Meet the Vert.run coaches
Here to keep you inspired every step of the way.
(Want to be coached by one of these great mentors for just $25 USD/month? Try Vert.run Pro!)
Meet Francesco Puppi - Professional Trail Runner - Nike
How did Francesco start trail running?: As a child growing up in Italy, I used to go hiking and trekking with my family all the time. I grew up right next to the mountains, and even in the early days of my athletic career, my coach used to take me and the rest of my team running in the mountains. I also liked to run around lakes, or up to a peak just for fun when I was on vacation with my family. That was trail running for me.
I started racing on trails much later, though, as I never did a trail race until my twenties. I don’t know why, but for me, mountains have always been a place for tranquillity and peace, and I didn’t associate them with racing. A fun fact is that one of the very first times I came in contact with a real trail race was when I was 15. I was hiking through the Dolomites and I was impressed by some guys running up and down Piz Boè. Later on, I discovered it was the Dolomites Skyrace (now Dolomyths Run), and the young guy leading was Kilian Jornet.
Francesco’s go-to post-race/adventure food or drink: I‘ll go with a burrito and chinotto!
Where’s Francesco from: I am from Como (Northern Italy, about 50km north of Milan, very close to the Swiss border) and I currently live with my girlfriend in Appiano Gentile, not far from it. The place where I live is famous for its beautiful lake, Lake Como, which I’m a very big fan of. Besides having stunning landscapes, cozy villages and shores, it is a really good place for trail running, as there are endless possibilities in the mountains and hills by the lake!
Francesco’s favorite trail in the whole world:
My favorite trail in the whole world is…oh gosh, hard to pick. But I would say Giro del Confinale (a 35km loop in Alta Valtellina, near Bormio and Stelvio.) High altitude, nice, fast trails and breathtaking landscapes with big mountains and glaciers. My favorite home trail is Sentiero dei Faggi, on Lake Como.
Francesco’s coaching philosophy: My philosophy is to do the best with the available means, resources and willingness of an athlete. My job as a coach is to take in the individual characteristics of each person (what you’re training for, where you come from and what your sport history has been.) And your workouts must suit your needs, aspirations and time availability, too.
Coaching choices and decisions are accordingly very different, depending on the athlete’s lifestyle: a professional is very different from a student or a working athlete, and so are the sessions.
Also, I believe that, in order to become a good runner on the trails, you need to work on your running ability also on the flat (road or track). This is the base from which every other quality can be developed. My Vert.run programs naturally incorporate the right mix of speed, strength and endurance on any surface: that’s why I like to define my style as “Any Surface Available,” because a good performance on trails comes from running fast on any kind of terrain. This idea also proves that you don’t need to live in the mountains to be a trail runner: with good work and the right workouts, anyone (even people living in a city) can approach trail running with satisfaction. In fact, you don’t need to train in the mountains all the time to perform well on trails: many qualities can be developed on the flat and also on the road. I work to find the perfect balance that suits each athlete.
Meet Nici Winkelbeiner - A Vert.run coach
Where’s Nici from?: I’m from the southernmost part of Germany, right at the border to Switzerland. Thus, I had the luck to grow up with the majestic Swiss Alps around the corner. Since little (started skiing when 3 years old), I loved to spend time in the mountains and found my unmet passion in trail running. If not running or scrambling mountains, you can find me cross-country and alpine skiing. I live in Zurich with easy access to all of the Swiss Alps.
Nicis’s favorite trail in the whole world: Close to the sky, far away from civilization, with a breathtaking view – while scrambling over harsh rocks and running on edgy ridges, I feel truly alive and fully in my element.
Nici’s coaching philosophy:
I strive to support athletes in unlocking their full potential to achieve their goals via a sustainable and holistic training approach. The cornerstone of progressive training is consistency. Another key concept to me is practicing mindfulness in training and coaching. Recovery, cross-training, and performance-adapted healthy nutrition are vital to growth and gaining strength – physically as well as mentally.
Trail running training is a highly individual thing (for many more reasons than most versatile training terrain athletes have access to or different fitness levels). By my coaching, I aim to help each athlete find the individual training strategy facilitating the joy of running and making progress.
Last but not least, my trail mantra: Slow and steady makes the ultra.
How did you decide to become a trail running coach: Over the last years I intensified my trail running training and ran my first ultra while coaching friends along the way. At the same time, I was diving into sports nutrition a lot as ramping up running required increased focus on appropriate nutritional fuel- and recovery strategies. The wish was born to align working with my passion for trail running. I completed the Swiss Athletics certification as a Trail and Mountain Running Coach in 2023 and started studying Sports and Exercise Nutrition (MSc) in addition to my PhD in food chemistry.
Meet Max Keith - A Vert.run coach and Co-founder
Where’s Max from?: Iquique…a city in the north of Chile, surrounded by the desert, mountains and in front of the ocean.
Max’s favorite trail in the whole world: Uffff, such a hard question! I’ve been fortunate enough to have run some pretty epic trails in Chile as well as in other countries, so it’s really hard to choose. But If I had to, I would go with the “Sentiero Roma” in the Italian Alps. A very technical trail that pretty much stays above tree line doing mountain pass after mountain pass…if you’re ever in the area and you like technical trails, that’s a must.
Max’s coaching philosophy: Consistency is king. Really. Thinking mid-term and long-term is always more important if you want to improve as a runner. Try to not get caught up in what others are doing and focus on building up your training day by day, week by week, month by month and year by year. There is no singular workout that will lead to massive change; it’s the cumulation of hours that will bring results in time.
Max’s go-to post-race/adventure food or drink: It depends a lot on the conditions, but usually, if it was a hot and a long race, anything fresh like a huge, huge salad and some sparkling water like a San Pellegrino. After a few hours of finishing a race or some long effort, I start craving something sweet.
How did Max start trail running: I’ve been involved in solo sports like kayaking since I was a child. Running was always a thing, influenced by my dad, but it wasn’t until later when I was finishing my studies that I discovered that running on the trails was an actual sport. Did my first trail run and basically never stopped since then.
Meet Moisés Jiménez - A Vert.run coach and Co-founder
Where’s Moi from: I was born in Venezuela. I lived there, in one of the hottest places in the country, for the first 8 years of my life. Then, my family moved to Coyhaique, in the middle of the Chilean Patagonia. Now, I live in the French Alps.
Moi’s favorite trail in the whole world: Home trails are always the best trails for me. My classic favorite trail is the loop to “Cerro Cinchao,” just outside my hometown of Coyhaique. If you happen to be in the area someday, you can check out the route here.
Moi’s coaching philosophy: I believe that less is more. Going harder or longer is not always the answer. Sometimes it’s key to focus on a quality workout instead of too many, too big workouts. I also deeply believe that resting and recovering is just as important as running. It’s better to take one day off to recover than over-do it, and be low in energy for a full week.
Moi’s go-to post-race/adventure food or drink: It depends on the season, but after a long run on a hot summer day I can literally eat a whole watermelon.
How did Moi start trail running: I started running because I really needed a way to move while studying engineering. My long days in front of the books needed to be balanced with some other activity. Once I discovered that it was possible to run on the trails, there was no looking back.
Meet Steven Krenn a Vert.run coach
Where’s Steve from: New York, NY…..But I feel most at home on the trails!
Who is Steve: I’m a certified RRCA running coach & REBT certified mindset coach. I enjoy working with others to help them achieve goals beyond what they thought were possible. I complete, explore, and train with the drive to learn more about what I can push my body to do. As an overweight, out-of-shape child and teenager with low self-esteem, I started running over twenty years ago and have used it to not only get in shape, but to develop pride in everything my body (and mind) can accomplish. I have completed races ranging in distances from 5k to Ultramarathons. Running is a lifelong passion for me, and I enjoy helping others develop a rewarding relationship with the sport.
What is Steve’s coaching philosophy: Just RUN – Make it fun & integrate it into your life. Consistency is key.
- Mostly “slow” – Slow is relative, but many people don’t appreciate the importance of easy runs. Speed and strength do have their place, but only when targeted for a specific outcome.
- Not too much – Don’t overtrain or burn out. Enjoy the process as much, if not more, than reaching the goal.
- Know Your WHY – Everyone has a reason to run. For some it’s about physical health, some struggle with mental Illnesses/emotional trauma. For others, they want to check “that race” off a bucket list. Whatever it is, know it, own it, and remind yourself of it while training.
What’s Steve’s personal philosophy about running: Running changes our concept of self; who we are, what we are capable of, and who we can grow into. You can train your physical body, but if you don’t believe in yourself, if there’s an unhelpful story you are replaying in your head, then you won’t get far. Everyone has a reason to run. For some it’s about physical health, some struggle with mental illnesses/emotional trauma. For others, they want to check “that race” off a bucket list. Whatever it is, know it, own it, and remind yourself of it while training. Believe YOU actually are capable of great things. Because you are…We all are.
What are Steve’s qualifications:
I am both a RRCA certified running coach and a REBT certified mindset coach.
Meet Manu Ramirez a Vert.run Coach
Where’s Manu from: I was born in Venezuela, and then I moved to Panama in 2014, to Suriname in 2018 and to Colombia in 2021. Here in Colombia I live in the beautiful valley of Medellin, in La Cordillera de Los Andes. I live 1500 meters above sea level, and am surrounded by mountains up to 3300 meters above sea level!
How Manu Started trail running: I started running seriously in 2008, but ever since I was a kid I was a sports guy. In 2009 I did my first ultra in Venezuela–of course, I didn’t finish it, because I didn’t train at all, haha. Since then, I’ve run more than 35 ultramarathons from 50k to 170 in many countries around the world.
How did you decide to become a trail running coach: During the pandemic, some of my friends who were ultrarunning coaches encouraged me to become a coach. So, I completed a degree to become an ultrarunning coach and personal trainer with a major in running. Actually, my career before coaching is that I am an agricultural engineer.
Go-to post-race food: A pizza with a big glass of iced tea!
What’s Manu’s favorite trail: I have plenty of them! In Venezuela, where I’m from, I love El Cerro del Hotel Maracay–it’s an uphill trail, and at the top you can see the whole city. In Panama? The Cocoa Plantation, a 14k jungle trail with lots of monkeys…and in Surinam, the Berlin route!
What’s Manu’s coaching philosophy:
Working together to build your consistency is the key to reaching your goals! I will be here to keep you motivated, accountable and above all, to get into the habit of consistency so that you can finish your races smiling! I also just completed a degree in sports psychology, which I did so that I can help you prepare for your goals beyond just the physical training part–in an even more holistic way.
Plus, when you’re training for an ultramarathon, there’s way more to think about where you need help from a coach to prepare every aspect. Together, you’ll learn how to manage your race (what to eat, what to drink, what to carry with you) during the race, and most importantly how to up your mental game!
Meet Daniel Rowland a Vert.run Coach
Daniel’s Background: I have been competing in endurance sports for many years starting with cross-country running and triathlon and now in trail multi-stage races and trail ultra-marathons. Over that time I have experienced a lot of training protocols, made many mistakes, made refinements, and slowly figured out the best practices that work well for me as an athlete.
- Training should be specific
- Training should be consistent
- Training should be progressive
Note: Daniel is our Vert.run Premium coach, which is why it costs more to train with him than with Vert.run Pro.
Meet Pablo Ureña a Vert.run Coach
Where’s Pablo from: Born and raised in Costa Rica… in between University I lived in the USA, Canada and now I have been living in Australia, for almost 3 years now!
How did you decide to become a coach: Started running around 2011 did lots of road running and switched to trail running around 2016. I love all the running terrains, but technical terrain definitely excites me. Studied physical education, I am a qualified personal trainer and other running courses to mention some of them UESCA ultra running coach, Athletics Australia Lvl 1 & 2, and USATF lvl 1, and have been a coach for almost 4 years now. If you want to know a bit more just ask around here or connect with me you can follow me on Strava or Insta.
Go-to post-race food: Ice cream, chips, pizza, and Coca-Cola for sure!
Pablo’s coaching philosophy: Progressive overload, rest, positive mindset, patience, and perseverance are what I try to cultivate in my athletes. Getting the right balance with life in general is hard, but there is always a way. Communication is key for me as a coach, the more the athlete knows about their plan and why we will find the right balance and perform better. Adapting and balancing the plans of each athlete is the key to achieving your goals in a happy and healthy way!
Meet Leo Pershall a Vert.run Coach
Where’s Leo From: I live in Fairfax, California, which is just north of the Golden Gate Bridge in Marin County. We are fortunate to have over 300 miles of single-track trails and seemingly countless dirt fire roads that are all watched over by our favorite local mountain, Mt. Tam. Because of this amazing access, we have an incredible local trail running community…come run with us sometime!
Leo’s Favorite Trail: There is no way I could pick just one! I always prefer to run straight from my door, so I would say any trail in my backyard is my favorite. With that said, if I absolutely had to pick just one, Yolanda Trail is pretty darn good.
How Did Leo Start Running: Well, that’s a very long story, so I will condense it. I was a competitive road cyclist, turned competitive 24 hour solo mountain bike racer, turned self-supported bikepack racer (Tour Divide) who then quit athletics to pursue a circumnavigation of the world on board a small sailboat with my wife and two cats. While en route from Mexico to the Marquesas Islands, my wife found a growth on my chest that turned out to be melanoma. Confronted with my mortality and desperate to process this information, I went for a run in Pago Pago, American Samoa and realized that I needed to be an athlete in order to live my life to the fullest. With this realization, I decided to become a trail racer. I found a race in New Zealand to start training for and ran on all of the islands we sailed to en route to NZ. The race was The Revenant Ultra Endurance Run and the rest is history!
What Is Leo’s Coaching Philosophy: My coaching philosophy is simple and born from my personal journey in sport spanning more than a decade. I believe that balance, consistency and self-care are at the core of any successful athlete.
Balance, because without it, an athlete will likely burn hot with passion in the beginning and then slowly cool and the drive will fade. By focusing on maintaining work/life balance, an athlete will be sure to distribute their energy evenly and will likely avoid the dreaded burnout and will likely have a better chance to continue running late into life.
Consistency, because this is what creates the foundation of athletic gain and growth. An athlete can chase all the seemingly magic singular workouts and training aids but in the end, it is my belief that showing up, day after day and consistently putting in the smart, honest work is what makes us better. This of course coupled with balance and self-care is what makes it smart and keeps us from pushing too far.
And last but likely most important, self-care. This is a blanket term that pertains to all aspects of self. Of course, things like warming up, yoga, strength work, ice baths, rolling, recovery smoothies, vegetables and good sleep all may immediately come to mind. However, this can also go a bit deeper into such things as community, stewardship, mindfulness, mature and realistic goal setting, patience through injury and grace after a DNF.
(Want to be coached by one of these great mentors for just $25 USD/month? Try Vert.run Pro!)
