UESCA Ultrarunning Coach Conference
Speakers
With the guidance of Jason Koop, we have hand-picked the top professionals to present at this conference. These speakers represent the very best at their specific areas of focus. We are humbled and thrilled to have them involved in this conference.
2023 UESCA Conference Speakers
Jason Koop
Head Ultrarunning Coach – CTS
A graduate of Texas A & M, Jason Koop is the Head Coach for CTS – Ultrarunning and principal of UESCA. He is the author of ‘Training Essentials for Ultrarunning – Editons 1 & 2”’ which has become the benchmark books for ultramarathon training. During his coaching career, he has managed over 100 endurance coaches and several hundred athletes of all types, abilities and sports.
He is also a sought-after speaker and presenter for all topics relating to ultramarathon performance. He is coach to many of today’s top ultramarathon athletes including Dylan Bowman, Kaci Lickteig, Timothy Olson, Stephanie Violet, Dakota Jones, Kelly Wolf and many others. An accomplished ultrarunner in his own right, he has finished some of the most difficult races on the planet including the Badwater 135, Hardrock 100, Leadville Trail 100, Wasatch 100, Bear 100 and Western States 100.
Stephanie Howe, Ph.D
Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist, Professional Ultrarunner
Stephanie Howe holds a MS in Exercise Physiology and a Ph.D Nutrition & Exercise Physiology. She specializes in sports nutrition, and helping athletes develop a better relationship with food. Stephanie also works with athletes with disordered eating, menstrual dysfunction, and pregnancy and post-partum.
Stephanie is also a professional trail runner for North Face and has won races including Western States 100 and Lake Sonoma 50, and has podium finishes at many other competitive ultra-races including UTMB and CCC.
Stephanie currently lives in France and loves spending time in the mountains, on skis, bike, or foot. Stephanie is a mom to Julien, who also loves running, skiing, biking with his mom in the mountains.
Nick Tiller,Ph.D
Exercise Scientist and Researcher – Harbor/UCLA
Dr Nick Tiller is a senior researcher in exercise physiology and respiratory medicine at Harbor-UCLA, and author of The Skeptic’s Guide to Sports Science which was named one of Book Authority’s “Best Sports Science Books of All Time.” Tiller is an avid ultramarathon runner and a leading authority on the physiology and pathophysiology of the sport. He is a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer magazine, a columnist at UltraRunning Magazine, and associate editor at the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. Website: www.nbtiller.com; Twitter: @NBTiller
Lindsay Golich, MSc
Sr. Sport & Exercise Physiologist – US Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Lindsay Golich is a Sr. Sport & Exercise Physiologist with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). She received her Master of Science from University of Colorado Springs Colorado with a focus in Performance Modeling using Individualized Data Analytics of Sport. She works closely with many National Governing Bodies including USA Cycling, USA Triathlon, USA Sailing, USA Canoe/Kayak in areas of environmental physiology such as altitude, heat & humidity, and data analytics for performance modeling.
Justin Ross, PsyD
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Ross holds a BS from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a PsyD from the University of Denver. Dr. Ross is a licensed clinical psychologist and sought-after sports psychologist who specializes in working with endurance sport athletes. Dr. Ross is an 11-time marathoner and 6-time Boston Marathon qualifier. He’s pursuing completion of the World Marathon Majors and has his sights on riding the Leadville 100 MTB for the first time in 2022.
Jessica Cozine-Lehman, DPT
Physical Therapist
Jessica Cozine-Lehman, earned her undergraduate degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ and her Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Regis University in Denver, CO in 2004.
She has continued her education in many areas, including manual therapy, women’s health and sport specific rehabilitation (cycling, running and triathlon). Jessica had the honor of going to the Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece in 2004 as a therapist for the Cycling Team.
Jessica has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 2001. She has enjoyed volunteering for the Colorado Chapter of the APTA since 2002, and currently serves on the Colorado APTA Board. She is also the Co-Chair of the Professional Development Committee and serves on the Colorado delegation at the National House of Delegates. She is honored to have received the Bob Doctor Service Award in 2008 and was named the Outstanding Physical Therapist of the Year in 2014 by the Colorado APTA.
Nat Collins, DPT, CSCS
Physical Therapist
Nat Collins has been treating ultrarunners in the Colorado Springs area for over a decade, with extensive experience managing injuries common to both beginners and podium finishers alike. He has worked with athletes during their successful bids to recover from injuries and return to win or podium at The Western States 100, Leadville 100, Badwater, HURT 100, Tarawera, UTMB, as well as Olympic qualifying marathoners and middle distance runners.
Nat received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in Chicago, IL (2012). Prior to attending PT school, he completed Masters research in myocardial and mitochondrial dysfunction at Colorado State University. Nat is board certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), has a strength and conditioning certification with the NSCA (CSCS), and is also certified by Kinetacore in functional dry needling (FDN).
Cliff Pittman
Director of Coaching – CTS
Cliff is the Director of Coaching for CTS. Cliff served 10 years in the Army and learned valuable lessons in leadership and team building, while simultaneously going to school for Business Management. During that military service, Cliff trained units and individuals in various capacities, including fitness, which would serve as the genesis for his future coaching career. Cliff’s coaching experience includes training military special operatives, ultra endurance athletes, and executive coaching. In addition to serving on the CTS Leadership Team, Cliff continues to coach both beginner and elite ultrarunning athletes across a variety of distances.
Faith Raymond Strafach, MS
Director of Coach Development – UESCA
Faith holds a BS and MS in Marine Science from the University of Connecticut. She is the founder of Run Long Run Strong which focuses on coaching ultrarunning athletes of all distances and abilities. In addition to her coaching practice, Faith is the Director of Coach Development for UESCA. Faith lives with her husband and two feline fur babies in Vermont.
Heather Hart, CSCS
Endurance and Strength Coach
Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified ultrarunning coach, RRCA certified running coach, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science. She is the co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of the popular running blog, Relentless Forward Commotion, where she has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009. Heather is a mom to two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over 15 years. Currently, you can find Heather chasing her own personal athletic goals and passions both in the weight room and in the sport of Adventure Racing.
Wouter Hoogkamer, Ph.D
Professor of Biomechanics
Wouter Hoogkamer, Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor of Biomechanics in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he runs the Integrative Locomotion Laboratory (UMILL). His lab uses a comprehensive approach to study human locomotion, integrating neurophysiology, biomechanics and energetics. His work on running shoes (the infamous 4%), cooperative drafting and course design might have played a tiny role in how Eliud Kipchoge broke the 2-hour marathon barrier. His lab is currently studying steep uphills, marathon shoes, track spikes, trail shoes and robotic footwear for gait rehabilitation.
Sammie Lewis, PT, DPT
Ultrarunning Coach
After several years of working in sports biomechanics as a biomedical engineer, Sammie earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Colorado. She is the co-founder of Golden Endurance Physical Therapy and Performance in Golden, CO and specializes in the rehabilitation, strength training, and coaching of trail runners.
Along with running her business, Sammie helps teach the Biomechanics course for the University of Colorado Physical Therapy program. She is certified in dry needling and specializes in strength and conditioning. She also races ultras and has podium finishes at races including San Juan Solstice, the Madeira Sky Marathon, and Quad Rock.
2023 Ultrarunning Coach Conference Sponsors
We would like to thank our awesome sponsors for their support in helping to make this conference a reality.
Podcast
This podcast interviews experts in all areas of endurance sports, as well as sports psychology, exercise science, nutrition, biomechanics and coaching.
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