“Working with Chris transformed my running and reshaped what I thought was possible. When I started, my marathon PR was 3:08, and I dreamed of breaking 3 hours—a goal that felt lofty at the time. Over the course of our time together, I not only achieved that goal but far exceeded it, cutting ~25 minutes off my marathon time to 2:44. I also saw massive improvements across other distances: from 18:50 to 17:21 in the 5K, and 5:30 to 5:00 in the mile, among many others.
Chris’s expertise in all things running—from the mile to the marathon—was invaluable. He crafted personalized training plans that adapted to my lifestyle, running style, and the feedback I provided based on how my body was feeling. His wealth of knowledge, gained from training alongside professional athletes and competing at a high level himself, was evident in every aspect of his coaching.
What stood out most was Chris’s attention to detail and genuine care for his athletes. His pre-race plans were incredibly thorough and tailored to set me up for success. He always made me feel supported, helping me balance ambitious goals with the realities of being a full-time working mom. Beyond the numbers, the lessons I learned from training with Chris have translated into every area of my life.
I would highly recommend Chris to anyone chasing big goals. His guidance and belief in my potential helped me achieve things I never thought possible, and I am forever grateful for his coaching..”
— Jessica 17:21, 1:18:06, 2:44:30
Chris Naimoli is an exceptional running coach. His approach is thorough and smart, addressing both the mental and physical aspects of training. He is no-nonsense and doesn't sugar-coat things, yet his understanding and caring nature make him the perfect coach for me, especially through some challenging health issues during our time working together.
Over the past 6 years, Chris has helped me achieve personal records and become a smarter, better runner overall. His wealth of experience is consistently reflected in how he treats and respects his athletes. He expects the best from each of us but understands that achieving our goals can look different for everyone. Particularly as a 55-year-old Masters runner, I've found his faith and confidence in my abilities invaluable. Many times, it's been his belief in me that pushed me over the finish line when I felt like giving up.
Chris's dedication to his athletes goes beyond just training plans and workouts. He genuinely cares about our overall well-being and success. His approach is tailored to each individual's needs, and he knows how to bring out the best in us. As I retire from marathons, I'm excited to work with Chris on nailing faster short-distance PRs and continue growing as an athlete under his guidance.
— Colin 2:51:34
I started working with Chris after I gave birth to my second child. I had taken an extended break from running competitively and I had some doubts about my ability to get back in shape and run as fast as I had pre-pregnancies. After a few months I decided to enter a short race as a “rust buster” . I surprised myself with a PR. I hadn’t even noticed that Chris’s plans had helped me steadily get back into shape. He didn’t give me any overwhelming workouts at first and it led to a season of running faster than I had ever before, culminating in a 10 minute PR in the marathon (he gave me scarier workouts a season later).
Chris not only knew how to customize a training plan for someone coming back from childbirth, he was always open to my input to make changes or pivot when needed along the way. I continue to work with him and recommend him to anyone I know looking to run faster.
Chris is responsive and will work with my specific needs (like the treadmill snow day workout he wrote for me this week). He’s committed to my long term goals as a marathon runner.
— Rebecca 18:29, 1:22:22, 2:54:16
Working with Chris as my coach has transformed my dreams into reality—and then some. Not only did I achieve my goals as a runner, but I also surpassed what I once believed was possible for me.
I ran my first half marathon in August 2021 and immediately fell in love with distance running. With the guidance of a beginner coach, I ran the Philadelphia Marathon in November 2021, finishing in 3:44. That experience sparked a bold goal: to qualify for the Boston Marathon. However, after running two more races that year and falling short, I felt unsure of how to move forward.
In September 2022, I connected with Chris, and everything changed. When I asked if it was crazy to attempt a short build-up for another Philadelphia Marathon, he didn’t hesitate. With his expert guidance, I trained for just eight weeks and not only ran the race but qualified for Boston with a time of 3:23. Thanks to Chris, I became a Boston Marathoner in April 2024—a moment I’ll never forget.
Chris’s knowledge of running is unmatched. From working with professional athletes to competing at an elite level himself, his expertise is evident in everything he does. His training plans are thoughtful, effective, and perfectly balanced—meeting me where I am while encouraging me to reach higher. Beyond the technical side, Chris is incredibly supportive. He listens to my concerns, helps me push through self-doubt, and understands the realities of balancing training with life’s demands. As a mom of two young kids, that flexibility and understanding have been invaluable.
The confidence I’ve gained through Chris’s coaching extends far beyond running. I’ve grown not just as an athlete but as a person, and I couldn’t be more grateful for his support. I highly recommend working with Chris and I look forward to setting new goals and reaching even greater heights in the year ahead!
— Lauren 20:06, 1:36:52, 3:21:05
"As a kid who had just run a frustrating 4:44 indoor mile as a freshman in college with no program at my university, I found myself far from my former fitness. I missed the structure, guidance, and support from a coach that had made me so successful in high school, and didn’t really have the funds [college!] to shell out $100/month for a proper coach. Chris took a major chance on me, seeing something in my potential. That day, he raced at age 39 and beat me in the mile by over 10 seconds. I trusted his longevity in the running world and wanted to get better.
Three months later I found myself finishing 13th overall and 7th American at the 2019 Broad Street Run, running a 5:07 per mile average for 10 miles. Since then, I have been both a fun experiment with pushing my boundaries despite no D1, D2, D3, or NAIA or JUCO training facilities. As an RA at Drexel University I was sleeping on dorm beds, with no bathtub for ice baths and staying up very late with my residential life duties. I had to place 100% trust in that my training was going to take care of the rest. With Chris — my training always takes care of the rest.
He is so incredible at getting me prepared for a race physically, and providing me the toolkit to be able to attack and assertively take on a race mentally. I often say that what many others feel on the start line — be it nerves, worry, fear, etc. — are things I never feel on the start line.
When I’m on the start line, I know that Chris’ training has prepared me for this. I am as calm as can be, as evidenced by my smiley mid-race photos.
I am now beyond proud to say I have PRs of 4:08 in the mile and 14:28 in the 5k [albeit both from 2021], as well as a 1:04:51 Half Marathon PR and a 2:17:03* Marathon best effort [*with a DQ, sadly].
I have become better than even my wildest high school dreams imagined I could be, and it is all thanks to Chris. He’s been there through ups, downs, highs, lows, and everything in between. He is a steadfast, responsive, and perfect coach for someone who wants to place their trust in someone ready to do the work for you."
— Ethan 4:08/14:28/61:51/2:17:03
Dom - 2:38:25
Erik - 4:36, 15:58, 2:30:32
Sam - 15:26, 71:18, 2:33:31