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 — offering 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
5K–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.
USATF Level 3 and IAAF Academy 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 Story
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.
Weekly training, ongoing adjustments, and direct access to Kathy by email 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.