Category: Coaching Staff

Denise Lorentz

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2024 Training Coach

Denise is excited to have the opportunity to coach and run with you! A native of Rochester, MN and now residing in Monticello, Denise began her running career as a sprinter on the high school track team.

Denise attended St. Cloud State University (quite some time ago) for both her undergrad and masters programs in the area of Communication Disorders. Denise works in the Monticello School District as a Speech-Language Pathologist.

Denise, being a mom of two, had a busy lifestyle as her kids were growing up. However, with her summers off, she found she had time to run a few miles on the treadmill everyday. This was a casual hobby for her that soon turned into a passion.

Denise completed her first marathon in 2017 by default (ask her to tell the story!) in Disney World. A couple of months later she had her sights on improving her time and one day running Boston. After qualifying three times, she finally was accepted to run in 2021 and 2022.

In total, Denise has run 17 marathons and many more half marathons, 10k and 5k races. She loves sharing her joy of running with everyone which led her to obtain her RRCA coaching certification in 2022. You will always see her cheering on other runners both on and off the course. In her free time, Denise likes to craft, read, travel, and drink one too many McDonald’s Cokes (if you know you know)

Denise is here to support your goals and listen to your concerns. Whether you are a first time runner or a seasoned runner, she is excited to connect with you and help you find your joy in running.

Jake Lepak

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2024 Training Coach

Jake Lepak is an avid runner and coach. A native of St. Louis, MO, he attended Macalester College in St. Paul where he ran cross-country and track and field at the Division III level and graduated with degrees in Economics and Statistics.

Growing up, he primarily focused on soccer, wrestling and sprint events in track. A medical injury forced him to retire from soccer and wrestling and he gradually transitioned to distance running his sophomore year of high school. With distance running as his sole focus, he was able to take advantage of skills he learned from other sports and excel enough to receive an opportunity to run at Macalester College.

In college, he continued his development and experienced both success and failure. He was able to compete against some of the most talented runners in Division III through the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and his passions for excellence and performance continued to grow throughout his 4 years as a student athlete. While the COVID-19 pandemic did cut his college career short, his time at Macalester left more to be desired, so he continued on running as a way to find some peace during a time of confusion and chaos and looked to continue elevating his performance along the way.

Following his graduation, he received his RRCA coaching certification and continues to stay informed on the latest developments in the coaching sphere to inform his own training. He continues to train at a high level and has primarily focused on marathon and greater distances these past couple years. Some highlights include placing 16th at the Twin Cities Marathon in 2021 and 3rd in the Afton 50k trail race, sporting PRs of 2:40 and 4:18, respectively.

Outside of running and coaching, he works at U.S. Bank as a technical consultant. He is heavily involved with Special Olympics Minnesota, both as a coach for weightlifting and as a Young Professional Board Member, which acts as an extension to the Executive Board of Directors. He also has a wide range of interests and hobbies – from arts and crafts, to movies, reading, listening to podcasts, and much more!

He is passionate about supporting others so that they can reach their goals and building a large network of friends along the way. He continues to learn through a wide variety of resources and continually pursue educational opportunities to both inform his own running and work with athletes of all levels.

 

Sarah Stangl

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2024 Winter Training Coach

Sarah began running in 2011 as a way to get back in shape after graduating college. As a 3rd generation marathon runner, Sarah grew up attending Grandma’s Marathon each year to cheer on her father and grandfather. After joining RunMinnesota in 2012, she trained for several years within the Spring and Fall training classes. Sarah received her coaching certification from RRCA in 2016 and has coached the Fall Training class in 2017 and 2018. In addition to coaching, Sarah is also a past RunMinnesota board member, serving 2016 – 2020. Since 2012, Sarah has completed 38 marathons, spanning 20 states and several international races. She most recently has expanded her scope into trail running, having recently tackled the Superior Fall Marathon along the Superior Hiking Trail. Sarah holds high passion for running and inspiring others to find aspects in the sport to enjoy, regardless of pace or experience.

Bev Docherty

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2023 Fall Training

Coaching Highlights:

28 years of teaching and coaching at the K-12 level

Collegiate coaching experience at the DIII level, 8 All Americans

Specializes in running, track & field and cross-country

Lifelong runner with a wealth of experience coaching herself and others to goals in the sport

Mother of Four

Master’s of Education and BS in Physical Education at the University of Iowa

USATF Level II in Sprints, Hurdles & Relays, Distance, and Strength & Conditioning

Coached high school student-athletes to 63 State Qualifying Events with 35 All State Honors, 5 Individual State Champions, 1 Relay State Champion in Track & Field and 12 State Qualifiers with 4 All State Honors in Cross-Country

Athletic Highlights:

6x Olympic Trials Qualifier in the Marathon(and completed☺) (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)

2x U.S. Masters National Champion in the Marathon (1998 & 2000)

Inductee for the Minnesota Track & Field Hall of Fame in 2003

Career Personal Bests of 2:38 in the Marathon and 58:59 in the 10 Mile

Masters Personal Bests of 2:42 in the Marathon and 1:19 in the Half Marathon

Bev believes anyone can become a successful runner. Establishing appropriate goals, setting up a doable plan to reach those goals, and supporting the runner along the way are what she has enjoyed doing for many years, and hopes to continue to do.

Daniel Baron

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2024 Training Coach

Coach Daniel took up running at the age of 40 when his doctor recommended “a little aerobic exercise.” Since then, he has run everything from 5Ks to 50Ks but specializes in a yearly spring and a yearly fall marathon. His continuing personal goal is a sub 3 hour marathon. 

Daniel is interested in all aspects of staying fit, including strength training, cross training, sport psychology, and nutrition.

After a 27 year career teaching the German language and high school history classes, Daniel delved into coaching with the Edina Boys Cross Country team as well as gaining UESCA coaching certification. He is excited to coach with Run Minnesota as a past participant of the MDRA marathon classes where he met his cadre of great running friends. As a former teacher, Daniel takes an encouraging, as well as individualized, approach to help people be the runner they want to be. 

Kurt Jewell

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2023 Spring Training Coach

Coach Kurt picked up his love of running at a 2 mile road race over 40 years ago and has been running ever since. Kurt competes at distances from a mile up to the marathon, but he also really enjoys crewing and cheering other runners during their races. Kurt is passionate about helping runners stay healthy during their training cycles. He understands the challenges of balancing effective training and bus lifestyles and likes to help athletes find that sweet spot where they can excel. Kurt loves the camaraderie of group runs. With a more than six foot wing span, Kurt is the go-to-guy when group selfies are required! 

Emily Quigley

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2022 Spring & Fall Training Coach

Emily grew-up watching her parents run and fell in love with her own running journey during high school. Running is not just a form of exercise, but a source of social connection, empowerment, enjoyment, and challenge! She’s completed numerous marathons and recently ventured into ultra-distances and trail running. Emily’s goal is to empower everyone through running!

Emily has a background as a registered nurse working in the mental health realm since 2011. She’s currently completing a psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioner graduate degree and working in clinical research. She’s also been working as a certified personal trainer for Apex Personal Training since 2018 and enjoys coaching clients on strength training and powerlifting.

She lives in Minneapolis with her husband and two dogs, Frankie and Clyde! Emily loves exploring new trails, coffee shops, and breweries!

Her current personal goals include setting a new 100k PR, completing an ironman, and finishing grad school! 

Lou Ann Kycek

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

2022 TRAINING Coach

 

Actively participating in life since 2003 when a childhood friend asked her “So what do you do when you’re not working or being a mother or a wife?” She had no answers.

She immediately jumped right into biking, then added running, triathlons, hiking the Superior Hiking Trail and anything that led her to the outdoors.

  • Member of Run Minnesota for 10 years; consistently participating in many of the programs; Track Thursdays, Spring and Fall Training, Trail class.
  • Certified Running Coach through UESCA with the purpose to give back to her running community. A coach and cheerleader for the “everyday” runner.

 

Current thoughts, plans, goals:  Be okay with where I’m at. Run a 50k. Complete a Half Ironman.

Danny Docherty

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

Program Director

Danny Docherty is an elite runner and coach. A native of St. Paul, MN, he attended Loyola University Chicago where he ran cross-country and track and field at the Division I level and graduated with degrees in English and Psychology.

He first competed as a runner at Cretin-Derham Hall High School where he found he had a knack for the sport after qualifying for the State Meet on six different occasions between cross-country and track and field. He went on to become a 2x All-State award winner as a senior in the 1600m and 3200m.

In college, he experienced both success and failure during his time at Loyola Chicago. His major accomplishments include qualifying for the NCAA West Prelims in the 10000m as a senior and achieving All-Conference honors in cross-country and track. He was also a member of a team that finished second at the Horizon League Indoor championships during his senior season. He currently ranks as the #2 All-Time performer in the 10000m at Loyola.

After college, Docherty acquired his USATF Level 1 certificate almost immediately upon graduating. He entered the coaching profession in 2014 as an assistant at his alma mater, CDH. He learned the ins and outs of being a coach and one major highlight was coaching a Girls 4x400m Relay Team to a 3rd Place finish at 2017 State Meet.

Outside of coaching, Docherty has had a range of jobs since college, from working the sales floor at Run N Fun, to delivery driving and substitute teaching.Docherty has continued to compete after college and pursue his goals as a runner. He started out on Team USA Minnesota in 2014 before moving on to Run N Fun from 2015-16 and then back to Team USA Minnesota as a training partner in 2017 and eventually became a full-time member in 2019. He was the USATF Minnesota Runner of the Year in 2019 and qualified for the 2020 Olympic Trials on 3 separate occasions in 2019. He finished 7th at the USATF 25k Championships in 2019, finished 3rd at the 2019 Twin Cities Marathon and recently won the 5k, 10k, and 10 Mile races during the 2021 TCM Weekend.

Docherty has recently stepped away from the professional side of the sport to pursue his career goals which include growing his personal coaching business, Docherty Coaching, and working toward his Master’s in Education at the University of Minnesota in Sports & Exercise Science. He is also aiming at qualifying for the 2024 Olympic Trials and continuing to race and train at a high-level.

Docherty is currently in his sixth year as the Director of Operations for Track and Baseball at the non-profit organization Highland Groveland Recreation Association (HGRA) in St. Paul. He is also entering his third year as an assistant coach at Visitation HS for track and DeLaSalle HS for cross-country. Docherty currently holds Level 2 coaching certifications from USATF (Youth Specialization), USTFCCCA (Endurance Specialist) and the Lydiard Foundation.

As a whole, he is passionate about helping others reach their goals and building community in the process. He has learned the coaching trade over time through his own running, working with coaches and athletes from all levels, and continuing to pursue education and stay updated on the latest in the sports and exercise science profession.

Kym Zest

Posted onAuthorSarah McInerney

 

2023 Spring Thursdays

Kym Zest has been coaching endurance sports for over 15 years.  She’s been an athlete her whole life. 

When she was a shy 14 years old at an all-comers track meet. Her dad, Coach Zhao pointed to a wrinkly silver haired woman warming up and said “If you stick with her, you’ll go under 6 in the mile.” It was a brutal 8 laps in the dry winter indoor air, but she stayed on her shoulder and was so proud of her new personal record. She was just as awestruck by the woman. She set a new goal that day; to be fiercely athletic well into old age.

It meant looking beyond the next race, beating a rival, or a new PR. 

In 39 years she’s had a rich complicated history as an athlete with detours, sidetracks, and many many transformative moments. It’s a life long journey. 

Which is the kind of coach she is. 

In addition to a variety of coaching gigs, she owns Zest Ed; coaching enthusiastic recreational athletes. It’s more than a training plan, it’s big picture thinking, strategizing, and reflection. 

She lives in a little house near George Floyd Square with her husband Will, their one year old baby “Sprout” and the kitty Pigeon who misses getting all the attention but likes all the yogurt on the floor. Kym’s favorite comfort food is ramen, show is The West Wing, and author is Bill Bryson. You can learn more on her website zested.net, Instagram @zest_ed_athletics, and blog MidwestWtihZest.co

Education and Certifications

– National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer #7203750410, Professional Member #10-01-25-030, 2009 – present
– Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher 200 hour level #152707, 2014 – present
– Wilderness First Responder through WMA, 2019 – 2023
– USA Triathlon Coach Level 1 and Professional Member #2013394150 , 2011 – 2022
– Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner  level 1 2014, level 2 2015
– Total Immersion Swimming Certified Coach, Level One, 2011 – 2020
– USA Swimming Coach #041282KYMJZEST , 2015 – 2018
– USA Track and Field Level One and Two Coach Certificate #L1-03-2222 Level two coach certificate #L2-06-2-118, 2002 – 2007
– Bachelor of arts in psychology Concordia University, St. Paul, MN May 2003

Professional Experience

– Coach for the YWCA Minneapolis Otters Swim Team (private lessons, masters group, youth strength training) 2010 to 2020
– Total Immersion Swimming Certified Coach, Level One, 2011 – 2020
– Coach for Vertical Endeavors climb team and club September 2019 – March 2020
– Endurance Sports Coach and Personal Trainer for the YWCA of Minneapolis 2010- 2017
– Yoga Teacher (YWCA classes and private) 2014 –2017
– Assistant Race Director – Training Coordinator for the YWCA Women’s Triathlon  2014-2017
– Founder and Head Coach of Bumble Beez Athletics for youth 9-14 2002 to 2008

Personal Experience Highlights

– 40 hours of birth labor in December 2021
– Self supported trail marathon while six weeks pregnant May 2021
– Personal Urban Ultra Challenge 45.39 miles in 14:19 November 2020
– Rib Mt. Adventure Race – 8 hour.  2017, 2018, and 2019 as team Velocikitty Snuggles.
– IronMan Triathlon 140.6mi North Carolina Beach2Battleship 2015 finish time 13:33:13
– SuperiorMan Triathlon 70.3mi Duluth MN 2013 finish time 6:08
– Canoe Expedition Voyageurs Nat’l Park and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness: 19 days 246.5 miles 2012
– Winter Wilderness Camping: 20+ days in Porcupine Mountains, Voyageurs Nat’l Park, and BWCAW 2010-present
– Bike Commuting year round in Minnesota since 2009
– National Outdoor Leadership School Alaska Sea Kayaking 13 days 2006
– Concordia University St. Paul Cross Country and Track 2000 – 2001 
– State Championship participation in CC 1997 – 1999 
– State Championship participation in swimming 1996 and 1997
– Competing in triathlons since 1997