Al Hernandez

Chief Encouragement Officer & Head Coach

Al began running at the age of 12 and started coaching in 2002 while still competing at a high level. He is a United States Track and Field (USATF) Level 2 Endurance Coach, a USATF-certified Marathon Specialist, a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) Level 2 Certified Youth and Adult Coach, as well as an Ironman U, USA Triathlon Level 1 and ESCI Certified Coach.

Coach Al believes endurance sports should be fun, inclusive, and welcoming to people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds, gender identities, and orientations. His coaching philosophy centers on developing the complete athlete by providing the tools to succeed in both sport and life.

Over the years, Coach Al has expanded his expertise beyond running to include endurance sports coaching for triathletes and Ironman competitors. His athletes range from first-time 5K finishers to experienced marathoners, ultra-distance runners, and multisport athletes training for triathlons and Ironman events.

Coach Al has guided athletes of all ages and abilities—ranging from middle school to elite and recreational—helping them set and achieve meaningful performance goals while building confidence and resilience.

Training with Coach Al emphasizes individualized programming that blends proven running and triathlon-specific workouts, structured periodization, cross-training, and mobility and resistance training to enhance performance, reduce injury risk, and create lifelong endurance athletes and ambassadors of the sport.