NATALIE JOHNSTON – FOUNDER / HEAD COACH – LOCAL TO PA & NJ
Natalie has been running since she was 13 years old, and has been a competitive athlete since the age of 3. She competed in sports ranging from horseback riding, competitive swimming, to dance. However, running was the one sport that stole her heart! She says,”Running frees my mind and soul, you can just grab your shoes and run anywhere!” Through many ups and downs in her life, running was the one place for her to let go, meditate (aka release her emotions), and grow as a person. She believes running is more than just getting fast times, it’s about connecting to something deeper in yourself. She believes that running saved her life in many ways. Through High School and College all Natalie thought about was being the best and getting fast, since then she has changed her way of thinking, and believes that you should train like you want to run until your 100. With that mindset, she has been able to run faster, be less stressed, and enjoy her runs even more now than she did before!
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Natalie ran competitively for both Division I and Division II colleges (Cross Country/Track). During her college running career she battled numerous injuries and can truly sympathize with the frustrations that go along with it. She took those frustrations and made it her goal to understand the body and how to train and fuel more efficiently. If you’ve had injuries in the past or currently, and are trying to gain confidence & want to kick butt again, Natalie can help you! In her post collegiate years, she has trained herself in mostly road racing from 5k – marathoning. She also is versed in track events ranging from the 800m – 10k. So, if you want to rip up the track and run some faster events she’s game for that too!
MO’ATH ALKHAWALDEH – ASSISTANT COACH – PRINCETON, NJ – RUNNING COACH
Meet Mo’ath Alkhawaldeh, elite marathoner and Head Coach of Princeton Running Club , and works for Princeton University as a Financial Analyst. Mo’ath was also a recipient of the 2017 Athletes in Excellence Award of the Foundation for Global Sports Development. Mo’ath currently trains with Coach Ryan Hall and holds a marathon PB of 2:20:08 (Berlin Marathon 2019)
“Mo has contributed greatly to a positive team atmosphere in which champions are created. Mo is a person of character and integrity whose commitment to the sport provides an example of excellence.”
— Deena Kastor, Olympic bronze medalist, Chicago and London Marathon winner, and American marathon record holder
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HILARY LORENZ – ASSISTANT COACH – LOCAL TO NYC & NEW MEXICO
Hilary Lorenz has been running since she since the 6th grade. She got her first taste of completion running the mile at age 12 and breaking her school record with a 6:04 at her second track meet. She went on to run cross-country, play softball and basketball. Hilary stayed a life long runner, while going to art school, both undergraduate and graduate and settling in New York City. She ran mostly for fitness, but after turning 40 the fire to run the NYC Marathon kicked in. After training for 7 months, she not only completed the marathon but qualified for Boston. From there her competitive spirit came back and Hilary was running 15-20 races a year, with the majority of them in the top 10 of her age group with some first place finishes. Hilary enjoys running everything from the mile to fifty miles, with her favorites being the 5k cross country and 50K trail races. She believes that staying healthy and working hard enough to progress while keeping it easy enough to not burn out or become injured is the key to success, long term development no matter what the age. Hilary lives in both Brooklyn, NY where she runs the parks and Abiquiu, NM where she runs at altitude high up in the mountain.
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MACALLA HARRINGTON – ASSISTANT COACH – LOCAL TO PRINCETON, NJ
Macalla is no stranger to competition. As a high caliber Division 1 gymnast, her commitment to hard work and consistency have been ingrained in her from an early age. Her passion for training comes from a love of helping those at any fitness level reach their goals and be better versions of themselves. She joins us in Princeton with years of experience running her own personal training practice.
Whether you’re just getting back in shape or training for an Ironman Macalla brings her bright personality and years of experience to help you reach your next peak.
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JESSICA DEHART – ASSISTANT COACH – LOCAL TO LONG ISLAND
Jessica is a certified RRCA Running Coach and NASM Certified Personal Trainer. She understands that strength and endurance do not only come from physical capacity. They come from the willingness and tenacity to set a goal and exceed it.
Jess is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Suffolk County Community College where she teaches in the Fitness Specialist Program in the Physical Education Department. She spent 10 years as the Director of Personal Training for a national fitness franchise. Jess also teaches exercise classes for Strength for Life, a not-for-profit that offers free exercise classes for cancer patients and survivors to enhance their recovery process.
Jess was a varsity high school athlete where she played field hockey (all-county), basketball and ran track for all 4 years. In college she played rugby and continued to run and strength train as a way to stay fit and relieve stress. This love for fitness propelled her to become a personal trainer/run coach where she has coached/trained one to one, small group and online for all ages and abilities. From aspiring Olympic competitors who need to improve their running times to individuals who want to run their first running race, she has worked with a wide ranging clientele. She hopes to take all of her knowledge and experience to help individuals to reach their full potential.