Last fall, we had the privilege of sitting down with Alison and Sam Naney to chat about how we can partner to better serve the trail running community. Alison and Sam offer a quality, affordable training option to those who are running our races, and many of the athletes who train with them are looking for events like our trail runs to serve as motivating fitness milestones, fun workouts, or goal races. While both Alison and Sam have impressive athletic backgrounds, they are both incredibly personable and easy to chat with. Here is a little of what we learned about their team:
Alison has been a competitive ultra runner for 12 years, has been a coach for eight years, and is a certified NCSA personal trainer. That, combined with her vast knowledge of the body through massage, enable her to successfully and safely help her clients achieve their goals, whether to finish a 5K or PR in a marathon.
Sam’s endurance training background is just as impressive. He was a nordic skier on the Dartmouth College ski team, and when he returned West, he raced both nationally and internationally on the professional circuit. He retired in 2014 and is now the program director and head coach of the brand new Seattle-based junior Nordic team, Momentum Northwest, in addition to being a certified NASM personal trainer. You can read more about the backgrounds of Alison, Sam, and the Cascade Endurance team at the Cascade Endurance website.
To address clients’ questions about their nutrition, Cascade Endurance has partnered with another coach, Jess Mullen. Jess has her Masters of Science in Nutrition from Bastyr University, is a Registered Dietitian and now has a private practice, Fit First LLC. She also has 140 marathons and ultras under her belt so, as it says in her online bio, “she understands first hand the great importance food has in people’s lives, both emotionally and as a training tool.”
Also on the Cascade Endurance team are Jamie Clark who is heading up their First Trail Half-Marathon Training Group and Carmi Schulman, a cycling coach on staff. Cascade Endurance is planning on adding a swim coach this spring which will help accommodate triathletes and other endurance sports
Alison and Sam’s greatest accomplishment? They manage their business with an active (and adorable) toddler–not an easy feat! So, they can relate to other athletes trying to train while balancing other life commitments.
If you’re not looking for coaching but want to meet others while being active in the outdoors, Cascade Endurance offers many events and classes such as First Friday Hill Climbs, Women’s Winter Ski Retreat, and a Calendar of Fun.
We are proud to have a partner that offers so many lifestyle services to runners: Strength training, nutrition, coaching, massage, and FUN! You can learn more about their offerings and what Alison and Sam are up to at the Cascade Endurance website.
