Jake Eckberg – Pittsburgh City Running Coach
$80.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Chasing your first 5k -ultra marathon I can help you reach your goals! Consistency, growth, mental toughness, injury prevention, and recovery.
Description
Pittsburgh running coach Jake Eckberg helps all levels of runners train for the 5k – ultra marathon distance, using consistency, growth, mental toughness, injury prevention, and recovery. He’s an Army Vet who has struggled with anxiety and depression and wants to show others how running has helped change his life! Reach out below to get started.
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Final Surge
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited phone, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Sarver, PA
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only.
SPECIALTIES
My specialty is working with beginner and intermediates runners! If your goal is to run your first 5k, set a new PR in any distance from 5k to ultra, trail or road I would love to work with you!
I take a lifestyle approach to running that fits your busy life and can help focus your training and I also believe in cross training, mobility, nutrition guidance and injury prevention to keep you moving and feeling good!
It’s time to ditch the cookie cutter plan and become intentional in the way you train! I build personalized plans for my athletes that work with your schedule and keep you accountable!
I am not only here to be your coach but also as a friend who is constantly cheering you on and helping you reach your goals!
PHILOSOPHY
As a running coach, I believe that running should be fun and all my programming is based on each individual! No cookie cutter plans! I believe in consistency over intensity to help build a sustainable plan that fits the individual lifestyle. I see set backs as a learning opportunity over a failure. Running is a lifelong experience that can forge discipline, growth, physical performance and mental toughness! My goal as a coach is to help my athletes grow not only in performance but to also become more confident and overall healthier, all while chasing individual goals! I am here to be your biggest fan and hype guy!
COACHING EXPERIENCE
During my time in the service (US Army) I led multiple training runs and PT workouts in my 4 years of service. I have also been coaching family and friends over the years and finally decided to follow my passion and help as many people as I can!
ABOUT ME
When I am not training I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids. I love getting outdoors and going for a hike or swim. I also enjoy fishing hunting and camping!
Once I returned home from my time in the service I realized a lot had changed about who I was. I struggled with crippling anxiety and depression. It took me years to figure out how to navigate those obstacles but through consistency in training, small lifestyle changes, and micro wins even on the hard / bad days I have found massive relief and love to share how I did it to anyone willing to give change a try!
BIG INFLUENCES
- Jason Koop
- Sally McRae
- Max Jolliffe
- Eric Hinman
- Nick Bare
RACING HISTORY
- Multiple 5k and 10k races
Rachel Carson trail challenge (37 mile) ultra
Pittsburgh marathon 2024 time 4:55
Buffalo creek half marathon time 1:45
Pittsburgh Marathon 2025 time 3:45 PR
And I am currently training for:
- Tussey Mountainback 50 miler ultra – October 2025
- Rabid Racoon 100 miler ultra – May 2026
PRs
- Mile – 6:00
- 5k – 22:26
- 10k – 45:05
- Half marathon – 1:42
- Marathon – 3:44
You may have noticed I shaved 1 hr and 11 minutes off my marathon time in less than a year! This is a massive PR for me! How did I do it? I gave up on the google running plans and got myself a coach who showed me that being consistent with training and having proper recovery, my body is capable of so much more than my limiting beliefs! Let me help you break out of that plateau or limiting mental beliefs and help you see for yourself what you are capable of! You DESERVE to know!!!!
CERTIFICATIONS
- Issa running coach
- Issa nutrition cert
- Issa personal trainer cert
CONTACT JAKE
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.
PUBLICATIONS
SOCIAL
Kirk s –
My initial search for running training focused solely on in-person programs. I was hesitant about virtual options. However, after several frustrating conversations with trainers from other companies, I connected with Jake Eckberg. His understanding of my specific situation and goals, discussed in several detailed conversations, ultimately I convinced myself to commit to a three-month training plan. This decision marked a significant shift, as my past attempts at improving my running performance had been consistently unsuccessful, often resulting in injury. My primary objective is to excel in the upcoming police physical exam; passing is the absolute minimum.
Working with Jake for the past couple of months has been transformative. Previously, running almost inevitably led to injury. Thanks to Jake’s meticulously designed conditioning program, my injuries are now minimal. More importantly, I’m finding myself genuinely enjoying the process of running. The structure and accountability provided by the training have been invaluable.
Beyond his exceptional coaching skills, Jake’s communication is exemplary. He fosters a supportive environment where I never feel judged or embarrassed about my fitness level. My experience with Jake over these past few months has been overwhelmingly positive. I’m confident that my fitness is improving and I’m well-prepared for the upcoming physical exam.
Sincerely,
kirk s
Sam –
Jake helped me out immensely on improving my running. I’m 46 and ran a 24 min 5k with his help. Highly recommend him if you are looking to get in to running or need to improve what you already have.