- 5k – Athletes running 15:11 all the way to 40 minutes +
- Marathon – Athletes taking aim at the Olympic Trials Standard (2:18) all the way to 6 hour first timers.
I work with over 100 athletes per year remotely and in person on dramatically improving their fitness in the 800 all the way through the marathon. This includes new runners, adults, and school aged athletes from 12-22 years old. Last year I helped 5 athletes earn Division 1 scholarships for XC and Track, 1 HS state champion, and also 3 first time marathoners have a great experience at their first marathon! I have coached many adults who dropped over 15 minutes off their best marathon time in their 30s or 40s when their previous PR was in their 20s.
PHILOSOPHY
Training hard should add to your life, not take away from it. My coaching style is science informed, but human driven. We identify the longest levers to pull and then create an organic training plan that fits your lifestyle. Some athletes I train do their long run every Sunday. Others, it it changes every 10-14 days. We use science and your own training data to make decisions. We train hard when it makes sense and never force anything. Most people need to run more, hit the right energy systems at the right time, and add in sprints, plyometrics, and strength training that support their running and health.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I am a former NCAA All-American and professional Track Athlete who works with athletes of every age at every distance from the 800m to the marathon. I have been coaching for over 15 years and work with over 100 athletes every year both remotely and in person. I coached a high school team for 6 years which included 2 state runner up team finishes in XC and multiple team county and regional titles in Track.
ABOUT ME
I was a college All-American, have an MS in Exercise Science and a BS in Secondary Education Biology. I’ve been coaching for over 15 years. I still train very hard, but it is a mix of running, cycling, and lifting. My wife and I live outside of Frederick Maryland with our 5 year old daughter Zoe (she demanded I let her start running this year which has been so much fun) and our 1 year old son Matteo. I’m a high school Biology and Forensics Teacher at Atholton High School in Howard County MD. I speak at running camps all over the east coast and work with high schools and high school coaches as a consultant to help them grow and improve their programs.
BIG INFLUENCES
I have a Masters Degree in Exercise Science and have been blessed with several incredible mentors. I ran under Coach Caulfield in College and my first year as a professional. He ran and Coached under Joe Vigil and Damon Martin at Adams State. Those 2 coaches have produced a staggering number of world medalists from the 800m all the way through the Marathon. I have trained in post collegiate groups in Colorado as well as ZAP Fitness in North Carolina which at the time was a Reebok sponsored group. I believe in making progress by training smarter, training more, and doing hard workouts on days that set you up to be successful, not days that were randomly assigned in the calendar.
RACING HISTORY
- 2012 USA Olympic Marathon Trials
- 2011 USA 20k Road Championships
- 2010 USA Half Marathon Championships
- 2009 Indoor USA Track Championships (3,000m)
- 2008 Indoor USA Track Championships (3,000m)
- Pro Athlete for Puma/NYAC and then Zap Fitness/Reebok from 2009 – 2012
- College Athlete from 2004-2009
CERTIFICATIONS
Though I never stop learning and studying, I’ve been coaching so long I stopped renewing certifications years ago. The improvements and relationships with my athletes are my most valued certifications 🙂
PRs
- Marathon – 2:30:10
- Half Marathon – 1:04
- 10k – 28:41
- 5k – 13:51
- 3k – 7:58
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- 5x NCAA All-American Division II
- 10th place at the USA 20k Road Championship in 2011
- 2x Indoor USA Championship Qualifier in the 3,000m
- 2012 Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifier
- California University of PA Athletics Hall of Fame
- 2009 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Sportmanship Award Winner for helping pace an rival athlete to breaking his college school record in the 10,000m at our conference championship race.
CONTACT CHRIS
Finding a coach who is a great fit for you is really important. We encourage you to email your coach prior to signing up so you can connect, communicate, and ensure a good athlete/coach fit.
SOCIAL
Anna Curren –
This is my second training cycle with Chris. I met Chris by chance and was immediately impressed by his knowledge (and let’s be real, his athleticism). I’ve been a runner for several years- ran cross country in high-school, and got into distance running for fun in college. I competed in countless half marathons, and am currently training for my 8th marathon with Chris. I ran my 7th marathon last year and Chris helped me PR. I honestly thought this was out of the cards for me as a 37 year old woman with 3 little kids. His training plans are reasonable- the workouts are straight forward and also challenging. He is super knowledgeable and has helped me stay motivated and accountable. I totally recommend Chris to both experienced runners, or new runners alike. He’s awesome!!!!
Kristen English –
Wow, I am in awe of Chris. I am a 37 year old woman/parent/teacher who just started running a year ago. I am super passionate about the sport because of how it has changed my life and I need someone with a similar level of passion and a lot of knowledge. I also love nerding out on the data that running provides. Chris is all of that. He loves the numbers, understands the science behind running, and recognizes its power as a life altering endeavor. His plans were challenging, but not unreasonable, and in a short amount of time I was seeing improvements in pace, strength, and endurance. I appreciate his real-life approach, his understanding, and his encouragement. I’m glad I was able to connect with him.
Jonathan Brown –
Coach Chris has been amazing. He truly has helped Ian. Ian has qualified for state after working his butt off. Chris has put Ian in a place to succeed. We can’t thank him enough
Brian Blake –
The internet will not help you run faster, longer or injury free. Coach Chris will. I am a 46 year old office worker. IlI started running for fitness and started training for a half marathon. I trained hard but quickly developed injuries and little progress. I connected with Chris and we discussed my goals and lifestyle. He tailored a training program that flt the training into my daily schedule. His method included a lot of variety in the workouts to keep them interesting and challenging. And they get uploaded via an app so it was super easy to look at what I was doing for training and plan ahead. I love not having to make a decision-I follow the program and ask questions whenever needed-always a quick and helpful response. I’ve never been a runner before, but I am heading into my half marathon running faster and longer than I thought possible and my body feels great. I highly recommend Chris if you are serious about improving as a runner in a healthy way.
Jonathan Ganther –
I am new to running, I’ve always been fit and done some running here and there but nothing like I do now. I’ve had Chris as my coach for a little over 2 months. I’ve already ran a half marathon, registered for a full marathon, run 16 miles, reduced my mile pace by 2 and half minutes. All while leaning out and continuing to look strong. Chris also is not just a coach, but someone you can relate to as a friend. Thanks again my guy
Shawn Wilson –
I am 51 years old and started running about 5 years ago. I have seen decent progress over the years but along with it has come my fair share of injuries. This winter I decided to seek help and found Coach Clark. He took the time to go over my progress, current routine, work schedule, concerns and goals. Coach Clark backed me off my mileage (initially) and built a running, conditioning and mobility routine to help get me past my calf injuries. The past 3 months have been a strategic, steady build with plenty of rest and strength training. I am proud to say that I am injury free and running better than I have since my 20’s. I have a long way to go but the progress so far has been crazy. I look forward to crushing some 10k’s and halves this year. I was about to quit running before I found Coach Clark. The constant injury cycle kept me at the same level for years and I was beyond frustrated. With Coach’s help, those thoughts are long gone. I am a work in progress but I know I am in good hands. My one regret is that I did not seek this kind of help years ago. I 100% recommend him to anyone who wants to take their running to the next level.
Jessica Pencil –
Coach Chris has been working with my son for three years. In that time, I have seen my son’s passion for running and his desire to grow as a runner explode! Chris has been a true mentor by encouraging, guiding, and supporting my son. He has taken the time to teach my son about not only the sport, but also the reasoning behind the programming he builds. After a competitive event, my son looks forward to sharing his results with Chris as he knows he will receive a response that will be encouraging, uplifting, and beneficial to his progress. Working with Coach Chris has been invaluable for my son and I would recommend him to anyone looking for an individualized experience.
Jennifer Baker –
As a parent of a runner the best decision I made was working with Coach Clark. My son not only has went from finishing last place at regionals his freshman year to finishing 12th in the regional his sophomore year. It is amazing to work with a coach who puts his athletes best interest into consideration. He communicates his expectations, but also listens to the athlete’s concerns. He is quick to respond to questions and works with our schedule to schedule in person trainings. My son has full trust in his coach! I recommend Coach Clark to anyone interested in improving your running skills.
Ayden Semashko –
Just recently started with Coach Clark. He had taught me so much already. Even after just one session, some of what he has taught me has already brought me to see some improvements. I’m feeling no pain when I run anymore which is why I wanted someone like him in the first place. After two stress fractures, I think I finally found someone who knows enough to keep me from doing that again. I highly recommend him for anyone trying to improve their running.
Jazil Khalid –
In about 6 months, coach Clark took me from 2:06 in the 800 to 1:58. He writes great workouts, and there is thought put into all of the training. Not only does he provide additional support to his athletes via in person training sessions, but he also attends many of our races. Excellent coach overall
Janet Riffe –
Coach Clark was recommended to my daughter by her physical therapist after coming off a season ending injury. Her high school XC/TF coaches left the program leaving the distance kids without any guidance and she needed structure and reassurance that she was on the right path. Coach Clark looked at my daughter’s prior training and race history and wrote a training program to propel her forward. He has taken the time to get to know my daughter on the track and off and does a great job reassuring her when she starts feeling anxious about a race. He has the perfect demeanor for working with teens and young adults. She has trained with him in person and followed his daily workouts for the past six months and she’s doing great. She just signed to run with a great D1 program and is looking forward to a successful indoor track season. The knowledge and confidence she has gained and continues to gain from Coach Clark will set her up for a successful collegiate career.
Brian Crepeau –
My high school son has been training with Coach Clark for almost a year. His technical knowledge, motivational skills and passionate, are all top notch. He also has been responsive and caring when whether our son has a good race or bad race. Without hesitation Coach Clark is the real deal and highly recommended.
Candice Semashko –
Coach Clark has been absolutely wonderful to work with! He is very detailed and knowledgeable. My son learned so much at his first in person session. Coach Clark genuinely cares about his clients and checks on them. He communicates regularly with both the athlete and parent! Thank you for all you do Coach Clark! Highly recommend Coach Clark to help your athlete improve their running and strength training needs!
Allison Brown –
Coach Clark has been a great addition for my son. His individualized training plans are specifically geared to where my son is at with the goal of making him better. He has only been training my son a few weeks but in that time he is already showing improvement. The easy runs are always the perfect distance for my son and Coach Clark always knows when to push him and when to let him recover. He is motivating and encouraging to help my son push himself to his limits and get better. He is very responsive at responding to texts. My son is looking forward to doing some in person training with him as well. I highly recommend Coach Clark to any runner who is looking to improve!!
Melissa Colavito –
My daughter has been working with Chris for a little over a year. The progress she has made has been amazing! Chris’s customized plans not only take into account the training, but also the mental and fueling side of running. He provides positive encouragement every step of the way, makes trips to watch his runners at events, and helps them learn from and analyze every race. Our daughter started with him to do some training during high school soccer season to prep for the upcoming track season. After the enjoyment and success she received from her initial training with Chris, she decided to focus on running distance and was recruited into a D1 program and offered an athletic scholarship. And she won a state championship title in cross country this fall! We can’t say enough good things about Chris and his program. Teens need good coaches who understand how to work with teens, and Chris is great with them!
Jason Buckner –
Coach Clark is a great addition to any runner’s tool kit. My son has been coached by Coach Clark for eight months and has seen dramatic gains in his running times. Coach Clark knows how to push the athletes in a positive way that allows them to excel and achieve goals that most runners can’t on their own or through their school coaches. Additionally, having been an elite, competitive athlete himself, Coach Clark knows both the physical as well as the mental aspects/setbacks that the athletes can face. He is very good at the “coaching” aspect and not just the creating of training plans. I have found Coach Clark to be very responsive and available to answer questions or concerns about my son’s running. Also, all of the runners seem to enjoy Coach Clark. You can tell that the kids not only like him, but they respect him and want to work hard in their training because of him. My son actually never misses an opportunity to train in person with Coach Clark. With that, my household highly recommends Coach Clark for any runner looking to improve their running.
Chloe Hayden –
I began working with Coach Chris since this fall to recover from shin splints and improve my overall running performance. In these past monthes, I’ve seen a major improvement in my running form, endurance, and speed. His personalized workouts allowed me to fix my specific issues, such as my running form which allowed me to recover from the shin splints. He’s great with all ages, as all the teens on my team love him. Coach Chris is super kind, welcoming, and understanding, which is why I would recommend him to anyone who’s interested in improving their running, or getting into running!
Shannon Blackman Jacobs –
Coach Clarke is my son’s private cross-country and track distance coach, and he began training with him in his junior year. We initially started with a Zoom meeting with Coach Clarke, myself, and my son to set goals and decide the best plan for him. The weekly individual plan has been very beneficial, and the app is efficient and helpful. My son has also done in-person training with Coach Clarke, and we have been impressed with the training he has received both remote and in-person training. Our only regret is that we did not start working with Coach Clark earlier in my son’s high school career. Working with Coach Clark has been a game-changer, and we highly recommend it!
baysplace –
Coach Clark has been an outstanding mentor and coach for my child throughout the cross country and track seasons. His passion for the sport and dedication to his athletes are evident in every way. Coach Clark’s personalized approach to training has helped my child achieve new personal bests and build confidence both on and off the track. He goes above and beyond and we can’t thank him enough. He is very quick with his responses too. Highly recommend him to anyone looking for a top-notch coach. Thank you Coach Clark!!!
Tanya Brown –
Coach Clark has been a fantastic coach for my son. He creates personalized training plans that are tailored to my son’s goals and needs. His knowledge about the sport is impressive and his passion for running is contagious. Coach Clark’s ability to connect with teen athletes and his upbeat, motivating messages on race days make him an invaluable coach. Highly recommend!
Kent Wetzel –
Coach Clark has worked with my child the past two years for his high school track seasons. Coach Clark has helped him not only as a runner but also a person by supporting him with encouragement and words of wisdom and setting realistic goals. He has helped him to develop a training plan that is responsive and has led him to greater success than he has had in his previous track seasons. Coach Clark has always exceeded our expectations and we are grateful for his work in developing our son into a runner who understands the science of the sport and what is needed to excel.
Deborah Ellinghaus –
Can’t say enough amazing things about Coach Clark. He is invested in my son’s running success, but also his growth as a human being. He provides personal guidance that is in alignment with his high school coaches and appropriate to my son’s abilities and potential. He’s able to tune into to issues that impact my son’s training and performance and coach him through them whether it be in person, or more often, via text, email or phone. Coach Clark’s experience as a high school teacher and coach make him ideal as a personal coach to high school runners. He knows how to speak “teenager” and provides the appropriate amount of praise with discipline and lesson teaching. I highly recommend Coach Clark for any young runner, and any parent of runners, who are looking to grow their talent and skills, test their limits and exceed expectations. As my son continues to grow his ambitions and post-high school dreams, Coach Clark’s coaching has become even more important. I only wish we had found him sooner!
tommyferrick@icloud.com –
I started to work with Coach Clark this summer to train for Cross Country. Through his individualized training plans you can truly see his experience and they have helped me become a lot more fit and have a really great start to my cross country season. I am still working with him and can’t wait to continue. He is also a really nice guy and understanding of our busy schedules and is willing to adapt with us. You can really tell he cares and I would really recommend him to anyone from any level of running.