2X Olympian · USATF Level 3 · IAAF Certified
Kathy Butler is a Boulder, Colorado-based running coach with 20+ years of professional athletics and the highest coaching certifications in the sport. She offers personalized training plans for runners worldwide, from track athletes to ultra marathon runners.
20+
Years as a Pro Athlete
2×
Olympic Competitor
21
World Championships
800m–100mi
All Distances Coached
You're already doing the work. But something isn't clicking. You're stuck at the same pace, a recurring injury keeps derailing your training, or you're following a generic plan that doesn't fit your actual schedule.
Whether you're chasing a Boston qualifier, targeting a marathon PR, building toward your first ultra, or simply trying to stay healthy and improve consistently. I build a program around your goals and your life, not the other way around.
I'm based in Boulder, Colorado, but many of my athletes train with me entirely online, wherever they live or travel. Location has never been a barrier to personalized coaching.
USATF Level 3 and IAAF Level 5 certified: the highest international coaching qualifications. Formerly chair of USATF Coaching Education and a USATF Coaching Education Instructor.
No cookie-cutter programs. Every plan is built around your goals, schedule, and life, with structured recovery built in so you stay healthy and on the road, not sidelined. Powered by Final Surge with smartwatch sync, training logs, and flexible adjustments.
4× Olympic Trials qualifiers, 2× Team USA road selections, 12 high school state champions, World Series Final berths in trail and triathlon, and marathon PRs slashed by 20+ minutes. From first-timers to elites.
Not sure which plan is right for you? Book a free 15-minute call → No commitment.
The Coaching Record
26+
Years of
Coaching
12
High School Colorado
State Champions
4×
Olympic Marathon
Trials Qualifiers
50
States: One Athlete,
Every Marathon
Online coaching since 2012, athletes on national teams worldwide
Run Boulder athletes have earned 2× Team USA road selections, 4× Olympic Trials qualifications, and World Series Finals berths in trail & triathlon
Coaching experience spans high school, collegiate, post-collegiate, and online, at every level of the sport
From first-time marathoners to national team athletes, every athlete gets the same personally written plan and the same attention to detail.
Global Coaching Reach
26
Cities
7
Countries
3
Continents
Photo courtesy of Mark Shearman
My Background
I was a professional athlete for 20 years before becoming a coach. I competed in 2 Olympics (Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004), 21 World Championships in track, cross country and road, including 5 top-20 finishes at the World Cross Country and a team bronze medal.
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Exercise Physiology and Biology. That scientific foundation shapes every training plan I write.
Read My Full StoryReal Athletes, Real Results
“After qualifying for Team USA 50k Road, I discovered Kathy in July ’23 and after 1 phone call immediately got onboard. The last 12 months have been exciting — running a 2:52 50k, racing internationally for Team USA, and taking 6.5 minutes off my marathon PR (2:17:56).”
— Adam Vadeboncoeur, Team USA · 2:17:56 Marathon PR
“Kathy has been with me every step of the way along my triathlon career — from amateur to pro. Her experience as a distance runner with a long career gives me a lot of confidence in her training.”
— Sam Teller, Amateur to Pro Triathlete
Simple Process
We talk through your goals, race schedule, and current training. No commitment, no sales pitch, just a conversation about whether we're a good fit.
Within a few days you receive a fully personalized training plan on Final Surge, synced to your watch and written specifically for you, not a template.
Kathy reviews and adjusts your plan every week (personally, not a junior coach or algorithm), plus direct email access whenever you have questions. Your coach is with you every step of the way.
Credentials
Join athletes from 7 countries who've qualified for the Olympic Trials, run Boston, finished Leadville, and set PRs they didn't think were possible. The first step is a free 15-minute call.
