Sue McDonald - Running Coach

Sue McDonald

Running Coach in Santa Barbara, CA, United States

Fall in love with the process and the results will come.

5.0 3 reviews
VDOT Certified V.O2 Certified — built on Jack Daniels' VDOT training methodology for personalized, data-driven coaching.
USATF Level 1 USATF Certified — a nationally recognized program covering coaching ethics, athlete development, and sport science.
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About Sue

Sue’s focus in college was the heptathlon and high jump and competed for Los Angeles Valley College where she was a 3-time All American and in 2018 was inducted into the Los Angeles Valley College Hall of Fame. Sue continued her college career at Cal State Northridge where she was 2-time runner-up in the high jump in the NCAA Division II National Championships. Sue is a 4-time US Outdoor National Championship qualifier in the high jump. Sue became one of the pioneer female pole vaulters a couple years after giving birth to her first child at the age of 33. Sue’s biggest accomplishment of her athletic career was making it to the Olympic Trials finals in Atlanta, GA in 1996 in the first-ever women’s pole vault OT competition. In 2013, when Sue turned 50, she broke the W50 American record in the high jump trained by Josh Priester of the Santa Barbara Track Club. Sue also competed in the high jump at the 2015 Outdoor World Masters Athletics Championships in Lyon, France where she earned a silver medal. Sue’s transition from jumping to running as a masters athlete produced a Boston Marathon qualifier in 2018. 90 days after finishing the toughest Boston Marathon in the worst weather conditions, Sue won 2 National W55 championships and broke 2 American Records (400m and 800m) at the 2018 Outdoor USA Masters National Championships coached by Tom Hinz of T.H.E. Track Team.. Next up on Sue's race calendar is the Indoor World Masters Athletics Championships in Poland in March, 2019 where Sue has her eyes set on bringing home some gold medals for Team USA. Sue has been married to Michael (7-time Ironman) for 16 years and they have 3 children who are very active in sports (water polo, soccer, basketball and lacrosse). In addition to Sue's certification as a VDOT O2 running coach, Sue is a certified personal trainer, online holistic health and wellness coach and owns a coffee shop located near the University of California, Santa Barbara. Sue’s passion for running has brought so much joy into her life, from earning a college scholarship to meeting her husband, to traveling the world competing and meeting new friends in the running community. Sue’s goal as a coach is to help as many people who share her passion for the sport to take their athleticism to the next level. From the beginner runner to the elite, Sue is compassionate, thoughtful and makes sure to take special care in creating an overall experience in which each client will grow athletically, spiritually and emotionally while enjoying the journey.

Coaching Products

Description

Designed for the person who has decided to become a runner and has no history of running or for the person who has taken a long break from running and would like to set some fun goals. This 12-week plan incorporates walking, running, and cross training to get the person feeling comfortable with consistent, low to medium intensity exercise and create a base level running fitness to possibly set themselves up to train for a 5k/10k/half marathon in the future. Coach Sue will conduct a consultation either via phone, Zoom video conference, or Facetime to gather important information such as fitness background, time availability to train, your “why” and goals. This consultation is necessary so that Coach Sue can develop a customized plan.. Self-motivation and individual commitment are required for this plan, as there is no additional communication available after the plan is uploaded to the athlete's VDOT O2 calendar. Any questions or concerns will be discussed thoroughly in the initial consultations.

Minimum Requirements

Motivation to follow individualized training plan on one's own and update VDOT O2 profile.

$90.00 - 12 week plan

Purchase

Description

This program will be designed for all levels and ages - the beginner or the advanced runner who has has a 10k race goal in mind and the motivation and commitment to complete the training. Coach Sue will help you with speed development and provide you with pacing suggestions to set you up for success in achieving your goals. Coach Sue will conduct a consultation either via phone, Zoom video conference, or Facetime to gather important information such as fitness background, time availability to train, your “why” and goals. This consultation is necessary so that Coach Sue can develop a customized 10k training plan. Self-motivation and individual commitment are required for this plan, as there is no additional communication available after the plan is uploaded to the athlete's VDOT O2 calendar. Any questions or concerns will be discussed thoroughly in the initial consultations.

Minimum Requirements

Motivation to follow individualised training plan on one's own and update VDOT O2 profile.

$110.00 - 16 week plan

Purchase

Description

This program will be designed for all levels and ages - the beginner or the advanced runner who has has a 5k race goal in mind and the motivation and commitment to complete the training. Coach Sue will help you with speed development and provide you with pacing suggestions to set you up for success in achieving your goals. Coach Sue will conduct a consultation either via phone, Zoom video conference, or Facetime to gather important information such as fitness background, time availability to train, your “why” and goals. This consultation is necessary so that Coach Sue can develop a customized 5k training plan. Self-motivation and individual commitment are required for this plan, as there is no additional communication available after the plan is uploaded to the athlete's VDOT O2 calendar. Any questions or concerns will be discussed thoroughly in the initial consultations.

Minimum Requirements

Motivation to follow individualised training plan on one's own and update VDOT O2 profile.

$95.00 - 12 week plan

Purchase

Description

This program will be designed for all levels and ages - the beginner or the advanced runner who has has a full marathon race goal in mind and the motivation and commitment to complete the training. Coach Sue will help you with endurance and speed development and provide you with pacing suggestions to set you up for success in achieving your goals. Coach Sue will conduct a consultation either via phone, Zoom video conference, or Facetime to gather important information such as fitness background, time availability to train, your “why” and goals. This consultation is necessary so that Coach Sue can develop a customized 10k training plan. Self-motivation and individual commitment are required for this plan, as there is no additional communication available after the plan is uploaded to the athlete's VDOT O2 calendar. Any questions or concerns will be discussed thoroughly in the initial consultations.

Minimum Requirements

Must have a base of consistently running 20 miles per week. Motivation to follow individualised training plan on one's own and update VDOT O2 profile.

$125.00 - 24 week plan

Purchase

Description

This program will be designed for all levels and ages - the beginner or the advanced runner who has has a half marathon race goal in mind and the motivation and commitment to complete the training. Coach Sue will help you with speed development and provide you with pacing suggestions to set you up for success in achieving your goals. Coach Sue will conduct a consultation either via phone, Zoom video conference, or Facetime to gather important information such as fitness background, time availability to train, your “why” and goals. This consultation is necessary so that Coach Sue can develop a customized 10k training plan. Self-motivation and individual commitment are required for this plan, as there is no additional communication available after the plan is uploaded to the athlete's VDOT O2 calendar. Any questions or concerns will be discussed thoroughly in the initial consultations.

Minimum Requirements

Best if you have a base mileage of 15-20 miles per week. Motivation to follow individualized training plan on one's own and update VDOT O2 profile.

$120.00 - 20 week plan

Purchase

Description

This plan is for athletes of all levels and ages from beginners to elite who desire the highest level of communication, in-person training, strength training workout programs with a focus on the total athlete including goal setting, training basics, running technique, race season planning, proper rest, race recovery, stretching exercises, mental game strategies, injury prevention exercises and nutrition some advice. Coach Sue will provide you with a customized training plan that will be uploaded to your personal VDOT O2 calendar where you can access it via your personal device on-the-go and it automatically syncs with your smart watch GPS data! Training is structured based on current fitness level and/or any upcoming goals or races. This package also includes strength training workouts designed for the runner who desires to add a strength training program to his/her routine to help support their running and racing. A new customized strength training workout will be added to the athlete’s VDOT02 training calendar each month. The workouts will target specific needs of each individual athlete and will also cover injury prevention, rehab exercises, lifting techniques, and running tailored strength exercises to make you a more powerful runner.

Minimum Requirements

A positive, can-do attitude, an open mind to trust the plan, and a commitment to work together. Communication is key.

Communication

unlimited emails, unlimited text-messages, 2 calls per week, 4 in-person sessions per month

$425.00 / month

Purchase

Description

This plan is for athletes of all levels and ages from beginners to elite who desire a high level of communication with a focus on the total athlete including goal setting, training basics, running technique, race season planning, proper rest, race recovery, stretching exercises, mental game strategies, injury prevention exercises and nutrition some advice. Coach Sue will provide you with a customized training plan that will be uploaded to your personal VDOT O2 calendar where you can access it via your personal device on-the-go and it automatically syncs with your smart watch GPS data! Training is structured based on current fitness level and/or any upcoming goals or races.

Minimum Requirements

A positive, can-do attitude, an open mind to trust the plan, and a commitment to work together. Communication is key.

Communication

unlimited emails, unlimited text-messages, 2 calls per month

$165.00 / month

Purchase

Description

This plan is for athletes of all levels and ages from beginners to elite who desire a high level of communication, strength training workout programs and focus on the total athlete including goal setting, training basics, running technique, race season planning, proper rest, race recovery, stretching exercises, mental game strategies, injury prevention exercises and nutrition some advice. Coach Sue will provide you with a customized training plan that will be uploaded to your personal VDOT O2 calendar where you can access it via your personal device on-the-go and it automatically syncs with your smart watch GPS data! Training is structured based on current fitness level and/or any upcoming goals or races. This package also includes strength training workouts designed for the runner who desires to add a strength training program to his/her routine to help support their running and racing. A new customized strength training workout will be added to the athlete’s VDOT02 training calendar each month. The workouts will target specific needs of each individual athlete and will also cover injury prevention, rehab exercises, lifting techniques, and running tailored strength exercises to make you a more powerful runner.

Minimum Requirements

A positive, can-do attitude, an open mind to trust the plan, and a commitment to work together. Communication is key.

Communication

unlimited emails, unlimited text-messages, 2 calls per month

$230.00 / month

Purchase

How it works

01.

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.

Training with Sue

Athlete requirement

Must be coachable have a great attitude, a willingness to trust the process, and a commitment to work together as a team.

Distances coached

General Fitness, 800m, Mile/1500m, 2mi/3km, 5km, 10km , 15km, Half Marathon, Marathon

Languages

English

Coaching options

In-person

Online/Remote coaching

Group coaching

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, Triathlons

Reviews

5.0
3 reviews
5 - Exellent
4 - Great
3 - Good
Avatar of Conrad DiDiodato

Conrad DiDiodato

Jul 5, 2021

Sue has written another excellent training schedule for a fall 10K race, a plan that's more attuned to the needs of the recreational masters runner. With credentials like hers, I couldn't go to anyone... Sue has written another excellent training schedule for a fall 10K race, a plan that's more attuned to the needs of the recreational masters runner. With credentials like hers, I couldn't go to anyone else. Thanks, Sue.

Avatar of Korey Ewing

Korey Ewing

Dec 10, 2020

Sue is my first virtual track coach. We have been working together for just about a month. In that short time I’ve learned a lot about running and about myself—oh, and I PR’d in 800m, 1K and the mile.... Sue is my first virtual track coach. We have been working together for just about a month. In that short time I’ve learned a lot about running and about myself—oh, and I PR’d in 800m, 1K and the mile. I have also come to appreciate several things about her style: she is extremely supportive and empathetic, and is interested in your emotional journey and the form of your thinking as well as the form of your running. When I tell her what I struggled with on a run, she is quick to commiserate, reassure me that that thing can be a challenge, and share how she overcame it. She gets that part of coaching is listening, and that part of being coached is needing to be heard. One of the biggest reasons I chose Sue was the fact that she’s a decorated masters athlete and has experience running middle distance. But I’ve picked up a lot of knowledge beyond those two area of expertise. I would recommend her to anyone who truly wants to have more confidence and to improve.

Avatar of Heidi Brumbaugh

Heidi Brumbaugh

Dec 23, 2019

Very helpful and insightful Sue got me to the track for the first time! Good workouts, frequent check-in. Would hire her again!

AI Summary Based on information provided in Sue's profile.

With Olympic‑Trials finals experience, masters national titles and a Boston Marathon qualifier, Sue McDonald blends elite competition insight with VDOT O2 and USATF Level 1 coaching. She integrates strength, nutrition and mental skills to create personalized plans for beginners through competitive athletes via private coaching, groups and consultations. Learn more about her programs.

Frequently asked questions

This coach supports runners focused on General Fitness, 800m, Mile/1500m, 2mi/3km, 5km, 10km, 15km, Half Marathon, and Marathon with coaching specialities that include Competitive Runners, High School Runners, Nutrition Advice, and Boston Marathon.

Yes. Sue McDonald is currently accepting new coaching clients, and you can reach out directly from this profile page.

Yes. Sue McDonald coaches Competitive Runners, High School Runners, Cross Training Advice, Beginner Runners, Recreational Runners, and Masters Runners specifically for General Fitness, 800m, Mile/1500m, 2mi/3km, 5km, 10km, 15km, Half Marathon, and Marathon, tailoring the plan to experience level and race distance together.

This coach currently offers Training Plans and Private Coaching. Product availability can change as the coach updates their marketplace offerings.

Must be coachable have a great attitude, a willingness to trust the process, and a commitment to work together as a team.

Coaching is available through In-person, Online/Remote coaching, Group coaching, and Consultations. Review product details to choose the format that best matches your goals.