MEET THE COACHES
ALLIE KAMINSKI
owner, run coach
Growing to 6’2” by her sophomore year of high school made Allie an easy pick for the volleyball coaches. As a standout Arkansas 7A All-State volleyball player, two-time MVP, and Arkansas All-Star Team selection, running wasn’t even on her radar. She continued her volleyball career at Graceland University, where she started all four years, earned many acolades, and served as team captain. It was also at Graceland where her passion for coaching began, stepping into the role of junior varsity men's volleyball coach.
After graduation, Allie returned to her alma mater to begin her teaching and coaching career, leading both high school and travel volleyball teams. During this time, she started to look for new athletic goals of her own… and that’s when her love for running began.
She trained for and ran her first half marathon during student teaching, and completed her first full marathon just a year and a half later. (Fun fact: she married her husband, Justin, during this time so he was at least somewhat aware of the “crazy” before saying “I do.”)
Over the years, Allie developed a deep respect for the sport of running and the incredible community that surrounds it. After years of running solo, she joined the Bentonville Half Marathon training group and finally found her people. Together, they formed a group called The Wolfpack. What began as a small accountability crew of 6–8 runners grew into a community of over 175 members that now hosts four weekly group runs open to the public. The Wolfpack has become a second family of runners of all ages, abilities, goals, and paces.
Allie is a firm believer that running is for everyone. If you run, you’re a runner. No pace, no distance requirement. This inclusivity is one of the things she loves most about coaching. That, and the fact that she gets to fully lean into her love for the science (and math!) behind training plans—nerd side proudly included.
Her favorite running memory? That would be qualifying for the Boston Marathon at the Des Moines Marathon in October 2021. Running down the finish chute with the crowd cheering and screaming for her to sprint to a BQ was a moment she’ll never forget. The announcer, the energy, and her friends and family jumping and shouting at the finish line—it was a true core memory. She went on to run the Boston Marathon the following spring… while pregnant with her daughter, Ember.
running highlights:
certified rrca distance running coach
marathon x12 , half marathon x27
countless 5ks, 10ks, and everything in between
boston marathon qualified
chicago marathon qualified
4 world marathon majors complete
top 2% female finish at BIX 7 mile championship
rush running race team since 2019
team michelob ultra nyc marathon 2023
wolfpack running group leader since 2017
Trista mcginley-CRANE
run coach
Trista discovered running at 14 years old, thanks to a coach who recognized her natural talent. That simple beginning changed the trajectory of her life… giving her purpose, confidence, and ultimately a scholarship to compete in Division II cross country. What started as a sport quickly became a lifelong passion.
That early experience inspired Trista to give back to the sport in a meaningful way. For the past 18 years, she’s coached cross country and track & field in both head and assistant roles, helping young athletes discover their own potential. She’s been a part of six state championship teams and three state runner-up titles, but her greatest joy has come from watching her athletes earn the same life-changing opportunity she did: competing at the collegiate level.
While Trista’s coaching roots are in competitive youth athletics, her heart is in helping all athletes, of all levels, chase their big goals. Whether you're hoping to complete your first 5K, qualify for Boston, or simply build consistency in your routine, she’s passionate about meeting you where you are. Trista is a firm believer that running should be inclusive, not intimidating. She aims to push back against the elitism that sometimes exists in the sport and instead build a space where every runner feels seen, supported, and celebrated.
Trista coaches because she believes in the power of chasing big goals. She loves seeing the look on an athlete’s face when they accomplish something they once thought was out of reach. For her, it’s not just about the personal bests (though those are exciting!), it’s about the growth, discipline, and grit developed through the process. Running has carried her through hard seasons and brought friendships that have become cornerstones in her life. And she wants her athletes to experience that same transformation.
Even with nearly three decades of running behind her, Trista is still out there racing, running faster than she ever has before, and loving it. She’s a four-time Boston Qualifier and continues to chase new PRs in the marathon and, her personal favorite, the half marathon.
ACCEPTING NEW ATHLETES SOON: KEEP AN EYE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR OFFICAL START DATE!
running highlights:
certified rrca distance running coach (PENDING)
coached 6 state championship WINNING teams
boston marathon qualified
chicago marathon qualified
new york marathon qualified
TOP FEMALE FINISHER aT RACE FOR VICTORY HALF 2024
rush running race team since 2023
team TCS TEACHER nyc marathon 2025
niki michaelsen
run coach
Niki’s love for running started early, chasing after her dad on family runs and soaking up every moment they spent moving together. With his encouragement and joy-filled approach to the sport, running quickly became something special. As she got older and more competitive, her dad even helped coach her. When Niki decided she wanted to run at the collegiate level, he was her biggest supporter.
That dream came true when Niki joined the cross country and track teams at Brigham Young University (BYU). It was there that her passion for the sport deepened and her understanding of training, discipline, and teamwork grew. She also discovered how much she loved helping others through running, volunteering as a coach at BYU’s youth cross country camps and guiding young athletes with the same support she had once received.
Niki graduated from BYU with a degree in Exercise and Wellness, and went on to work as a personal trainer in both hospital and physical therapy settings. She later served as the strength and conditioning coach for Provo High School’s distance team, where she combined her knowledge of biomechanics and athlete development to help young runners build a strong foundation.
After moving to Northwest Arkansas, Niki spent five years working at Rush Running Co., where she met some of her favorite people and truly fell in love with the local running community. Her passion for the sport only grew, and so did her desire to help others find their place in it.
Her personal relationship with running shifted again when she became a mom. NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN DURING pregnancy, Niki had to take a step back from something that had always been a central part of her life. Getting back into it postpartum wasn’t easy, but she showed up with patience, grace, and grit (qualities she now brings to her coaching). Whether someone is running for the first time, returning after having a baby, or rebuilding after an injury, Niki has a deep empathy for the process and knows just how transformative it can be.
When she’s not running, you can find her in the kitchen: cooking, baking, and fueling her family with delicious meals. She even completed a year of culinary school and dreams of one day combining her love for food, wellness, and performance through further education in nutrition.
Niki is endlessly kind and humble, you’d never guess from talking to her that she competed at one of the top collegiate programs in the country. She brings a gentle strength, deep knowledge, and genuine care to every athlete she works with. Whether you’re chasing a new PR or simply learning to fall in love with running again, you’ll be lucky to have her in your corner.
ACCEPTING NEW ATHLETES SOON: KEEP AN EYE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR OFFICAL START DATE!
running highlights:
certified rrca distance running coach (PENDING)
won 7 district chamionships in high school
top 10 in state of texas for 1600m senior year
ran collegiately at NCAA divsion I: BYU
2nd overall female war eagle 2023
2nd overall female freedom frosty 2022
rush running race team since 2021
KELSEY COUPAUD
STRENGTH coach
Kelsey’s path into the endurance world didn’t start on the roads or trails… it began on the competition floor as a longtime competitive cheerleader. That foundation built her strength, discipline, and mental grit. But it wasn’t until she picked up running later in life that she discovered a new kind of challenge, and a new version of herself.
When she began running, Kelsey proudly occupied the back of the pack. Every mile took effort. But instead of backing down, she leaned in… putting in the work, learning from every step, and trusting the process. Over time, that consistent effort paid off. She went from chasing finish lines to chasing podiums, becoming a regular age group award-winner and someone who knows firsthand what it takes to transform potential into performance.
Kelsey is also one of the original Elevate Run Coaching athletes. She knows exactly what it feels like to be on the receiving end of a training plan, to wrestle with doubts, and to celebrate milestones that once felt out of reach. That perspective helps her connect deeply with the athletes she now coaches; because she’s been in their shoes, and she still walks alongside them in her own training journey.
Her passion for running led her to dig deeper into how the body works; not just to improve her own performance, but to help others stay strong, healthy, and consistent. Kelsey has spent years studying strength training, anatomy, biomechanics, mobility, and injury prevention. She’s shadowed local physical therapists who specialize in working with endurance athletes, gaining valuable insight into how movement patterns and strength imbalances can impact both performance and longevity in the sport.
With her blend of personal experience and science-backed knowledge, Kelsey brings both empathy and expertise to her coaching. She believes strength is for every runner, not just the fastest or the most experienced, and is passionate about helping others build strength that supports them on every step of their running journey.
ACCEPTING NEW ATHLETES SOON: KEEP AN EYE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES FOR OFFICAL START DATE!
running & strength highlights:
certified ACE STRENGTH coach (PENDING)
half marathon x11
countless 5ks, 10ks, and everything in between
top 10 finish at the white river half marathon
rush running race team since 2024