About Run For Performance
Run For Performance provides 1:1 and small-group coaching for runners and athletes from any sport, from age 10 through college, and personalized run coaching for adults at every level. Based in Lewis Center, Ohio, with online coaching anywhere.
Our Story
Run For Performance began with a gap Coach Steve kept seeing. A school season ends, and the athletes who most want to improve are left with months and no plan. What off-season training was available usually came with little guidance, and the athletes who needed individual attention rarely had somewhere to get it.
That is what he founded Run For Performance to do in Central Ohio in 2011: give the off-season real structure through small-group programs, and give athletes who need individual attention a place to get it. Coaching built around the athlete rather than the depth chart.
- Coaching Central Ohio since
- 2011
- Athletes coached
- 820+
- Schools represented
- 56
- School districts
- 28
Run For Performance is a proud USA Track & Field member club and a member of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Meet the Coaches
Steve Carmichael
Coach Steve founded Run For Performance in 2011, and works with athletes of all levels and abilities. He has coached hundreds of athletes in person and hundreds more online. He coaches Track (mid/long distance and sprints) and Cross Country as well as athletes across all sports when it comes to building speed and endurance. He works with athletes on form/technique improvement, power/acceleration, durability and strength work, nutrition, race strategy, and return-to-running training programs built around the plans of an athlete's physical therapist.
Our coaches provide performance coaching, not medical care. Read our coaching scope and medical disclaimer.
Coaching Career & Credentials
- Founder of Run For Performance (2011 – present)
- Club Director / Head Coach – Run Fit Running Club (2011-2017, 2019-2020)
- NASM-CPT Certified Personal Trainer, USA Track and Field L1 certified coach, RRCA certified coach, Precision Nutrition certified nutrition coach (PN-1), USATF SafeSport certified, CPR/AED/First Aid certified and several others.
Career Highlights as a Coach
- Has coached and currently coaches dozens of district, regional, state, and national All-American athletes in Track and Cross Country.
- Coached multi-sport state champions, including youth and middle school wrestlers (boys and girls) and football players, for agility, speed, and endurance.
- Coached collegiate-recruited athletes (University of Akron, Creighton University, University of Cincinnati).
- Coached hundreds of adult runners at distances up to 50K.
Certifications & Qualifications
Coaching to us is more than a “weekend certification.” Our coaches are certified through leading agencies and organizations:
Each coach stays current through advanced training, clinics, and continuing education. All coaches are First Aid/CPR/AED certified with nationwide criminal background checks and SafeSport certification.
How We Coach
We Build Athletes Up, Not Tear Them Down
Our coaches are non-judgmental, supportive, and motivating. Every athlete has down days. Not every workout will be perfect. We are here to encourage growth at every level. No experience required.
Every Session Has a Purpose
Every plan is built around the athlete's goals, their experience, and where they are in their season, then periodized and adjusted as they progress. Every session is a real coached workout, not drills handed out at random. The goal is always the whole athlete, physically and mentally, developed for the long haul.
Progress You Can See
We often use technology to show that progress, including slow-motion video analysis and industry-leading Brower timing gates, so improvement is something an athlete can see rather than something we assert.
Press and Media
We have been featured or quoted in several media outlets, including:
Running with confidence and getting started on the right foot
Coach Steve was featured on Good Day Columbus, which airs on Fox 28 Columbus, to discuss safe ways for new runners to get started during the Covid pandemic.
You Can Run a 5k (Yes, you!)
Nov/Dec 2019 – Coach Steve was featured in a WebMD magazine article called, You Can Run a 5k (Yes, you!), sharing running tips for completing your first 5k.
Why You Need Interval Running in Your Fitness Routine
July 26, 2021 – Coach Steve was interviewed for a Beachbody article on interval training for runners.
Should You Join A Running Group?
In August 2021, Coach Steve was interviewed by Active.com about running with running clubs and groups.
For athletic directors and coaches
We want your athletes arriving ready for your season
Our goal is to help you build strong, fast athletes who come to you prepared for their season, not burnt out or out of shape. We coach in the offseason and we train around your competitive calendar, not against it.
If you would like support with your athletes' offseason training, we would welcome the conversation. Reach out and let us know what would be useful.
Get in touchNow hiring
Coach with us
We are looking for an SAQ coach and an adult run coach. Lewis Center based — independent contractor roles with hours you help set.
Talk to a Coach
Find out if we are right for you. There is never any obligation or pressure to join us.
Contact Us