Coach Katie O’Connor
Coaching Bio
Ever since I started running [cross country in high school], I fell in love with the sport. I loved the confidence and strength that running gave me, as well as the community of friendship and support. When I signed up for my first marathon, I knew it would be challenging, would take sacrifice, and dedication. Crossing the finish line was the best feeling in the world, and I proved to myself that I was stronger than I thought I was, and could do more than I believed I could. The experience was truly life changing. From the marathon to now ultramarathons, I actually get excited to be the sore, hobbling runner you see the day after the race. I completed my first 100 miler in 2020 and it left me hungry for more!
I am a Certified Run Coach, have been running competitively since 2003, and have been in the fitness industry for over 15 years. I am passionate about helping my athletes achieve their goals. From beginners to seasoned veterans looking for a new PR or to tackle a new distance, I am here to help you be the strongest [mentally & physically] runner you can be [and have fun doing it]!
I live in Bucktown with my husband, daughter, and our two cats. I love exploring the area, trying new restaurants, and cheering on the local sports teams (Go Illini!). My obsessions: coffee, cookies, pizza, wine, and RUNNING! When not enjoying time with family and friends, I’m most likely running (on the Lakefront Path, the 606, or on the Trails!).
My motto: The goal is greater than the fear; the fear of the distance, of the pain, of the unknown, the goal has to win over the fear.
One of my favorite quotes, “If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.” ~ Tom Hanks, A League of Their Own
Racing Accomplishments
200M PR-96:29:55 Big Foot 200 (2023)
100M PR - 23:39:08 (Kettle Moraine 100- 2022)
50M PR - 9:48:32
50k PR - 5:07:03
Marathon PR - 3:19:05
Half Marathon PR - 1:37:02
Dirt Trail Running Podcast
“Coffee with Coaches”
Gather around your listening player of choice, we have OMR coach Katie O’Connor sharing her wisdom about ultras, coaching, being coached, & about her recent Bigfoot 200 mile race. Having coached with OMR for over 2 years, Katie has helped many athletes & continues to love talking & learning about the ultra-endurance sports. Listen to her views on coaching her athletes, preparing for big goals, & overcoming obstacles & doubt. Don’t miss out on this one & remember to rate, subscribe, & comment if you like the content! Coach Katie was a pleasure to talk with so we know you’ll find it worthwhile!
Coaching Testimonials
"Coach Katie was there for everything and gave me customized workouts, pep talks, advice, support, knowledge of the course, recommendations for gear/hydration/nutrition, what to do after I sustained an injury, accountability, the list goes on. Katie is my coach, mentor, inspiration, and friend. Her unwavering commitment and belief in me gave me all the tools I needed to achieve the dream of finishing my 1st 50 mile race. I'm forever grateful and look forward to continuing to work with her to achieve my next crazy goal!" - Andrea
“Katie has helped me to PRs at multiple distances, from the 5k to the marathon. Thanks to her training I’ve not only gotten faster but I feel better during and post race than ever before. Her training plans are tailored to match my race goals, and the workouts are the perfect mix of being challenging and achievable. She knows exactly how hard to push and when to dial it back. Katie’s always quick to send feedback and answer questions. Her never ending positivity is amazing and her support is a big help getting through everything from those tough training runs to race day. I’m so happy I found Katie as a coach and friend, and can’t wait to tackle the next challenge with her!" - Mike
I have had running 100 miles on my mind for over a decade, and finally through a challenge I initiated at work about Facing Your Fears and doing hard things, I finally hit the “register” button, and signed up for my first 100 miler. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, so I found Coach Katie through the Ornery Mule website, the organization who puts on the Hennepin Hundred race. I figured, what better way to find a coach for the race than through the race itself, right? I had a meeting with Coach Loretta, the “coach connector” and she listened and ultimately matched me with Coach Katie in mid-May. I had a call with Katie and from the very first call she just always sounded so excited. I loved her energy and positivity, and I loved that she laid out the expectations from the beginning. I won’t forget her telling me that she can coach someone but you have to want it yourself to be successful. I thought, GOOD, she will do her part and hold me accountable for doing mine. Coach Katie not only spent time getting to know me, my schedule, and my lifestyle, but also took the time to learn my history and asked for my last couple months of runs, so that her coaching could meet me where I was at. I appreciated the dedication to creating something that was individual to me, as training for a 100 doesn’t seem to be a one-size-fits-all plan. Coach Katie was available for a call if I wanted to chat about something, emails if I wanted to share documents or plans to review, and messaging when I needed it. She was so encouraging, yet kept me accountable.She had Zoom sessions with my ultra-virgin crew and pacers, and we actually felt like although we had never done this before, we were prepared and ready for the adventure. I knew this was something I didn’t want to tackle alone, especially being my first 100, and Coach Katie was the ultimate supportive partner. She didn’t sugar coat the race by telling me it would be easy, she was real about how it would feel, that it would hurt, and prepped my mind for what to expect and gave me tools for how to deal with being uncomfortable for a very long time and push through. Even when my confidence wavered, her belief never did. Her encouragement and belief literally took me through the 29 hours, and I could not have done it without her. Coach Katie is a great role model and an inspiration, and has taught me that “it’s the hard that makes it great” (Tom Hanks - A League of Their Own).-Mindy
