Jennifer Kozak – Pacifica Running Coach
$95.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
50% off your 1st month! New to running? Have a desire to run longer or faster? RRCA/VDOT certified run coach ready to help you reach your potential!
Description
Pacifica running coach Jenn Kozak knows how to balance training with family, on both the roads and the trails, whether you’re dipping your toes in trail races or tackling new goals on the roads, from the 5k up to the marathon. Reach out to Jenn today to get started!
*** 50% off First Month for month-to-month Coaching – Coupon Code: 50%kozak***
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate
TYPES: Road, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: VDOT
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text, unlimited phone
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Pacifica, CA ***Jenn recently moved to Revelstoke, Canada but was previously based out of Pacifica and the Bay Area ***
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: No, online coaching only
SPECIALTIES
- Beginner athletes aiming to complete their first races from a 5k up to the marathon
- Intermediate athletes aiming for that sub-4 hour marathon
- First time ultra marathoners eyeing their first 50k
- Pregnant, postpartum, and mother runners trying to balance their running goals within their busy lives
- Helping people maintain consistency and progress even when there is planned race on the calendar
- Finding the joy in running!
While I have mostly worked with individuals who are pursuing success in road races, we often mix in trail running to maintain physical health. I also have experience with trail races from the 5k through to the 60 km distance.
PHILOSOPHY
Run to feel good! That is the main goal, whether it is building consistency and fitness or smashing some PR’s along the way.
While I’m familiar with the many flavors of endurance training, my approach does not follow a single type of training philosophy as every athlete is an individual. I strongly believe in a collaborative approach, as the athlete knows their body better than anyone. I work with athletes to find their unique path to reach their potential, while maintaining the joy in the process!
I strongly believe that open and honest communication is the goal to success! The more feedback I receive, the better I can help guide the athlete to their goals. From me, athletes will also not only receive a custom and adaptable training plan, but I will provide the “why” behind each type of run, and what it is hoping to achieve. I can also provide information on race day nutrition, racing strategies, running gear, running tech, etc. Let’s geek out on running together!
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I have been coaching adults towards achieving their running goals for the past 4 years (and with Team RunRun since March 2023). I coach a broad range of athletes covering a wide range of ages and abilities. Recently, I have worked with:
- Beginner runners training to complete distances from the mile, all the way up to finishing their first marathon
- Athletes successfully completing races after being sidelined from injury
- Masters athletes (between the ages of 40-70)
- Athletes who successfully broke their goal of 4 hours in the marathon
- Athletes who completed their first challenging mountain ultra 50k
While 1:1 coaching is my passion, I have also coached children at an after school run club, and have written beginner and intermediate 5k training plans for our local running club.
ABOUT ME
I was born and raised in Revelstoke, BC, Canada. Growing up, I played group sports but thought of running as punishment. I would see people running and wish I could be like them, but I didn’t know how! As a result, I didn’t start my running journey until my early thirties after signing up for the Nike Women’s Half Marathon in San Francisco in 2014. The race was fantastic, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the training leading up to the race. I was hooked and wanted more!
After taking some time off to have children, I began the journey of returning to running. I fell into most (if not all) of the traps that recreational runners fall into when following free online training programs. I ran all my runs too fast, I didn’t hydrate or fuel, among other things! After a series of injuries, I decided to delve deeper into the science of running, fueling, and injury prevention to see if there was the potential for improvement, even later in life. Spoiler – there is definitely room for improvement!
I have a doctorate in organic chemistry, and worked for a decade in the biotech industry as a medicinal chemist. This work was ongoing while living in the Bay Area with my husband and two children. Recently, we relocated back to British Columbia. These days I’m almost always training for something, reading something running related, and helping others reach their goals!
I find so much joy in helping other athletes strive for their potential by applying all that I have learned (and continue to learn). My hope is to get people excited about running and make it an enjoyable part of their lives!
Please reach out if you’d like to find out what it’ll take to make you run to feel good!
BIG INFLUENCES
My biggest influences with regards to training theory are Matt Fitzgerald, Jack Daniels, and Megan and David Roche.
I look up to so many different runners from road to trail that it is impossible to list them all, but here is a brief sample: Courtney Dauwalter, Keira D’Amato, Molly Seidel, Malindi Elmore, Tasha Wodak, Sally McRae, Jazmine Lowther, Des Linden, Shalane Flanagan…and on the list goes!
I feel like the most inspiration on a day to day basis comes from recreational runners reaching their goals. I’m continually inspired by stories of years long training to snag that sub-2 in the half marathon, or finally getting that Boston-qualifying time!
RACING HISTORY
Nike Women’s Half Marathon – San Francisco 2014
- This was my first half marathon and I LOVED IT! This one race proved to be my gateway into finding the joy of running. It is interesting to look back on it though. I started out too fast, I didn’t fuel or drink at all for the entire race, I was walking within sight of the finish line, and I crossed in 2:01! I didn’t even know that a sub-2 was a goal. If only I knew then what I know now!
Napa Valley Marathon (2023):
- This was one of my favorite races ever! I ran a PR of 13 minutes. I ran with more guts than my first marathon. My husband and kids surprised me at the finish line. And to top it off, my athlete who ran it snagged her sub-4 and took of 57 minutes from last marathon!
The Golden Ultra 60k (2025):
- This was my first ultra, and of course it deserves a top spot! It was a rugged, mountain race covering 59 km and ~8000+ ft of elevation gain. I finished just under my goal time of 9 hours. With a race of this duration, heavy emphasis was put on nutrition and hydration and, despite a few hiccups, I was able to execute the plan to run an overall strong race!
CERTIFICATIONS
- Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Level 1 Coach
- VDOT
- UESCA Ultrarunning Coach Certification
- Coaching the Pregnant and Postpartum Endurance Athlete Specialization Course (in progress)
- CPR & First Aid
PRs
- Mile: 6:43 (2/14/21) Virtual
- 5k: 23:29 (5/4/25) RCU Fun Run 5k – 5th Female, 3rd place age group
- 10k: 52:06 (2/6/2022) Kaiser Permanente San Francisco Half Marathon, 10k and 5k
- Half marathon: 1:53:05 (5/5/2024) BMO Vancouver Half Marathon
- Marathon: 4:00:23 (10/13/2024) Chicago Marathon
- Trail Marathon: 5:40:11 (10/7/2023) Wandering Moose 42k
- Ultra (60k): 8:59:31 (9/13/2025) The Golden Ultra 60k
CONTACT JENN
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
- Golden Ultra 60K Race Report
- Slay the Dragon 25K Race Report
- Stoked Scramble 25k Race Report
- Wandering Moose 42k Trail Race Report
SOCIAL
Kayla Blom –
If I could give more than 5 stars, I would.
I’ve been working with Jenn since 2022 with a gap in between when I thought I could progress on my own. Fast forward to now, and I feel so confident in Jenn’s abilities that I KNEW I had to reach out again to hit some big running goals after that gap where I just wasn’t seeing the results I wanted by myself. (The results that Jenn helped me get the first time around.)
Jenn is an amazing human and coach. She understands that life happens and knows how to roll with those curveballs and scheduling hiccups. She is thorough in her workout programming, and keeps stuff laid out at least a week in advance so you know what to expect. She is very responsive and really listens to whatever feedback or input I’ve given and adjusts accordingly, if needed.
10000% would recommend Jenn as your running coach. She knows her stuff.
Cappi Bowers –
“Jenn is absolutely amazing! Beyond her incredible knowledge, she’s so supportive and always available. I love how approachable and encouraging she is – she truly meets you where you’re at. Jenn is not only a fantastic professional but also a genuinely lovely person. Highly recommend!
Sarah Stephenson –
Jenn has been an incredible coach for my first half marathon! She has completely customized my training plan to fit my needs and I am already seeing so much improvement in my running and paces. I send her my thoughts/feelings about each run and she responds to quickly afterward to give me feedback. I am so excited to continue training with her and crush my half marathon!
Lindsay Legé –
I’ve truly enjoyed working with Jenn! She’s incredibly communicative and approachable and is quick to answer questions and provide guidance. She takes the time to understand your current fitness level and tailors workouts to suit your current fitness level. I was coming off a long break from running, so this was super important to me.
What really stands out is her openness to feedback—whether it’s about the workouts or how you’re feeling, she welcomes input and adjusts things accordingly. Thanks to Jenn’s coaching, I’ve gotten faster and have been able to run longer distances more quickly than I imagined, all while staying injury free! I’m beyond grateful for her support and expertise. If you’re looking to improve your running, Jenn is the coach you need!
Maya Sweedler –
I’ve been so so happy working with Jenn these last few months. When we began, I was coming off an injury and feeling really demoralized about returning to running, and from day one, Jenn has been so empathetic and understanding and encouraging. She has listened and responded to every concern and preference I’ve expressed — it truly feels like I’m getting a personalized experience, with evidence-backed claims and strength training optimized for me. In the first three months, I went from running less than 5 miles a week to feeling strong while running closer to 20 (plus set a surprise PR in the 5K just last week!)
Kristen –
Working with Jennifer has been amazing! She listens and hears what you are saying, plans individualized workouts, and cheers you on through it all. She is easy to talk with, is very timely with responses, and is a great motivator. Jenn is wonderful at letting you know the ‘why’ behind the workouts which is so helpful! I can honestly say that I feel myself getting stronger, faster and more confident with my running in only a few short months.
Thanks Jenn for being amazing!
Amy Constantineau –
I have loved the coaching and support Jenn has offered since working with her. Having her work with me and adjust my training as life obstacles popped up has been invaluable. It has allowed me to not stress over how best to continue training around injuries and schedule conflicts and sets me up for success.
The running progress I have seen in just 6 months with Jenn has been amazing compared to years of just spinning my wheels.
Jenn is quick to respond, quick to modify my plan when I have last minute issues pop up. She listens thoroughly and has great feedback to work around any issue I was having. I highly recommend working with her!
Kimberly Lefort –
Jennifer helped me train for my first marathon. She was always present and replied fast, making it incredibly easy to fit the runs in an occupied schedule. She answered every question I had; helping me control my stress for this first marathon. Her workouts are challenging but incredibly helpful, I rapidly saw improvements in my run times. She explains the why behind everything, making the whole process way easier to understand. I recommend her immensely.
Grant Tunkel –
TL;DR: Jenn is an amazing coach! She helped me set a marathon PB of nearly 18 minutes, and I beat my goal time by 3 minutes.
The long version: I ran my first two marathons using training plans I found online. But when I signed up for my third marathon, I set a goal of improving my PB by 15 minutes. So I decided to look for a coach. After reading through a lot of Team RunRun profiles, I chose to work with Jenn, and it was the best decision.
Jenn crafted a great training plan that combined speed workouts, easy runs, long runs, long run workouts — everything I needed to improve my fitness. When I got COVID, she adjusted the plan so that I wouldn’t lose momentum. When I had a tough run, she focused on the positives. When I needed help honing my fueling plan, she provided great advice.
As we got closer to race day, Jenn also helped me craft a race day plan and get in the right mindset. And on race day, I was in the best running fitness of my life, and I crushed my PB and my goal. In each of my two previous marathons, I had to take walk breaks. This time, no walk breaks, and enough energy in the tank to surge toward the finish.
Jenn was simply fantastic. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.
Melony Bethala –
Jennifer is amazing! I started off with her brand new to running and she has been so encouraging and positive while helping me build up my stamina to run. After 3 months of working with her, my intervals are getting longer, and I ran more than 5 miles on Sunday (with a few walking breaks!). She helps me believe that I can do this, and I really enjoy the trainings she provides remotely. The workouts are easy to follow and I like how we’re mixing things up with a long run on the weekends. Jennifer, thank you so much for believing in me!!! I’m so amazed to see what my body is capable of.
Geanna R –
I couldn’t ask for a better coach than Jenn. She is great at staying in contact, providing feedback, listening to my thoughts or concerns, and most importantly, being my cheerleader. I have been working with her for over 8 months now and she has helped me become a more consistent runner and to run the longest distances I’ve ever done. I appreciate her wisdom and experience as well as her humor and positive spirit. I really couldn’t have trained for my upcoming half and (first) full marathons without her. I highly recommend her as a coach!
Alex Wang –
Jenn has been an incredible coach and has significantly enhanced my running journey, even though I only started running a few months ago at an older age. I was initially looking for a coach who could help me run without injury and learn to enjoy this new sport. Jenn has done exactly that and more.
One of the aspects I’ve found most helpful is Jenn’s exceptional communication and responsiveness. Whether it’s feedback after a workout or answering any questions I have, she’s always quick to respond with thoughtful and thorough advice. This level of support has been invaluable in keeping me motivated and on track with my training.
Jenn’s expertise spans both road and trail running, which has been particularly beneficial as I explored different terrains to find the best fit for me. Her ability to tailor my training plans to suit these varied environments has made a huge difference in my performance and confidence.
With Jenn’s guidance, I’ve improved my running speed and endurance, and I’ve even earned several first-place medals in my age group. Her training plans are challenging yet perfectly tailored to my needs, ensuring I stay injury-free while continuing to progress.
Jenn’s dedication, knowledge, and personalized approach have made a world of difference in my running journey. If you’re looking for a coach who will support you every step of the way and help you reach new heights in your running, Jenn is the perfect choice.
Grace Morris –
Jenn is an amazing coach. Truly amazing. I have been a recreational runner for nearly 40 years. I’ve done races from time to time, but never longer than 10K. In February, I decided to mark my 70th birthday with my first half-marathon, so I signed up for the Maui Memorial Half Marathon in Maui, Hawaii. I would never have been able to successfully and safely complete the course without Coach Jenn. Her skill, knowledge and expertise in all matters related to running were critical to the progress I made from the first run she planned for me to the day of the race. My performance improved dramatically with her guidance, support and encouragement. Even more importantly, my confidence and motivation as a runner increased significantly. Having a coach to whom I had to account helped me stay on track with my training. My plan was to train for the race, then discontinue the coaching program. However, now that I know what training with Coach Jenn can do for me, I plan o continue for the long term. Coach Jenn and I have been discussing new goals, and I am excited about my future as a runner. In conclusion, I highly recommend Coach Jenn. You will find her to be responsive, skilled, and very supportive. What else could you ever ask for in a coach?
Nicole Abramson –
Last year on a whim I signed up for a race bundle that included a 5K, 10K and 12 Miler. I also signed up for a half marathon two weeks after the 12 Miler. Prior to last year, the furthest I raced was a 5K and that was years ago. I set up my own training plan and followed it throughout the year. Shortly before the 12 Miler & Half I decided to reach out to a running coach to make sure my final few weeks of training were on track. Jenn worked with me to make some minor tweaks to my in-progress training plan and helped me really build my confidence going into the race. She helped build my confidence so much I had the idea to sign up for my first full marathon the same year. After talking with Jenn, she agreed I had enough time to safely train for the race. Only a few days after my first marathon I knew I wanted to sign up for another this year.
Jenn has been my coach for 7 months now and I am so happy with my decision to train with her! Every week when new workouts are put on my calendar it feels like Christmas checking to see what Jenn has programmed for me. Jenn is very responsive and has helped me with so many running related questions from gel recommendations to hats for racing in the rain. I can really tell I have gotten stronger as a run since working with Jenn and highly recommend her as a coach!
Jean Michel Lauzon –
For me, Jenn is the perfect coach. She has an athlete-first approach that empowers us to work as a tight-knit team. The level of support I receive from Jenn is incredible, exemplified by her responsiveness. I never wait long to hear from her about a workout or a question. I have no idea how she fits in her own run mom life because she’s constantly checking in on me!
Jenn’s knowledge is impressive, ever increasing, and expertly applied to my individual situation. She’s always listening, crafting programs designed specifically for me and demonstrating flexibility when things change unexpectedly.
Since starting with Jenn, everything about my running has improved: endurance, speed, recovery, you name it. The best part is the biggest gains I’ve seen are in attitude. I love running! Jenn’s positivity is infectious.
If you are looking for a supportive coach who will work with you on a science-based program to achieve both short- and long-term goals, you can’t do better than Jenn.
Ricardo Fainsilber –
Jenn’s expertise on running is outstanding, but what really makes her a great coach is her passion for running and training other runners.
I trained on my own for a half marathon a year ago and had a bad pain. I decided to look for a coach the second time around and what a difference it made! No injuries, no pain and a better, more effective training. The communication has been wonderful, her coaching style is engaging and motivating. I would highly recommend Jenn!
Todd Dubnicoff –
Jenn has been coaching me as I train for my first marathon (SF July 2023), and I cannot speak highly enough of her expertise and positive support throughout the process! Jenn sends me a well-structured training calendar with clear instructions via an app which really helps take the guesswork out of training (there are so many marathon training plans on the internet!) and allows me to focus on the running itself.
One of things I most appreciate about Jenn is her responsiveness. Not long after each training run, she’ll leave a note asking how it went and/or gives me great feedback on the post-run notes that I leave for her. And whenever I have questions, she’s great about getting back to me with really sensible, thorough answers.
As an older runner, it’s not surprising that I’ve have a few aches and pains during my marathon journey. Without Jenn’s guidance working through these bumps in the road, my training could have easily been derailed. Instead, she made adjustments in my training calendar and gave me smart advice that has helped me keep moving forward.
On top of all that, Jenn has a PhD in organic chemistry so she really knows what’s she talking about when she says, for example, my tempo workouts will improve my lactate threshold!
I am very grateful to Jenn’s support and I wholeheartedly recommend her as a running coach! Thank you Coach Jenn!
Chrystine Skelly –
Jen is such an incredible coach! She has helped me blast through my PR several times and sets me up with a training schedule that helps me achieve my goals! She helps me set attainable goals and meet them! Not only does she set up fun and challenging workouts for me but she explains the how and why of them also, so that I know WHY I’m doing what I’m doing! I started out training for a 10k, and now I’m training for a half marathon. Each week, I’m excited to see what new runs she has scheduled for me! I highly recommend Coach Jen!
Lauren Booth –
Jenn is a fantastic running coach!!
She is thorough, supportive and goal based. She meets you where you are at in your running journey and training. She also provides so much information and preparation for training plans and is always available for consultation.
Having experienced a bad injury last year she has helped me get back on my feet and back to running – I’m now training for the marathon! I couldn’t have done it without her and highly highly recommend her.