TESTIMONIALS
Niki Meyers
“When I was referred to you all I wasn’t actually looking for a coach but like the idea of accountability and the log and stress/mental health self assessments. I’ve stayed because I value the day by day feedback in the log. I love listening to the Friday calls, even though I don’t join them I always listen to them on my run. I like the idea of a team, even though I’m a little shy about interacting and I like the message that you and Zoe stand for. As you know, my goals are to run forever and to stay healthy and uninjured. We’ve been doing this since November 2019. Thank you for all you do!!”
Leah Hughes
“Working with TJ has helped me become not just a better athlete, but also a more compassionate and introspective person. The daily celebration of small achievements and unconditional support and encouragement has changed the way I think about my athletic performance. Being accountable to a coach has helped me be more accountable to myself and my long term goals!”
Matt Mientka
“I fought to and through a 50 mile race without the slightest bit of coaching or formal running experience. After the legs recovered and I decided to do it again, I had an initial discussion with Zoë about me, my goals, and Microcosm. We started on a long term training program that has me not only feeling amazingly fit, but much better prepared for any kind of race or adventure in front of me. On top of that, I now feel a part of a phenomenal community with other athletes that inspire, cheer, and support me along the way.”
Domenico Ponziano
“I’ve worked with TJ for over a two years. My coach creates personalized training schedules that meet my needs and my goals. In addition, having a daily line of communication with him allows my coach to make any necessary changes on the fly.
TJ has been incredibly knowledgeable, giving me advice and suggestions about hydration, nutrition, self-care and all the aspects related to my training.
Microcosm believes in long term potential and values the longevity of his athlete. They work in order to improve the best of ourselves, no matter how small this progress is.”
Vivienne Baldassare
“Working with Zoë and the Microcosm Team has been transformational for me as an athlete and a person. With the support of my coach and the community, I have been able to conquer big running goals (hey first 50k!), and feel inspired every day to dream big in life and running! In a year of really big life transitions, I can’t overstate how grateful I am to be a part of a community that values their athletes as people and encourages us to trust the process and play the long game.”
Lionell jansen
“After getting into running mid 2017, I was just running without a goal, without a purpose. I started training for a road half marathon, ended up doing a 50 km trail race as my first race ever. Kept pushing hard and eventually got overtrained.
Things had to change, that change started once I started working with Zoë from Microcosm Coaching. We set out long term goals, focused on the kind races I loved, mountain ultra trails.
After a year of training with Microcosm, it has brought me structure and the results are speaking for themselves as I keep on improving.”
Danielle Otto
“Before Microcosm, I was regularly running ultras without training and putting myself in precarious health situations. Once I was able to develop consistency and switch my mindset to process oriented versus goal oriented, I was able to be more at peace with how my body was progressing as an athlete and bank fitness for bigger adventures! Those big goals are a lot less daunting when you have a community behind you to get you to where you want to be.”
Sarah Strong
“I signed up with Microcosm for the coaching philosophy and daily check-ins, but it’s the abundant support, inspiration and expertise from coaches and fellow athletes alike that set this community apart. My coach celebrates and honors all aspects of my life and is dedicated to my success as a whole person– not just a runner. I’m thankful everyday for the way Microcosm Coaching has transformed my running, for the quality of new connections, and for an incredible community of positivity. acceptance, and STOKE.”
Mike Malina
“I was a train to race runner. My mileage was inconsistent, strength training was hit or miss, and I often pushed myself to injury. TJ has taught me the value of taking a long-term approach to my training. With his mentorship, I’m learning to read the clues my body gives me and to give myself grace if things don’t go as planned (instead of pushing myself even harder, to the point of breaking).”
Zena Robinson
“To find Microcosm and to be coached taking all my quirks as a human into the equation rather than feel I’m being handed a pre determined plan has lead to a natural and sustainable progression. This makes me so excited for the next goal I can dream up in the future. It doesn’t matter if it’s your first 10k or first 100 miles, these are both scary goals and we all need a little help and a whole heap of support to face the unknown while finding joy in the day to day process.
A little bit of knowledge isn’t always a good thing and I knew I needed mentoring to reach my ever evolving finish lines. With the support both of the coaches and the amazing community I’m finding more confidence in trusting my own instincts instead of second guessing myself, knowing I’m being guided in the right direction with someone keeping an objective eye over this part of my life. I’m in it for the long run (pun completely intended literally and metaphorically) and searching for a coach who shares this long term approach and not concentrating solely on preparing someone for the next event are far and few between. As always thank you – thank you. ”
Lauren Lande Coach: Zoe
Microcosm has a training philosophy that I trust, coaches that are super knowledgeable and caring and a community that is diverse and passionate about running! The coaching team aspect is so important. I feel confident that I’m being led in the right direction because of the awesome team of coaches that make up Microcosm. It’s fun to listen to the community calls and get different perspectives and to hear from true experts! The cost is affordable and is well worth it. The daily connection with Zoe is a game changer. It helps motivate me to run everyday because I look forward to writing it up in the Log.
You guys walk the talk and use the same training philosophies yourselves. This makes me trust the process. I know I’ll never be running as fast as Zoe but I know I have a solid chance at meeting my goals because the training philosophy is being tested and proven out on a daily basis.
The wide variety of athletes that makes up Microcosm makes deciding to have a coach less intimidating. I know I don’t have to “fit in” because there doesn’t seem to be a typical athlete.
Andrew Horvatits Coach: Kristen
“Working with Kristen and Microcosm has been the single most impactful change I’ve made for my running. Within a few months of signing up I’d realized how much of my previous training was based on misguided advice and how many other ways I was cutting myself short. It would’ve taken me years to figure out everything on my own that Kristen and the other coaches were able to share with me in a much shorter period. The best part of Microcosm though has been the support through all the low points – illness and injuries, cancelled races, or even losing a pet. Any one of those things would’ve been stressful or difficult to recover from on my own, and I’m so grateful that I was part of the Microcosm team and had that support when I went through those challenges.”
Anna Wisniewski Coach: Kristen
“Joining Microcosm was the best thing I could have done for my running journey. Before, I struggled with injuries and consequently staying consistent. Over my first year with Kristen, I’ve been able to steadily build mileage and fitness and run my first two ultramarathons (which before seemed way out of reach)! The daily check-ins and the relationship you build with your coach are what set Microcosm apart.”
Garrett Grahl Coach: Kristen
“Microcosm can offer support in training in different ways for different people. For me, from my coach, that comes through motivation, accountability, guidance, and flexibility. I’m probably not like most, where I have very little interest in racing, but I love to go on extremely long, adventure runs. Most recently my coach helped me to run the entire Teton Crest Trail in a day, unsupported, and one of the biggest things my coach gave me in the training process was courage and the confidence to do this run. When you’re 20 miles away from a trailhead or people, all you have is yourself, and God.”
Cassie Achzenick Coach: Kristen
“I first came to Microcosm Coaching because I had injured myself trying to train for my first 50k with a random training plan I found online. I had pushed myself too far and ended up not being able to run the race and spending the summer in physical therapy. I signed up for the same race the next year and started working with Kristen. She really taught me a new way of training and I was able to complete my first 50k while enjoying all of it! She also helped me train to climb Mt. Rainier. With both of these events, I was always so impressed that not only could I complete them but with Kristen’s help, I was also able to enjoy them much more fully.”
Jakub Drahokoupil
“Training with Microcosm and especially Kristen has been a revelation in many ways. I have never in my life seen such a supportive coach who also understands that as an amateur athlete, we have to juggle a lot of things and that life comes first. Thanks to this, you will inevitably fall in love with the process. And that brings fitness breakthroughs. And helps you get rid of inner demons (low confidence, impostor syndrome). With Microcosm and Kristen I know that I am training for the long haul and longevity. In my first year I have seen so many small adaptations, which were adding up and now I am in the best shape of my life. And I know that it is just the beginning! BTW: The amazing community is just a cherry on top!”
Adam Stepanovik
Coach TJ “gives a shit and has learned about me as a person. — what motivates me, what my goals are in life, and life constraints. This makes it so you know what you need to push on (consistency) and what you don’t (motivation). The need for consistency vs motivation could totally be confused if you weren’t paying attention because at the Strava level, it just looks like I’m lazy sometimes. I’m a lot of things, lazy ain’t one of them. But instead you ripped off a golden arrow at refocusing time, energy, and planning in my general life so that I’d have consistency. That my friend has meant the world to me, and quite frankly my family too. We love my Sunday’s off together, AND my fitness is kicking ass. Thank you!!!”
Vince Anila
“I love how easy it is to adjust things on the fly with Coach TJ, and how his only agenda is my agenda. There have been highs and lows with this, times of extreme motivation and times of very little, and I appreciate how he walks me through both with so much attunement and grace. Every coach at Microcosm is SO knowledgeable, and I think one of the things that separates Microcosm from almost anyone else is that to some degree us athletes have access to all of them, via community calls, etc…In short, everyone on the coaching team is on top of best practices right now, and approaches their athletes first as humans; everything they offer is depathologizing and super helpful.”
Katelyn Peterson
“I really appreciate the combination of focus on individuality and individual goals, taking into account all aspects of life, and using science-based training practices. I also really like that the coaching team includes people with expertise in not only running and exercise science, but mental health and nutrition as well. This makes me feel that I’m getting really well-rounded guidance (and I have/am :). I also appreciate that Microcosm works with athletes of all levels and that you work with each individual athlete to decide what’s most important to them (whether it’s a fast 5km or their first 250 miler). And, finally, I really appreciate the daily feedback and encouragement, and the sense of community!”
Christie Chappins
“I’ve been with coach TJ and Microcosm Coaching for a few years now. Through all the highs and lows of my journey they have been the one constant that keeps me lifted and propelling forward. I’ve learned so much about what it is to be an athlete (the science of speed work, proper/effective fueling and hydration, meditation, the rule of thirds, compassion for self). This is the most holistic and supportive group I know – they have become a virtual family to me. (I did get to meet some of them in person when they came to WSER!! – talk about inspirational!!!)
Joe Fisher
“I can’t express how impactful TJ and Microcosm Coaching was not only to my running but to my life in general! My running improved by leaps and bounds but I also became a more self-aware and disciplined person. I highly recommend TJ and his team. They will make a hugely positive impact on your running and your life!”