Founder & Head Coach

Coach Elisabeth

Favorite Race: Las Vegas Half Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: Gu Roctane Grape Mix

Favorite Accomplishment: 1st Female ("Queen of Pain") in the King of Pain 10 Miler

Elisabeth started Running Explained with the mission to help runners of all experiences and abilities become students of the sport and understand the how, what, and why of running! Although active in sports growing up (including swimming, cross-country, and downhill skiing), running just to run was never on her mind! After a long stretch of inactivity through college and her late twenties, Elisabeth picked up running at the age of 29 after getting sober and set the goal of running a local 5k... just to "get in shape!" Within 6 months, she had run a 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon, finishing her first half in 1:56 and her first full in 4:05. This "crash course" in running (including learning a lot about what not to do) fueled the inspiration for the work she does today. She has since run 6 marathons, multiple 5k, 10k, and half marathon races, and her current PRs include a 20:07 5k, 1:36 half marathon, and 3:31 marathon (BQ).

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Elisabeth's training philosophy emphasizes the importance of developing a strong aerobic capacity, creating training habits that encourage consistency, whole-athlete development (including advising on strength training, mobility, nutrition, hydration, and managing life stress), and helping runners enjoy what they're doing and making running fit into their life... not the other way around! She works with runners who have goals ranging from "become a better runner and quit the cycle of training burnout", to running a first half or full marathon, to running a specific goal time in races of all distances from the  5k through the marathon distance and multi-race weekends.

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Elisabeth intentionally limits her client roster to provide her athletes with individualized attention along with balancing the needs of managing the business; please note that Coach Elisabeth accepts clients at the Premium level of coaching only.

Running Coach

Coach Amanda Brooks-Barish

Favorite Race: NYC Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: Honey Stinger Waffles

Favorite Accomplishment: Finding balance and joy in moving my body through running, powerlifting, hiking etc. I may not be the fastest or lift the heaviest but I am finding happiness in the everyday training that allows me to move my body through so many different outlets.

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Amanda began running in her mid-20s after seeing a local 5k race with an awesome finisher medal thinking, “I can run for that”. It quickly escalated as Amanda instantly had a connection with the community at races and comradery with her fellow runners. From there, she continued to add distance and completed her first half marathon. Amanda fell in love with how strong she felt moving her body with running, lifting, exploring mountains, and pushing it past any limitations she thought she had.

She ran her first marathon on the coast of Maine in 2018, and then ran The Rut Mountain trail race in Big Sky, Montana and the Ragnar Relay in NH. Amanda wanted to add more meaning to her and ran the NYC Marathon in 2018 with Team for Kids, and the Boston Marathon in 2021 with Impact Melanoma.

Amanda is currently training for the New York City Marathon and competing in the International Powerlifting League World Championships in 2024

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During the pandemic, as a new mom, Amanda set goals for herself to complete a self-supported 50k (using a 5-mile out loop and her porch as her aid station), and then a self-supported 100k on a 5 mile out-and-back while fueling with pop-tarts and pierogies!

Through Amanda’s running journey, she has inspired others with her transparency of all that running is --the struggles, the highs and lows and the obstacles. She received her personal training certificate through ISSA and Running Coach Certification through UESCA to help others work to become the best runner they can be. Amanda’s philosophy is based on the idea that running is for everyone, no matter the distance, the pace or what your body looks like. Through consistency, proper recovery and making small steps forward, she believes you can achieve all that you set your mind to. 

Running Coach

Coach Amanda Katz

Favorite Race: NYC Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: SiS Gels in Salted Watermelon

Favorite Accomplishment: Balancing fun and training. If we’re not having fun, what’s the point?!

Amanda Katz is a full-time fitness professional; a certified personal trainer, RRCA certified run coach — joining the Running Explained coaching team in 2022 — and serves as a group fitness instructor specializing in indoor cycling, treadmill running and total body conditioning formats at Equinox in New York City. She’s a marathoner, lover of distance running and lifting heavy. Her philosophy is based on the notion that all bodies deserve a fitness experience without guilt or shame. She approaches her craft with humor, real talk and ultimately, wants her clients feeling strong and more capable in their bodies through movement.

Running Coach

Coach Andrew Cantor

Favorite Race: NYC Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: Vanilla GU and Lemon-Lime Nuun

Favorite Accomplishment: Running 3 PRs in 2023 after coming back from injury (10k: 34:10 | Half: 75:42 | Marathon: 2:43:42) AND having all of my athletes hit at least 1 PR this year!

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Andrew started running his freshman year of high school when he joined the cross country team because he had friends who signed up, but immediately fell in love with the team environment and the support he received from his coaches and teammates while also seeing improvement. To this day, one of the many things Andrew loves about running is chasing a tangible goal. Andrew competed at Salisbury University for two years before deciding to take a break due to injury and burnout. In 2014, he committed to running a full marathon, with the goal of qualifying for Boston. Although he ran 3:09 and missed his goal by four minutes, Andrew used that race as a learning experience and since then has completed nine marathons, one ultramarathon, and lowered his Personal Best time to 2:44:42 at the New York City Marathon (2019). Andrew’s other notable personal best times include a 16:37 5K and a 56:35 10-mile, both of which occurred in the midst of marathon buildups.

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Andrew’s coaching philosophy revolves around becoming a better overall runner, no matter your goal race distance. He understands that having a large aerobic engine is vital to success at longer distances but also believes in incorporating some leg speed into marathon training. He also believes that building a strong aerobic base is crucial to running fast times at shorter distances. While this methodology is, an effective way to maximize performance, MORE IMPORTANTLY, it is fun and helps build confidence in the athlete. Athletes run their best when they are enjoying the process and believe in themselves! Andrew’s goal as a coach is to not just help runners achieve their goals but to connect with them, support them and invest in their journey.

Running Coach

Coach Brendan O'Kane

Favorite Race: NYC Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: Maurten Gels + Bonk Breaker Chews

Favorite Accomplishment: Being selected as Team Captain at Loyola College; placing Top 10 at the Baltimore Marathon

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Brendan started running as a kid and hasn't stopped since. From asthma attacks and being barely able to finish an 800m in middle school to running at the Millrose Games and adidas Outdoor Track and Field Championships finishing with a 4:24 mile as a senior in high school. Running was and continues to be an important part of his development as a person.

Brendan competed at the University of Scranton, and then Loyola University. He was the team captain and holds the University’s 4th fastest time in the 10,000m at 32:13 and 10th fastest 8,000m at 25:43. Since graduation Brendan has run a 56:53 for 10 miles, a 1:15 half marathon, and a 2:46:42 marathon finishing 8th at the Baltimore Marathon in 2015. He's qualified for Boston four times and hopes to PR there this spring. He also knows what it's like to struggle with injury. Throughout his life, he has missed two years of running and by this point is well-versed in injury prevention and the importance of strength work and rest. 

Brendan’s coaching philosophy focuses on the holistic development of the runner. In order to compete and progress in running it’s essential to cultivate a mentality that allows you to get the most out of your ability. Brendan does this by focusing on the good, focusing on strengths each runner has that can be further developed all while tending to some of the areas that have room for growth. He believes in running hard on hard days and easy on easy ones and developing the belief and knowledge that you could always do one more rep or one more mile but sometimes it’s best not to! The focus will be on developing the aerobic engine but also the speed necessary to make moves and have fun in racing. Brendan has experience coaching new runners and experienced ones and knows that each person requires different attention and care in order to be successful. He’s interested in helping you reach the goals you have and doing so in a way that allows you to have some fun and increase self-belief in the process. He’s ready to work with any runners who are serious about stepping up to the next level!

Running Coach

Coach Elena Solazzo

Favorite Race: NYC Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: Maurten 100s

Favorite Accomplishment: Breaking 1:40 in the Gulf Shores Half Marathon

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Elena grew up playing sports, primarily Soccer and Basketball. She ran for her Varsity Track team as a sprinter placing 4th in Westchester County Sectionals in the 100m, and went on to play Division 1 soccer at Syracuse University and Binghamton University.

Her first distance race was in 2015 when she ran the Miami Half Marathon (finishing in 1:48). After running that race she fell in love with the sport and set a long-term goal to run a half marathon in all 50 states. Her current half marathon PR is 1:39 and current marathon PR is 3:51.

 After falling in love with running Elena couldn’t stop reading and researching the sport. She wanted to help and connect with other runners, so she became a run coach, receiving her certification from RRCA.
 
Elena’s training philosophy is to first get crystal clear on your goals to make sure training aligns with what you want to achieve. She believes proper training comes down to a balance of each athlete’s goals, experience level, and schedule. After assessing areas for improvement, she makes sure to build workouts into your plan that turn weaknesses into strengths to make you an all-around strong runner. Another area of emphasis is molding mental skills she feels these skills are just as important as making physical and physiological changes.
 

Running Coach

Coach Jessie Gruca

Favorite Race: San Francisco Marathon

Favorite Run Fuel: HumaPLUS Gels

Favorite Accomplishment: Running a 19:32 5k PR after having kids; placing 1st Female in a 10k

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Jessie began her running journey in college as a way to stay in shape once high school sports (field hockey and soccer) were over. A roommate asked Jessie to run a half marathon in 2009, where she completed it in 1:49 and decided she enjoyed running. She went on to run her first marathon in 2011, in 3:24 and quickly learned what a BQ was and finished that coveted race in 2013. The journey to complete a marathon in all 50 states began as a way to visit friends after college and since has completed 25 marathons (in 23 states) along with multiple 5Ks, 10Ks, and half marathons. She has also had her experience as a triathlete completing many Sprint and Olympic distance triathlons along with a half ironman finished in 5:38. Her motivation has allowed her to self-coached herself to PRs after reading multiple running books before finally deciding to get her RRCA running coach certification in 2021, to be able to help other runners improve their running and find the thrill as well. Her current PRs are a 19:32 5K, 1:30 half marathon, and 3:13 marathon.

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Jessie’s coaching philosophy is to make running fun while working hard to reach our goals! A lot goes into having a good training block including building up the aerobic base through easy running but also including speed work and longer runs based on the race distance, goals, and experience. To be a well-rounded runner, she values the importance of also including strength training and mobility work to improve performance and as a way to prehab to help avoid potential injuries. She can relate to having fully scheduled days and limited time to help provide ways to fit running into our lives in an enjoyable way while giving feedback and support throughout training.