I am incredibly grateful for the guidance and support Rachel has provided me during some of the most challenging and rewarding moments of my running journey. Not only was she my biggest cheerleader, but she also became a friend. Over the course of training for two 100-mile races less than 8 weeks apart, she showed up for me in ways that went beyond coaching.

Her approach to coaching is truly holistic—she doesn’t just focus on the physical aspect of running but also on the mind and spirit. She has a remarkable ability to see the whole person, and that’s what sets her apart. When life threw curveballs, whether it was an injury or a personal challenge, she was always there to adapt my training plan with creativity and flexibility, ensuring I never felt alone.

One of the moments that truly stands out to me was during my 100-mile race at mile 65 of High Lonesome. It was the lowest point of my race, and I was struggling both physically and mentally. She didn’t just support me from a distance—she found a way to get me up, moving, and believing in myself again. Her energy, kindness, and compassion radiates through every interaction.

She’s a coach who truly cares, who tailors every aspect of her approach to fit the unique needs of her athletes. I wouldn’t have made it through those races without her unwavering support, and I’m so thankful for her friendship and guidance. She’s more than just a coach—she’s a mentor, a friend, and a true inspiration.

I have been working with Rachel for almost a year and have added Emma into my coaching plan for strength training a few months ago. It has been such a transformative experience for me as a runner and human being. When I first met Rachel, I was struggling in my personal life and in running. With Rachel’s support, I not only regained my physical strength, she helped me rediscover my confidence and my love for life. She challenges me, motivates me, and shows up for the full Celia, at my best and worst.

A year ago, I couldn’t have imagined being as physically fit as I am now. The difference in my fitness levels is seriously crazy!! But Rachel’s coaching hasn’t just made me a stronger runner, it’s helped me become a better problem solver, fine-tuning a skill that was already a strength in my career and daily life. And the opportunity to work with Emma alongside Rachel has only amplified the impact.

The most incredible part? I’ve never even met Rachel in person, yet she is seriously one of the most important people in my life. She has built an inclusive, supportive community, and I am endlessly grateful to be part of it. I can never say enough good things about Rachel and Emma—they are truly life-changing coaches.

When I first met Rachel I had been with a different coach for about three years and my training had gone stale. I was not seeing improvements, I was getting burnt out and I no longer felt like I was getting the personal coaching I was paying for, I felt like I was more of an afterthought and my training program was just thrown together with no thought to my schedule, family life or a very large upcoming race that I was training for. Something had to change.

I reached out to Rachel and after the first meeting I was very impressed with her super positive and upbeat attitude, we talked at length about goals, my work schedule and family life and how that would fit into a training plan and how she could help. Even though I had not officially hired her yet and I was still working with my other coach she never once pressured me to switch and I never felt like she was in a hurry to get out of the meeting. I felt like I was her only client and this was only the first time we talked.

I mulled over the idea of making the switch and made a list of pros and cons and after a few days I decided to jump in and take a chance with a new coach.

Wow!! I wish I had contacted her a long time ago. She was and is amazing to work with, immediately she got to work on my training I had a big race coming up and wanted to be ready, she took into account my crazy and odd work schedule, my home life schedule and my personal input on how a training schedule would work best for me. In the few months that I have been working with her I have seen my fitness skyrocket to a level I never thought possible, so much so that I have been setting PR's in just about every distance. Not in races where I am pushing hard but in training runs where I am holding back and not by just a little bit. I set a new 50k PR by over an hour and my marathon PR by 50 minutes and I still had more to give. In the three previous years my 50k PR had only changed by about 10 minutes. The most important thing she helped me with was to find my love of running again.

Rachel is great to work with, she works with me as a whole person, as a father, a husband and an athlete to put together a personalized training plan built for all of me and it has been an awesome journey. I am more than happy that I decided to take a chance and make a change that to this point has been the best change I have made in my athletic life. She treats you like you are her only athlete, she is easy to get ahold of and is very responsive to any questions or concerns, she is motivating and constantly giving encouragement. I am a mid pack runner and I never imagined myself standing on a podium at the end of a race but after seeing what Rachel has done with my fitness in just a few months who knows how far we can go and what can happen.

There are no strong days without Rachel, I truly believe this. My running journey with Rach has not only allowed me to find my potential as an athlete, but also as a person. Rachel treats me as a human first, an athlete second. She cares about my life outside of running just as much as she does my running journey. Constantly wanting the best for me, pushing me to cross new boundaries both on the trail and in life. She holds me accountable, provides feedback, listens and encourages me to do the things that make me happy.

From daily interactions during training, to race day, she always shows up. Always. No matter how crazy my ideas are for the next race, she’s always there to provide support, share a laugh and make me feel like maybe it’s not as crazy as I think. I feel that I am in the best physical and mental shape of life and it is hugely in part to the person on the other end of my Final Surge.

She’s helped me find such a purpose in running and in life. Rachel is my coach, but also has become my friend.

Working with Rachel has completely changed the way I train, race, and show up for myself as an athlete.

Before we started, I was running with no real structure—and definitely running too fast, too often. I didn’t have anyone guiding my training or helping me make smart decisions. Then, Rachel and I connected over Facebook after I posted looking for a coach for Run Rabbit Run 100. We grabbed coffee since we both lived in Colorado Springs, and within minutes, I canceled every other consult I had lined up. She’d run the race—and ran it really well—and her warmth, experience, and fun personality instantly drew me in.

Rachel wears every hat you could want in a coach. She’s the one behind my programming, the one reminding me to fuel, the one I FaceTime mid-run when I’m spiraling. She’s a coach, a friend, a therapist, and somehow still manages to be one of my loudest cheerleaders. During a 100-miler, we crossed paths and she stopped for a second—I paused to check on her, and she waved me off, yelling, “No…go!!!” That moment stuck with me. That’s who she is—always putting her athletes first.

She’s honest, blunt, and always says what I need to hear (even when I pretend I don’t want to hear it). But she does it with care, empathy, and a deep understanding of what it means to train and race at a high level. Rachel practices what she preaches, which makes her guidance so easy to trust and follow.

Two years in, I’ve cut time off repeat race distances, balanced training and life better, and found real joy in the process, not just the finish lines. Rachel has helped me build confidence I never thought I had and kept me accountable… even when I was being slightly (or VERY) stubborn about it.

If you’re considering working with her—do it. She’s the real deal, and your running (and sanity) will be better for it.

I started working with Rachel because I have too many activities I love and couldn’t figure out how to fit it all in. I wanted to progress my running but wasn’t willing to drop anything else to make it happen. Rachel has developed a schedule where everything fits, and over the last year I have seen huge gains in my running!

My favorite thing about Rachel is her support of me as a whole person. She has seen me through an injury and two surgeries and is always willing to adapt and support however I need her. Even when I had to take time off from running, she was checking in on me, making sure I was handling it well mentally, and getting me pumped for the return to run. Whenever I have some life stressor happening and need to adjust my schedule or can’t get myself out the door for a run, Rachel is always available to move something around or tell me to just lace up my shoes and do my best. Her blend of compassion, empathy, and accountability has made my running more consistent and so much more fun.

Rachel is my constant hype queen! Her enthusiasm is contagious and so motivating. Sometimes I think I just do hard workouts to see the nice things she says in my training log. She encourages me to set scary goals that are exciting to me and not worry about what distance or races make me a “real runner.”

Description I started working with Rachel in 2022 to prepare for my first ultra. With her help, I crossed the finish line and fell in love with running far on trails. Rachel coached me to all my firsts in ultra-running: my first 50k, first 50 miler, and first 100k. Each time, she listened to me, was invested in my wellbeing, and was my biggest cheerleader. She developed plans that were responsive to the race I’d picked (or she’d suggested) and were mindful of my other commitments.

Since we started working together, I’ve called her when races went really well, and when I had to make tough decisions. I raced Black Canyon 100k in 2022, where Rachel was crewing for someone else. She saw me run into my first aid station, walked me through it, helped me figure out cooling and fueling. Her calm, collected, logical process helped me until I called her a couple of hours later crying because I was in enough pain to make the decision (with her advice) to drop out.

Rachel has coached me back from quite a few injuries, brainstormed strategies not only to run fast but to run healthy. She’s a great sounding board for new adventures, crazy ideas, and realistic and honest with her counsel (she’s told me no gently numerous times). Rachel is full of suggestions for growing in the sport, which shoes to wear when, what supplements to take or not take, and must read every piece of new running news/science when it comes out.

I trust Rachel with my training unconditionally because she’s proven she knows what she’s doing. Rachel makes running a better sport, and anyone would be lucky to have her in their corner!

A lot of people will tell you that running is a solo sport. They only look at it from one perspective, the one where YOU lace up your shoes, YOU head out the door, and YOU get the miles in. For most, running is a form of solitude. 

What if I told you that was wrong; That running is a team sport? From group runs, to run clubs, to running buddies, to the community at large… there are so many people who can be a part of your journey to make the miles fly by and keep you accountable. This is the secret that I think has helped the sport of running explode in the past 5 years.

However, there’s another level that not many tap into, and thats coaching. Even more specifically, Rachel Lemcke as your running coach.

I’ve been working with Rachel for over 3 years. I reached out to her at a point when I felt like my goals were beyond my wheelhouse. Little did I know I would be establishing one of the most important relationships in my life. 

Rachel not only programs my workouts and plan for races, she’s helped me reach deep within myself to pull out the athlete that I didn’t know was there. The version of myself that is dedicated, persistent, pushes hard, and puts herself out there. This has not only made me a better runner, but a better WOMAN. We often reflect back together with the sentiment of “Kirsten 3 years ago would have never have done_________” 

Everything from cross training, nutrition, mental game, and strategy, she has got your back. Her experience is matched by her enthusiasm to see you succeed and accomplish your goals. 

No matter your background, no matter your goals, and no matter your pace, Rachel is the one to work with.

Don’t let running just be a solo sport, build your team. Build it with Rachel.