Mary Namestnik – Chicago Running Coach
From: $85.00 / month and a $19.00 sign-up fee
Mother of three and a coach who knows how to work with busy schedules! Let’s have fun and fall in love with running!
Description
Chicago running coach Mary Namestnik specializes in working with beginners just starting out with their first 5k or with those looking to increase their distance all the way up to the marathon. Being a mother of 3, Mary knows what it’s like to balance a busy schedule and she can help you navigate yours as well. Reach out below to get started!
LEVELS: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
TYPES: Road, Track, Trail
DISTANCES: 5k/10k/Half Marathon, Marathon, Ultra
TRAINING PLATFORM: Training Peaks Premium
TRAINING PLAN: Individual, customized training plan
COMMUNICATION: Unlimited email, unlimited text
RESPONSE TIME: Within 24 hours
LOCATION: Chicago, IL
IN-PERSON SESSIONS: Yes, meet within 15 miles of zip code 60515. Options include race strategy and preparation. Also willing to travel to stores to help assist you with buying gear. Youth sessions for 1 to 2 weeks also available, see below for more details.
SPECIALTIES
- Beginner runners who are looking to establish habits to run
- Advanced and intermediate runners who are looking to run PRs
- Any distance from the 5k to the 100-miler, including the backyard ultra
- Managing busy schedules and flexibility to get the most out of training
- Keeping runners injury free and running as comfortably as possible
PHILOSOPHY
I want to help all runners achieve attainable goals and enjoy the process of training to reach those goals. I take into account their busy schedules and all other aspects of a person’s life to ensure that we keep stress low while encouraging them to work hard and reach their desired outcome. I enjoy establishing the personal connection I have with each of my athletes and find a lot of joy when they achieve the goals they work so hard for. I’m just as invested in their goals as they are.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
I began coaching in 2023 after being certified through UESCA and have had success coaching both beginners and advanced adults who have either plateaued or started to see a decline in performance. I have coached injured runners back into good health and helped them find their footing in running regularly again. I coached high school track and field as well as cross country and have seen athletes through a season with no chronic injury.
ABOUT ME
I am a mother of three who came into running after having children. I enjoy running any distance and have future goals of running 200+ miles. I use running to benefit and boost my mental health and encourage my children to live healthy lifestyles in their future adulthood. I am extremely competitive so I can understand a competitive mindset, but I also encourage people to view their biggest competitors as their former selves and to continuously set personal best times regardless of their other competition. My strengths as a runner include being mentally tough and this bleeds over into how I train my athletes. I am also big into proper fueling for runs that take longer than 90 minutes and help all my athletes fine-tune their fueling strategy to ensure they get the best possible outcome on race day.
BIG INFLUENCES
Some of my biggest influences include my coach, my crew (including my husband) and the philosophy that we should all be the best version of ourselves. I believe that becoming a better runner allows somebody to become a better person.
RACING HISTORY
Some of my key racing moments include my first marathon in Vermont and the Bloodroot 50-miler which was actually in the same area as my first marathon. I prepared for months for my 50-miler and got injured a couple of weeks before the race, so severely that I couldn’t walk. Mind over matter, I decided to heal the injury as best as I could and pushed through to simply begin the race. I didn’t finish, but I managed 43 miles on an injured foot before I called it quits and am extremely proud of what I accomplished that day. I went back to Vermont two years later and am proud to say that I finished the Bloodroot 50-miler in 2nd overall and as the top female. I also have set female course record twice at the Bullshit Backyard Ultra. I currently hold the female course records at the High Lea 100-miler and at the Mines of Spain 100.
CERTIFICATIONS
- UESCA Certified Ultrarunning Coach
- UESCA Run Coach Certification
- NFHS Interscholastic Coach
- ACE Group Fitness Instructor
- ISSA Personal Trainer
PRs
- 5k: 21:08 (11/28/2024) Grove Express
- 10k: 48:11 (4/16/2023) Syracuse Half Marathon
- Half Marathon: 1:43:17 (4/16/2023) Syracuse Half Marathon
- Marathon: 3:27:03 (8/18/2024) Wausau Marathon
- 50k: 5:20:57 (11/5/2022) Conquer The Castle, Third Place; 2,100 ft elevation
- 50 miles: 12:10:01 (5/10/2025) Bloodroot Ultras, First Place; 10,000 ft elevation
- 100k: 13:06:16 (10/19/2023) Mines of Spain 100k, Second Place; 8,000 ft elevation
- 100 miles: 20:37:00 (5/18/2024) High Lea 100, Overall win and course record.
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
- High Lea 100; Course Record
- 2024 High Lea 100; 1st Place Overall
- Mines of Spain 100 100-Miler; Female Course Record
- 2024 Mines of Spain 100 100-Miler; 1st Place Female
- 2023 Mines of Spain 100 100k; 2nd Place Female
- The Bullshit Backyard Ultra; Female Course Record (2023 and set again in 2024)
- 2024 The Bullshit Backyard Ultra; Assist
- 2022 Conquer the Castle; 3rd Place Female
- 2025 Bloodroot 50 Mile; 2nd Overall, 1st Place Female
CONTACT MARY
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
10 reviews for Mary Namestnik – Chicago Running Coach
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Olga Salinas –
I have been working with Mary since December of 2024. I took a long break from running due to a knee injury. I have never been a long distance runner. My purpose in seeking the support of a running coach was mainly to help me stay on track and guide me, given my time away. My initial goal was to run a 5k. Mary set up a simple schedule that didn’t overwhelm me. She was very patient and supportive and always gave positive feedback. She was able to develop a training plan that I felt was achievable. Mary is an amazing coach. She is easy to talk to and very responsive to my individual needs. Definitely a great coach!
Chris Kent –
I have been working with Mary for a few months now to prepare for my first marathon. Mary has been very helpful. In this short time we have navigated illness and ever evolving running schedules due to kids and travel. Even in the summer heat I have felt myself grow stronger with her guidance and training plans. The advice on goals and paces to run, and mid run fueling I have found very helpful. I am confident that come time to run the marathon I will be more than ready. I have been very happy working with Mary and would highly recommend to any runner looking for help to achieve their goals.
Chloe Meyer –
Mary is fantastic! She is able to work around my crazy work and travel schedule, and she is so motivating and supportive! She knows everything there is to know about running and I love working with her! Highly, highly recommend!
Jake –
I’ve been working with Mary for only a few months but definitely plan on continuing forward with her coaching.
I’ve had a lot of injuries and setbacks in the past and was looking for someone who could help me continue to make progress in my training while minimizing the risks of injuries. Her coaching has been both thoughtful and responsive to the particular needs of mixing training with everyday life. She’s been extremely easy to reach out to with questions and always has wise council to offer in return. Even after a short time, I can tell progress has been made and I couldn’t be more happy.
Strongest possible recommendation.
Joshua Janish –
I can’t say enough great things about Mary Namestnik! From the start, she has been incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and dedicated to helping me reach my running goals. Her workout plans are thoughtfully designed, challenging yet manageable, and tailored to my specific needs. She provides consistent encouragement, making even the toughest workouts feel achievable.
What truly sets her apart is her ability to provide thoughtful feedback and open communication. She takes the time to check in with me regularly, offering insights and adjustments to my plan to ensure I stay on track. Our monthly check-ins are invaluable, allowing me to reflect on my progress and stay motivated.
If you’re looking for a coach who genuinely cares about your success and will guide you every step of the way, I highly recommend Mary!
Ed T –
I worked with Mary as a beginner runner needing to meet a specific timed goal in preparation to enter Navy officer training. I had little experience with running and working with a coach prior to this experience, but Mary struck a great balance between building confidence as a beginner while still pushing and challenging me.
Mary provided a very structured approach with weekly detailed + individually tailored plans for warmups, running schedule, and strength training, as well as check-in calls to discuss progress. In-person training sessions were particularly helpful for my training needs, and Mary was great with communication and being flexible with proactively finding a training location that was convenient for me. The in-person sessions really augmented the guided individual training I was doing on my own!
Kevin Larke –
I’ve been working with Mary for almost 5 months with the “simple” goal of preparing me for the Chicago Marathon. When we started, I was sidelined for 1 months with a stress fracture in my leg and she quickly customized a training plan that would minimize the risk of reinjuring my leg. All along the way, she would coach me on my form, my nutrition and where I was in the process. There’s absolutely no way I would have gotten through this training with as little pain as I’ve had without her guidance and knowledge. She’s mentally tough and has also coached me along the way on how to get over each and every mental hurdle I’ve encountered. I may not be the best athlete that she’s ever trained, but she is exactly the type of coach that will propel anyone regardless of skill level to reach their running goals.
Paige –
I’ve only been working with Mary for a month but am working towards big goals and she’s been very helpful keeping me on track. She’s very supportive, encouraging, and knowledgeable. Looking forward to continuing to work with her.
Melissa Santos –
She’s been super knowledgeable and a great support with enhancing my running journey. She knows just what is needed to get me to the next level. She’s even noticing things with my data that I would never have known. From that data, she tweaks my plan and gives me advice on what to do next.
Kelly Araujo –
After graduate school and having my two boys, I took a detour away from running for more than a decade. So many starts and stops since then. Mary is helping slowly but surely find my way back to running more consistently.