Welcome to Run 4 the Hills Coaching!
Hi, I'm Gretchen! I ran cross country and track in high school, then spent my college years focusing on horseback riding. After college, I moved to WV and re-found my love of running while struggling up all the hills in my town. I ran my first half marathon in December 2010 and was instantly hooked. To date, I have run 54 half marathons and 5 marathons. I am a 3 time Boston Qualifier, and I ran the Boston Marathon in 2019.
In 2018 I obtained a Personal Training certification and Fitness Nutrition specialization from NASM, and in 2021 I completed the Women’s Fitness specialization. I then went on to complete the UESCA Run Coaching certification in 2023. I enjoy using the knowledge I gained through those certifications, combined with my personal experiences, to help others live healthier and more active lifestyles. I also spend quite a bit of time learning about women’s health topics specifically regarding hormone cycles and how they affect our ability to gain muscle, lose fat, and perform at our best.
I believe that fitness can, and should, be fun for the whole family. My experiences as an educator for 14 years (Spanish, Math, PE) and as a step-mother have shown me how important it is to kindle a love of fitness starting at a young age, and how important it is to show the children in your life that fitness is important to YOU. We must model healthy choices for our children so that they can grow up recognizing the importance of taking care of their physical wellbeing.
In my free time, I enjoy hiking (especially if there are waterfalls involved), riding horses, curling up with a good book, or playing in the kitchen.