UESCA Endurance Running Conference
Speakers
The speakers chosen to present at this year’s conference were selected based on being the best in their specific areas of focus. More speakers will be added to this page as they are confirmed.
2024 UESCA Conference Speakers
Nell Rojas
Professional Runner/Coach
Nell Rojas was born and raised in Boulder, CO where she now trains professionally and coaches all ages and abilities. She competed in track and field and cross country at the University of Northern Arizona where she earned a B.S in Exercise Science and won numerous conference titles in the steeplechase and 5k.
After college, she tried her hand at being a professional triathlete before retiring to go back to her roots of running. She won Grandma’s Marathon in 2019, went on to finish 9th at the Marathon Olympic Trials, and was the first American to cross the finish line at the Boston Marathon in 2021 and 2022, putting her in 5th and 10th place, respectively. She is now training to earn a spot on the 2024 Olympic Marathon Team.
Dr. Matt Hanson
Professional Triathlete/Coach
Dr. Matt Hanson holds an MS in Health and Physical Fitness, and an EdD in Adult and Higher Education. Dr. Hanson is a professional triathlete and triathlon coach. He has an extensive background as an athlete and is highly educated in all things sports-related. As an athlete, Matt comes from a wrestling background, but running has always been a passion of his.
In 2014, his first year as a pro, Matt set three run course records and won Ironman Chattanooga. He has since tallied 11 professional wins, including four Ironman North American Championship titles. Matt’s educational background and training record make coaching a natural fit for him. Coaching since 2013, he has helped triathletes reach their goals at all distances.
Robby Ketchell
Data Scientist
Robby Ketchell is a data scientist whose career in professional sports began with Garmin-Sharp Pro Cycling where he was the Director of Sports Science, and was known as the team’s ‘secret weapon’ for the number of innovations he brought to the sport. Amongst his many technological achievements, Ketchell is the creator of the fastest speed suit in the world, the BAT Box – the world’s first onboard aerodynamic measuring device to replace a wind tunnel, and Platypus, the first big data analytics tool in cycling. Following his time with Garmin, he joined Team Sky / INEOS Grenadiers – helping the team to four Tour de France victories. Most recently Ketchell served as a critical member of the performance team for Eliud Kipchoge’s INEOS 1:59 challenge.
Dr. Kirsty Elliott-Sale
Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology
Kirsty completed her undergraduate degree and PhD [Exercise Physiology] at Liverpool John Moores University. Her PhD examined the effects of female reproductive hormones on muscle strength and since then her work has primarily focused on female athletes.
She worked as a Lecturer at Brunel University and the University of Brighton, before undertaking a four-year Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship at Kings College London. She worked at Nottingham Trent University for 12 years, before joining the Institute of Sport at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2022 as a Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology.
In addition to her research on female athletes, which includes the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, and menstrual dysfunction, her work in recent years has involved designing and implementing exercise interventions during and following pregnancy in a variety of populations including servicewomen (i.e., military personnel), athletes, and women with obesity.
She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, expert statements, and editorials on/for sportswomen. In addition, she works with many organizations such as the United Kingdom Sports Institute, the European Club Association, Manchester Thunder Netball Team, and Arsenal Women’s Football Team and is part of several special interest groups and advisory boards related to female athletes.
Dr. Justin Ross PsyD
Licensed 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.
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.
Dr. Lawrence van Lingen
Structural Integration Specialist
Dr. Lawrence van Lingen is a bodywork specialist who has helped thousands of people overcome pain and injury and enhance their sports performance and everyday well-being. He has over twenty years of experience in sports chiropractic, physical therapy, rehabilitation, strength and conditioning, movement coaching, and breathing techniques. As a triathlete and runner, Lawrence has a holistic view of the human body and its functioning.
Lawrence is the founder of Innerunner, an online community with masterclasses, workshops, programs, and teachings that aim to transform your running and movement potential. He helps his running community and world-class athletic clients, such as Red Bull, Mr Price Running, Santa Cruz Syndicate and athletes such as Greg Minnaar, Ryan Sandes, Taylor Knibb, Jan Frodeno, and Flora Duffy, to name just a few, to run better, move better, and feel better.
Lawrence van Lingen is a passionate and inspiring leader who wants to share his knowledge and vision with the world. He believes that we are all genetically engineered to run and that we can rediscover our innate ability by following the Innerunner path. He is a professional, friend, and guide to many people who want to improve their lives through running and movement.
Nick Tiller, Ph.D
Exercise Scientist and Researcher – Harbor/UCLA
Dr Nick Tiller is an exercise scientist and research associate at The Lundquist Institute, 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.” As a leading authority on the physiology and pathophysiology of ultra-endurance exercise, Dr Tiller has contributed extensively to our understanding of the sport, and authored the inaugural Position Stand on nutritional considerations for ultramarathon – a paper that has so far been accessed ~70,000 times. Tiller is also an associate editor at the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, a columnist at Skeptical Inquirer magazine, a columnist at UltraRunning Magazine, and a science consultant for the digital magazine Research Essentials for Ultra-Running. For his ongoing work in science communication and critical thinking, Tiller was elected to the position of Fellow of the Committee For Skeptical Inquiry in 2023, alongside luminaries like Richard Dawkins, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and Steven Pinker. Website: www.nbtiller.com; Twitter: @NBTiller
Dr. Kelly Rose Thomas
Pelvic Floor Specialist
Dr. Kelly Rose Thomas is a sports and pelvic floor physical therapist and an endurance coach who specializes in working with athletes through pregnancy and postpartum, extreme triathlon training and racing, and running on road and trails. Dr. Thomas has dedicated her career to helping athletes achieve their full potential, recover from injuries, and navigate pregnancy and postpartum with comprehensive, evidence-based care.
Her specialization in pelvic floor health addresses a critical and often overlooked aspect of physical health that impacts many athletes. Prior to becoming a physical therapist, she was an aerospace physiology instructor and technician in the Air Force.
When she’s not exploring the U.S. by foot or bike with her husband and son, she can be found at her clinic in Woodland Park, CO, and online at drkellythomas.com.
Mandy Mullen
Race Director/Running Coach
Mandy Mullen is the owner of the run.Windsor Race Series, co-owner of run.Colorado relays and a certified UESCA Run Coach. What she started as a women’s running group in 2017 has evolved to nine local endurance events ranging from 5k to 50k distances, hosting 500-1000 runners per event, and two cross-state overnight relay races. Their mission is to support community wellness, economic development and give back to local nonprofits.
She is a Colorado native with a Marketing degree from Colorado State University. She was inspired to become a better runner and a positive part of the running community after their experience at the Boston Marathon in 2013 where her husband ran. Mandy set her own running goals, and today runs ultra-marathons, with her third Leadville 100 scheduled for 2023.
The run.Windsor team is small, with Mandy serving as the Race Director, her husband as the Timer, a full time Director of Events, many volunteers and community supporters. Mandy is highly involved in the community and serves on two local non-profit boards. She owned and operated a Group Fitness studio from 2019-2022, and recently co-founded a local nonprofit.
Ashley Mateo
Journalist/Editor
Ashley Mateo is an award-winning journalist and editor. Her writing has appeared in such outlets as Runner’s World, Women’s Running, Outside, The Wall Street Journal, TIME, Men’s Journal, Health, Women’s Health, SELF, Bicycling, and more. Ashley is also an RRCA- and UESCA-certified running coach. She lives in Denver.
Sammie Lewis DPT
Physical Therapist
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.
Ryan Frankel
Serial Entrepreneur
Ryan is a serial technology entrepreneur and was most recently the CEO and Founder of This App Saves Lives (TASL), a mobile platform designed to put an end to phone-based distracted driving. TASL is the first U.S. company in history to be awarded Social Innovator of the Year by Fundacion MAPFRE.
Previously, Ryan co-founded VerbalizeIt, a language translation platform hatched at Wharton, incubated at Techstars, featured on ABC’s Shark Tank, which was later acquired.
Prior to earning his MBA at The Wharton School of The University of Pennsylvania, Ryan was an investor for Goldman Sachs’ Special Situations Group.
Ryan is an Ironman triathlete, former collegiate baseball player, Inc. Magazine Top 35 Under 35 entrepreneur, Techstars mentor, and author who resides in Philadelphia, PA with his wife, two young children, Golden Retriever puppy and his pair of running shoes.
Meredith Terranova MS
Sports Nutritionist
Meredith Terranova has been helping her clients reach their nutritional goals since 2004. Through Meredith’s guidance, her clients have reached goals ranging from losing weight, wellness nutrition, race nutrition, training and recovery nutrition, and others using a real world nutrition approach.
Eating healthy and preparing healthy meals at home has been a part of Meredith’s lifestyle for many years. Her passion to share this lifestyle strengthened after taking food science and culinary classes as part of her nutrition degree at University of Houston. Meredith received her BS in Human Nutrition and Consumer Science from the University of Houston in 1997, followed by her Internship in 1998. Because learning and nutrition are an ever evolving she recently continued her studies receiving her MS in Advanced Nutrition and Human Performance in 2020, with her thesis on Gut Microbiome and Endurance Athletes.
As an ultra-distance runner, triathlete, and swimmer, a healthy lifestyle is part of her daily routine. By living what she teaches, she has experienced a huge impact on training, performance, and recovery. This is evident as she continues to see success at every distance from an Ultraman to a 100 mile run in the mountains.
Nat Collins DPT
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).
Dr. Harlan Austin
Sports Psychologist
Harlan Austin, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with national certifications in sport psychology and addiction psychology. With 20 years of experience working in the sport and clinical psychology field, Harlan has worked with individuals focused on high-performance, return-to performance, and leadership development. Harlan has served in many roles including performance consultant, clinician, program developer, and clinical director. He has lectured and presented at national conventions on the topics of sport and performance psychology, clinical sport psychology, athlete psychological assessment, athlete rehabilitation, and athlete return to sport. Through his career Harlan has had the opportunity to work with professional athletes (NBA, MLB, NFL, Boxing, LAX, Ski, Snowboard), healthcare professionals, US Special Forces groups, and high-level executives.
Harlan’s enthusiasm for sport psychology stems from merging his academic and athletic interests into one. Through finding the balance of passions, he believes that sport and performance psychology has a place in all areas of life. He has had the opportunity to deliver performance psychology perspectives in multiple contexts, including university and high school athletic departments, hospital settings, sports medicine clinics, active military groups, and for individual professional clients.
Dominique (Dee) Stasulli
NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Dee is an endurance and strength coach [owner of Zeal Endurance Coaching] for competitive amateur and recreational athletes across a range of endurance sport disciplines.
Her master’s degree is in Kinesiology: Sports Conditioning and she’s an NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She loves to combine the science of exercise physiology with the art of coaching in the field. She also currently teaches anatomy/physiology, kinesiology, and pathophysiology to pre-healthcare students on the community college level. Personally, she is a former DII collegiate cross-country/track and field athlete and now participates in a variety of sports year-round, but racing trail and multisport events are her favorite.
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.
Christine Otten, CPACC
Accessible Website Designer & SEO Strategist
Greetings! I look forward to connecting with you at the 2024 UESCA Endurance Running Conference!
I am an accessible website designer and SEO Strategist. With over 20 years of experience in website design and SEO, I specialize in crafting online platforms that are not only visually compelling but also strategically designed to enhance a business’s visibility and client engagement.
As a professional committed to web accessibility, I am certified through the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) as a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC). This commitment is championed by my strong skill set in web design, front-end development, and SEO strategies, ensuring that the digital platforms I create are accessible, impactful, and effective.
At the 2024 conference, I’ll be sharing insights into cost-effective website solutions tailored for endurance sports coaches, along with actionable SEO strategies that are simple to implement yet powerful in driving your coaching business forward.
Matt Vosburgh
Accomplished Ultrarunner
Matt fell in love with running twice–first during high school, when he competed in cross country and track, and then again in 2014, when he rediscovered running after an impromptu half marathon with his brother. Matt’s relentless pursuit of novel challenges led him to explore multi-day efforts beginning in 2019, approaching these events as laboratories to learn, explore strategies, and test his physical limits. He currently holds the Fastest Known Times for circumnavigating Iceland and for the Empire State Trail in New York.
Matt has successfully completed two (2) multi-day ultrarunning races and will be speaking on this topic during the Ultrarunning Track on Sunday.
Molly Forr
Running Coach
Molly has been running competitively nearly all her life and became a dedicated student of the sport in the process. Molly has coached athletes on the road and track across a wide range of distances, pace brackets, and age groups to lifetime PR’s, successful returns from injury, BQs, and most importantly, continued year-on-year growth and development. Molly is deeply committed to helping athletes uncover areas of improvement and break through the barriers that have stood in the way of progress.
Molly is a USATF and RRCA certified running coach, a certified fitness nutrition specialist, and personal trainer. She has training in ultra-distance and multi-day event coaching and trail and mountain running. She also has extensive experience as a crew chief on a range of successful ultra endurance events.
Renee Eastman
Physiology Lab Testing CTS
Renee has an undergraduate degree in Kinesiology from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs where she focused her studies in exercise physiology and the impact of strength training on endurance cycling performance.
Renee has been working with athletes doing physiological testing since 1996 when she worked at the Olympic Training Center as a sport science consultant for USA Cycling. Since 2001 she has worked full-time as an endurance coach for Carmichal Training Systems where she also runs their physiology testing lab. In addition to being a USA Cycling Level 1 coach, Renee is also a NSCA Strength and Conditioning Specialist and a NASM Nutrition Coach.
2024 Endurance Running Conference Sponsors
We would like to thank our awesome sponsors for their support in helping to make this conference a reality.
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