Issue 30

Launch Day - Meet Our New Coaches!

Rachael Woodruff
November 01, 2024

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

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🥁🥁🥁 Drumroll Please…

Introducing our new coaches joining Hammer & Axe! Available now to work with all runners in their journey to become their best self.

Anthony Camerieri

With a steadfast work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, Anthony is the anchor. He has worked his way to the elite ranks of every level he’s competed at in his career, culminating with a runner-up finish in the DMR at the NCAA Indoor Championships. As a coach, Anthony believes in the value of doing more with less. With experience as a physical therapist, Anthony understands that the best athlete is a healthy athlete, and works to prioritize injury prevention without losing out on performance.

Fun Fact: Has delivered over 1,700 DoorDash orders 🤯

Question for Anthony: What motivates you as a coach?

“I believe everyone deserves to, and can find their full potential in running with proper coaching and training, no matter how bad their injury history has been.”

Anthony’s Training Tip

Taking a few extra weeks to build up to your peak mileage can make a world of difference for staying healthy. The 10% rule is okay but once you get to higher mileage, 10% becomes too big of a jump to safely increase. When you’re getting close to your peak mileage, shoot for increases closer to 5%.

An example of this would be for someone doing 50 mpw, instead of going 20-30-35-40-45-50, doing 20-30-35-38-41-44-47-50.

Note: This would be for someone who has experience running 50 mpw, making those bigger early jumps not as big of a deal.

Savannah Shaw

As a coach and an athlete, Savannah is a catalyst. She’s a spark that ignites not only her own performance but the performance of everyone around her. A member of NC State’s NCAA Championship-winning cross country team, Savannah believes in the leveraging the power of community and positivity to elevate those around her. With selflessness and determination, she shows athletes that when you work to lift others, you rise together.

Fun Fact: Has lived in 7 different U.S. states

Question for Savannah: What makes a successful runner?

“I believe that igniting passion for the sport is the first step towards a long and happy running career.”

Savannah’s Training Tip

Stick with your training and your journey - so don't be afraid to get dropped, go at your own pace, and pick up the pace when it feels right. Whether it be too early in a race or on an easy day that should feel easy, dropping off from an ambitious pace could be the best thing for you. Alternatively, if you get that gut feeling to pick up the pace in a workout or race, pay attention to that instinct.

Sam Parsons

Sam is a trailblazer. Throughout his life and running career, he’s forged his own path and made his own success. With the wisdom of a global adventurer and the heart of a champion, he knows the power of camaraderie and the transformative strength of self-belief. For his athletes, he’s not just a coach—he’s a guide through the toughest roads, helping them reach the peaks of their potential. Sam is a motivator to his core. He’s eager to work with athletes of all ages and abilities who are looking for someone who’s part hypeman, part coach.

Fun Fact: Designed 6 shoes for Adidas

Question for Sam: What excites you about coaching?

“I'm excited to not only mentor athletes to reach their untapped physical potential but also work closely together to master the mental side of the sport.“

Sam’s Training Tip

Discipline > Motivation

Motivation is the initial drive that pushes us to start something, but it’s often short-lived and unreliable. Discipline, on the other hand, is the consistent effort that keeps us going even when motivation fades. While motivation might help you get out the door every once in a while, discipline is what ensures long-term progress. Strive to be disciplined in the pursuit of your goals.

Austin Miller

Austin, the underdog, chases his goals with grit and relentless drive. After a standout career at DII powerhouse Augustana, where he was runner-up in the 1500m at the NCAA DII championships, he took a chance on himself and moved to Boulder to compete at the elite level. Austin knows that there are many pathways to success. For his athletes, he’s the embodiment of resilience—showing that with patience and hard work, the impossible becomes attainable.

Fun Fact: Didn’t start running until his last semester of high school, and was a college walk-on!

Question for Austin: What is something you want to teach your athletes?

“Consistency and gradual growth over time lead to great results. You can't come out of the gates guns blazing; you have to slowly ease into a training program and be patient. There's a quote that's been going around, "Overtrain until it's not overtraining," and I think it's one of the dumbest quotes of all time. I believe that following it will get 90% of people injured. It took me about five years in college to see the results I wanted, but that's because I was patient with the program and didn't overtrain.”

Austin’s Training Tip

Find ways to make running enjoyable. Seek out training partners, a good coach to keep you accountable, or a running club. If you're not enjoying your training, you're likely going to have a bad time, especially since the actual racing element occupies so little time on the calendar. Gotta find a way to make the days in between the races fun!

Interested in working with one of our coaches?

Next up on The Hammer:

We’ll take a deep dive into exclusive interviews with Anthony, Savannah, Austin, and Sam over the next few issues of our newsletter. Get to know these amazing athletes and coaches!