Coach Farah

While I’ve been an athlete for most of my life, I didn’t come to running until I was a full grown adult. Even playing sports as a kid, I deliberately chose sports or positions that required as little running as possible. In 4th grade, when we had to complete a mile as part of the President’s Challenge fitness test, I walked, and it ended in tears. Can I make this any more clear? I hated running. And while so much has changed since then, some has not. I’ll still be the first to admit that sometimes, running does suck - and it’s okay to feel this way, and to do it anyway!

I ventured into this new territory in late 2008, with a little reluctance, and a lot of anxiety, by signing up for my first half marathon with a charity group, Team in Training (TNT). I was up for a new challenge, but mostly, I found a cause that was near and dear to my heart. I surprised myself when I actually completed the Lake Placid Half Marathon in June 2009, then decided it was really time to really test my will, and signed up for the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon, taking place the following June 2010. What followed after that first full marathon was completely unexpected. Little by little, passion for running crept it’s way into my heart, and with it, a wonderful new community. Fourteen marathons, one ultra, countless half marathons, and many surprises later, I haven’t looked back - except for when Coach Jim has us do some backwards running drills. 

I kept surprising myself until I started to really know myself as a runner - and a human. So I leaned into this newfound knowledge and started coaching several years ago. I believe wholeheartedly in the idea that running can be a powerful tool to get to know oneself better, mentally, physically, and emotionally. As I coach, I hope to inspire runners to do just that by helping them get out of their heads and out of their own way, and encouraging them to lean on this amazing community of Brooklyn runners instead. 

I never met a doughnut I didn’t like (but do not get me started on what people in Chicago call “pizza”), and yes, this particular tidbit is extremely relevant to understanding my coaching philosophy.

Certifications: RRCA, First Aid/CPR/AED