I encourage it!
About John
Description
Minimum Requirements
Running frequency of at least 3-4 days a week (20-30 miles a week).
Communication
unlimited emails, unlimited text-messages
$125.00 - 12 week plan
PurchaseDescription
Minimum Requirements
Prefer athletes with some running experience.
Communication
2 emails per week, 2 text-messages per week
$50.00 - 8 week plan
PurchaseDescription
Minimum Requirements
Preferably some experience racing shorter races and a running frequency of 4-5 time per week. I am open to working with beginners who are willing to put in 30-40 miles per Week.
Communication
unlimited emails
$150.00 - 16 week plan
PurchaseDescription
Minimum Requirements
40 Miles per week minimum
Communication
unlimited emails, 1 text-message per week, 2 calls per month, 1 in-person session per month
$300.00 - 20 week plan
PurchaseDescription
Minimum Requirements
This product is all based around your goals & abilities
Communication
unlimited emails, unlimited text-messages
$50.00 / month
Purchase01.
Choose how you want to work together
Book a consultation, choose a training plan, or start private coaching.
02.
Connect with your coach
Share your goals, experience and upcoming races.
03.
Start training
Get your plan, stay connected and track your progress in VDOT.
Athlete requirement
Initial phone consultation. I will work with new runners but prefer athletes have at least a 40-mile a week running base.
Distances coached
2mi/3km, 5km, 10km, 15km, Half Marathon, Marathon , Ultra Marathon, General Fitness, Mile/1500m
Languages
English
Coaching options
In-person
Online/Remote coaching
Group coaching
Training camps
Consultations
Specialties
Competitive Runners, High School Runners, Nutrition Advice, Boston Marathon, Certified Strength and Conditioning, Cross Training Advice , Mental Skills, Beginner Runners, Recreational Runners, Masters Runners, Exercise Scientist
John helped me get through 3 full marathons with his excellent knowledge and professionalism. My work schedule is very unpredictable so I have to change my training plan from time to time. John is ver... John helped me get through 3 full marathons with his excellent knowledge and professionalism. My work schedule is very unpredictable so I have to change my training plan from time to time. John is very accommodating in terms of training schedule to suit my needs. He also gave me good advice whenever I needed them such as recommending stretching exercises and pacing. I would recommend John to anyone who wishes to train for a marathon injury and pain free. Thank you John!
Really professional
I just started working with John and I'm very happy with my decision. John is knowledgable, responsive, and willing to work with my schedule. He is extremely active with updates to my program and alwa... I just started working with John and I'm very happy with my decision. John is knowledgable, responsive, and willing to work with my schedule. He is extremely active with updates to my program and always gets back to me when I have a question. I look forward to continuing to work with him!
John is a great coach. He is super responsive, engaged, and knowledgeable, and he helped me achieve my PR in a half-marathon. I strongly recommend him as a running coach!
One of the best coach I got. He is very knowledgeable, very detailed and always available for you. I really enjoyed training under him. my V.O2 is improved since I started training. His training plans... One of the best coach I got. He is very knowledgeable, very detailed and always available for you. I really enjoyed training under him. my V.O2 is improved since I started training. His training plans are according to your capacity and availaibility. He also ensures that you don't overdo and injure yourself. Overall a great experience.
I recently started working with Coach Carstens and I'm very impressed! He is knowledgeable and works with your schedule to get the best out of you. Coach Carstens is quick to reply back and provide yo... I recently started working with Coach Carstens and I'm very impressed! He is knowledgeable and works with your schedule to get the best out of you. Coach Carstens is quick to reply back and provide you with feedback on runs. I'm looking forward to improve my running and continue to train with coach!!!
I am glad to have John as my coach. His advices and quick responses supports me to work on my goals.
John has a vast amount of knowledge and experience. He is very encouraging and patient. As a new runner with John I have been very pleased. I look forward his continued guidance and in helping me reac... John has a vast amount of knowledge and experience. He is very encouraging and patient. As a new runner with John I have been very pleased. I look forward his continued guidance and in helping me reach my highest potential.
Been working with Coach John for a few months, and ran 2 races, both PRs! Ran the Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain, GA) yesterday and it was a 10 min PR. He's knowledgeable, thoughtful, very responsive... Been working with Coach John for a few months, and ran 2 races, both PRs! Ran the Callaway Gardens (Pine Mountain, GA) yesterday and it was a 10 min PR. He's knowledgeable, thoughtful, very responsive. Awesome.
John is great! He's very personable with you and does a great job tailoring training plans to fit your needs. I have known John for 10 years and have worked with him on and off during that time. He is... John is great! He's very personable with you and does a great job tailoring training plans to fit your needs. I have known John for 10 years and have worked with him on and off during that time. He is always willing to meet me for workouts at early morning times and does a great job finding others to join us that can pace me. I respect John's expertise in running and truly enjoy working with him.
John is a great coach. It’s been a very pleasant experience so far. He is so quick in responding to messages, it’s almost like we are texting back and forth. He must have many different athletes he is... John is a great coach. It’s been a very pleasant experience so far. He is so quick in responding to messages, it’s almost like we are texting back and forth. He must have many different athletes he is working with besides me, but he is really on top of what’s going on with my progress, changes I need to make with the plan, etc. I highly recommend him!
I am a masters runner and John helped guide me through an injury with very little down time. He is an excellent motivator with good communication and now that I'm 100%, I'm looking forward to some fas... I am a masters runner and John helped guide me through an injury with very little down time. He is an excellent motivator with good communication and now that I'm 100%, I'm looking forward to some fast races thanks to his help. Coach Karstens will come up with a specific workout plan for you after an initial phone consult. Highly recommended!
I was working alone following the vdoto2 rules since 2019. Then decided to choose a Vdot certified coach and from the beginning of 2020 I'm working with John Carstens. My experience is amazing so i d... I was working alone following the vdoto2 rules since 2019. Then decided to choose a Vdot certified coach and from the beginning of 2020 I'm working with John Carstens. My experience is amazing so i don't hesitate to talk about him and his great job with my co-runners, in such an extend, that they gave me the nickname : "The American". Thank you coach for your proven training approach, encouragement and prompt. Working with you is so enjoyable!
I've worked with John for a month now and I am super happy with him. He is very responsive over email and keeps a close eye on my training performance, making adjustments as necessary. He also sends a... I've worked with John for a month now and I am super happy with him. He is very responsive over email and keeps a close eye on my training performance, making adjustments as necessary. He also sends additional information on various topics to provide more context on topics like paces, strides, injury prevention, etc.
Coach, Carstens is great. His workouts have already made me faster. He’s very prompt at replying to messages and emails. He stays connected with you throughout the week. He’a great about workin... Coach, Carstens is great. His workouts have already made me faster. He’s very prompt at replying to messages and emails. He stays connected with you throughout the week. He’a great about working with you to fit your training to your schedule and circumstances :)
I was looking for a coach to train for Boston Marathon 2020, my goal was to find a coach, not a runner, well more accurately someone who considers himself or herself as a coach rather than a runner. W... I was looking for a coach to train for Boston Marathon 2020, my goal was to find a coach, not a runner, well more accurately someone who considers himself or herself as a coach rather than a runner. When I read Coach John's profile, I was attracted by his long career as a coach. Coach John is very considerate to create a personalized training plan. I travel a lot due to work and accommodating a training plan that works great in this kind of situation is not an easy job, but Coach John has done it for me perfectly! If you are a runner regardless of level, and you want to improve optimally, I would always suggest training with a coach. And I would recommend Coach John without any hesitation!
Coach Carstens is excellent - I highly recommend him! He is very responsive and so positive, and adjusts my workouts as needed. He is fully engaged as a coach. He sends tips and supplemental training ... Coach Carstens is excellent - I highly recommend him! He is very responsive and so positive, and adjusts my workouts as needed. He is fully engaged as a coach. He sends tips and supplemental training info on email and responds to messages on the app quickly. The app works well too.
Really couldn’t be happier working with John, and the whole vdot02 app generally. John gives timely, timely, useful feedback, constant encouragement; he’s super engaged. On top of that the app interf... Really couldn’t be happier working with John, and the whole vdot02 app generally. John gives timely, timely, useful feedback, constant encouragement; he’s super engaged. On top of that the app interface works seamlessly. I signed my wife up to work with John too, it’s been going so well. Recommend highly.
John Cartens is a great Coach who is genuinely concerned about my work-outs. He believes in putting in good old hard work and I do too! At the same time, he is very receptive to the various situations... John Cartens is a great Coach who is genuinely concerned about my work-outs. He believes in putting in good old hard work and I do too! At the same time, he is very receptive to the various situations that arise in day-to-day life that can affect my training, and works around my (sometimes busy) schedule. I like how he conveys various techniques in addition to the workouts, stretching, cross-training, mobility/strength - they have gone a long way in keeping me off injuries. I have used another coach over another platform earlier, so I really appreciate how involved he is with my progress. I used to be a middle-of-the pack runner earlier, but on a recent half marathon, I hit the top 10% overall, in the men's age category, and also my age group. I would highly recommend, Coach John Carstens! Keep up the good work, Coach!
John Carstens blends evidence-based VDOT training with decades of hands-on coaching to help runners from beginners and high-schoolers to competitive masters athletes hit PRs and stay injury-free. Athletes praise his track-focused speed work, flexible plan adjustments, sports-massage insight and use of the VDOT O2 app. Learn about his training plans and private coaching.
