Spencer St. Cyr

I have been running competitively since I was 11 years old. I competed and placed in multiple county, district, regional, and state championships during middle and high school. I took a hiatus from the sport during college, when I earned my B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies. I returned to the sport after graduating and took up coaching at a K-12 school in Pensacola, FL. I started and served as the head coach of both the cross country and track and field programs. In my two years as the head coach, I served runners aged 11–17 years old and trained them to run events from the 800m up to the 15k. Our XC team has won its conference championship each year, and I had the privilege of guiding our team to be a serious local contender. In addition to coaching these students, I started an informal run club, where I coached friends in events up to the half marathon. I recently moved to Escondido, CA, to continue my education at Westminster Seminary, and I continue to provide virtual training to my runners back home. I currently work at a local specialty running store, am working on my Mdiv, and am chasing some PRs of my own. When it comes to coaching, I believe in the prioritization of individuals over the implementation of a system. Everyone who participates in this sport has certain goals, strengths, weaknesses, and both controllable and uncontrollable life circumstances. It is my goal to help my runners view and organize each of these variables in a way that enables their training to be effective and enriching. I highly value and encourage strong, consistent coach-athlete communication, as it allows for personalized training plans that are productive and minimize setbacks. I utilize a mix of time, distance, and feel-based training to help my runners learn and love the sport. I believe in long-term development, listening to your body, and the prioritization of holistic health. My coaching philosophy is shaped by my own experience in the sport, my own coaches in the past, and the philosophies of Jack Daniels, Arthur Lydiard, and Bill Dellinger. My Certifications Include: -V.O2 Certified Distance Running Coach -NFHS Cross Country Coach -NFHS Track and Field Coach