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Interview with Hammer & Axe’s newest coach - Katie Camarena!

The Hammer & Axe team has a new coach joining the squad! Meet Katie - A professional distance runner for Saucony whose steady rise through the sport reflects her resilience and commitment. With a deep understanding of what it takes to build longevity and sustainability in running, Katie believes that the path to peak performance begins with finding joy in the process. As a coach, she’s committed to meeting athletes where they are—offering guidance that supports you both as a runner and as a person.

In this issue, we caught up with Katie about recent changes in her training environment, what inspired her to start coaching, and what goals she’s chasing this season. Read on to get to know Katie and what she brings to Hammer & Axe!

Hey Katie! Great to have you back on The Hammer. Give us a little update on where you’re at right now - both in running and in life! 

Hey :D Great to be back on The Hammer! 

I have lots of fun updates in running and life! I recently signed a contract with Saucony, and started working with my college coach, Josh Seitz, again. So far this season I am 3 for 3 on PRs, in the 3000m, 5000m, and 10000m. I also just moved into a new apartment in Longmont with my boyfriend (Anthony Camerieri!) - and I’m super excited to start working as a coach with Hammer & Axe!

A lot has changed for you in the past several months, from signing a new contract, to changing coaches and training partners. How did you manage to remain healthy and consistent in your running while navigating all these changes? In what ways have these changes benefited you as an athlete?

So much change! 

The decision to leave the team, and basically change my entire set up, was weighing heavily on me. I was really concerned about making so many changes at once and I really wanted things to work out for me to stay. Even when I knew leaving was the right decision for me it was still very hard to do. But, in the months since I left I have felt so much support from Marc, Joan and the guys on the team and that helped to provide some stability. Joan is the best and her understanding and support really made the coaching change seamless! She spoke with Josh and talked through what I had been doing in training and what her long term plan was. When I started working with Josh we kept a lot of things from Joan’s training, like double T, while slowly working in some of Josh’s classic workouts and gradually increasing my mileage. 

Signing with Saucony was such a great experience - contract negotiations can be really stressful but this partnership just felt natural and really easy to navigate. They are so supportive of me and my goals and I love their product for training! While I loved being on the team with the guys at Tinman, we couldn’t do that much training together. I have a lot of flexibility now in who I can workout with and I’ve found a fun little group of women who also aren’t on teams. It has been so fulfilling to have such fun, kind, talented women to train with - hard work doesn’t feel as hard when we’re having fun at practice. They say “happy runners are fast runners” and I was just in such a mental rut at the end of last year that I needed to make changes. I have been so happy and really enjoying the process and that has translated to success on the track.

Looking ahead to the summer, what excites you? What are your goals?

I am excited to be healthy and for more racing! I’m looking forward to challenging myself by dropping down in distance to run a 1500 later this summer, and maybe an 800 if I can fit it in the schedule! It’s always fun to change things up and work on weaknesses - I feel super confident in the strength I’ve built but would love to test what kind of speed I have! 

My goals for the rest of the summer are to run a 1500m PR, hopefully another 5k PR, and be competitive at the US Championships. 

We’re super pumped to have you join our team of coaches here at Hammer & Axe. You have some prior coaching experience with college runners…can you tell us about that? What did you love most about coaching?

I am so excited to be joining Hammer & Axe and getting back into coaching. Yes! After I graduated from Portland State I joined the staff as an assistant coach! It was really fun to work alongside my college coaches and learn from them. I spent about 8 months there before I decided to leave to go all in on running. My favorite part about coaching was seeing hard work pay off and athletes achieving their goals - whether that was to have a healthy season, try a new event, grow their confidence, or run a PR.

What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an athlete yourself? How do you hope to help other athletes facing similar challenges?

I have faced a lot of different challenges! I’ve dealt with physical setbacks like injuries and the difficulties of adjusting to multiple mid-season coaching changes. I transferred schools and unexpectedly lost seasons to the pandemic. I’ve fallen short of my goals and underperformed in high-pressure moments - and dealt with the mental challenges that come with these disappointments like imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and a lack of confidence. These challenges have shaped me into someone who is resilient and empathetic. A lot of athletes have faced similar challenges, and I understand how tough it can be to navigate obstacles, stay motivated and believe in yourself. As a coach I hope to help athletes to feel less alone in their struggles, and to support them through any challenges they might face - coaching is just as much about supporting the person as it is about training the athlete.

What do you consider to be your greatest strengths as a coach?

One of my strengths as a coach is adaptability, combined with an understanding that each runner’s journey is unique. I believe every athlete deserves for their training to be tailored specifically to their individual goals, needs, and circumstances. I prioritize flexibility and want to create supportive environments where each athlete can thrive on their own path. Another strength is my love for the sport! My passion shows up in my coaching and in the energy I bring to my athletes. I want my athletes to reach their goals while having fun and truly enjoying the process. 

What types of runners are you most excited to work with?

I am excited to get back into coaching - so I am excited to work with anyone regardless of experience or goals. I want to work with runners who find joy in the process (or want to find it!) and who love running (or want to learn to love it!) no matter what their goals are. Whether they are chasing a PR, building confidence, or just running for fun, I would love to coach them and be a part of their running journey.

⚒️ Work With Coach Katie ⚒️

Need a coach who can help you find consistency, longevity, and joy in your running? Katie is ready to work with you.

Coaching spots fill up fast! Tap the button below to get started.

Grab A Summer Training Plan! ☀️

Check out some popular options:

• High School Summer XC Training (16:00 5k goal)

  8 week plan written by Joey Berriatua

• Summer Cross Country Build Up- Intermediate, 4-5xweek 

  10 week plan written by Drew Hunter

• Pre Marathon 5k/10k Training Plan (Intermediate, 4-5xweek) with Core, Mobility, Strength

  8 week plan written by Drew Hunter

• XC - Beginning HS XC Runners

  4 week plan written by Joan Hunter

• XC - Summer High School Training - 18:00 - 19:00 

  12 week plan written by Connor Winter

Reach out to us via email ([email protected]) or DM us on Instagram if you’d like help picking a plan that’s right for you.