Testimonials + Success Stories

“Before getting in touch with Coach Chris, I had run a few marathons before and was also part of a running club. At Boston 2019, my goal was to run a 3:30, but I fell short of that.  When I signed up for MCM 2021, I was determined to train hard and reach my 3:30 goal this time around. As soon as I learned about Coach Chris’s approach to coaching I knew I would be in good hands.

Coach Chris’s marathon training plan is thorough and personalized to you specifically. He monitors your runs and provides constant feedback. He taught me to run my easy runs easy, to listen to my body, to trust the process, and to feel confident in the work I was doing.  This was the first Marathon Training cycle in which I didn’t feel exhausted! 

Had I not have had Coach Chris in my corner when MCM and then my backup race got canceled, I most likely would not have signed up for the 2021 Charles River Marathon. We had put in the work and I couldn’t let him or myself down. Coach Chris gave me all the tools to succeed, I showed up strong, confident, rested, and ready to run. I ran a 3:28:49. A big PR and BQ! Thank you, Coach Chris!! Can’t wait to train for Boston 2022!”

– Natalia C, Plymouth, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping Natalia run her fastest marathon time ever and qualify for the 2022 Boston Marathon, all while feeling better than she ever had before during marathon training!

“Running a marathon is one thing. Qualifying for the Boston Marathon is another thing. Running a marathon in under 3-hours and officially qualifying for the Boston Marathon is a whole new ball game!!!! Came to Chicago 2021 with two goals: Qualify for The Boston Marathon and Run sub-3hr marathon. Special thanks to friends who came with me and those who followed me from far. Most of all, special thanks to Coach Chris Knighton. Having missed the second cut for Boston Marathon in 2021, I reached out to Coach Chris. I told him I need a sub 3hr marathon. All he said was, ‘I need you to trust me’ and the rest was history. Marathon PR by 30 minutes! Thank you, sir! Boston, see you in 2022.”

– Sam N, Rochester, New Hampshire

Coach’s Highlight: Coaching Sam to his first BQ, sub-3:00, and a 30-minute PR at Chicago 2021!

“As a 45-year-old mother of young children with only a few years running experience I was nervous making the decision to work with a running coach; I questioned if I was a ‘real runner?’ But after too many runs with no real plan or knowledge, I was beginning to experience injuries. I needed professional guidance and support to understand why I was getting injured and how to reach my running goals. Calling Chris is one of the best decisions I have made for my health. He is teaching me to run smarter and stronger. I am learning to run easy days easy, to listen to my body, to build my confidence through the big and little daily routines that consistently add up, AND to run faster than I ever have! I have safely increased my weekly mileage while recovering from a hamstring injury, AND I have new PR’s in the 5K through Marathon!

Coach Chris helped me train for my first marathon where I ran a Boston Qualifier!”

– Jacqueline B, Boston, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Seeing Jackie run her first-ever speed workouts, overcome past injury, and start to PR again! I helped her train for her first marathon. She had the goal to simply finish strong. Jackie not only did that, but she also qualified for the Boston Marathon in the process!!

“For about a year I was in contact with Chris, debating whether or not I should commit to a coach and plan. I’m glad we eventually teamed up. It was easy to communicate back and forth about my goals and strategies. In a few short months, Chris helped me secure an easy 2 minute PR in the half marathon and almost a 30 minute PR in the full marathon! I’m excited to continue my training with him and look forward to him bringing me to the next level of my training!”

– John C, Kingston, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping John break 4:00 for the first time in the marathon and lower his PR by 27 minutes! 4:01->3:34!

“I had been following online training plans for a few years but never saw any real improvement in my running, so I decided to start working with Coach Chris. It was such a great decision; in only a few months, I’ve begun to PR again and have been able to hit paces I never thought were possible. In addition to the great results, I’ve also really enjoyed working with Chris. He challenges me, works around my crazy schedule, and teaches me about the sport. He’s also quick to respond if I have questions, and provides constant feedback!”

– Heather K, Boston, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping Heather set a 12-minute PR at the 2021 Chicago Marathon and lowering her times at every other distance along the way!

“I have been running consistently for 6 years. I have always “coached myself”, incorporating things I’ve read into my training. My progress had been minimal at best until I contacted Chris. My dream is to qualify for Boston and it has become apparent to me that I require coaching to achieve this. Chris coached me for what was my 15th marathon. Not only did I PR but it was the first marathon that I actually feel like I “raced”, and not just “survived”. For the first time, I feel truly confident that a BQ is a realistic goal for me.”

– James H, Brockton, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping James take major strides towards his dream of qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

“Have you ever been overwhelmed by the number of ways to improve yourself?

For the past several years, I’ve tried all kinds of programs to get me back into running. Hiring a coach a few months ago was the best decision I’ve made.“

– Bob M, Provincetown, Massachusetts + Barcelona, Spain

Read Bob’s Full Article: Four Ways A Running Coach Has Improved My Outlook

“I linked up with Coach Chris back in March 2021. My goal has always been to BQ. Even before I got into running, I always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. Having grown up in Boston, and been a spectator for many races, I’ve always envisioned myself running that race. I’ve been a very casual runner since 2018, just for exercise really. But as I started to run more races and get more competitive, I knew I would need a coach to take me to the next level. It wasn’t until I hired Coach Chris that I started to understand how to train to be a smart runner. Coach Chris has taught me so much in our short time together. I hit a PR in every distance along the way.

Hiring the right coach isn’t easy. You need to make sure your mindsets are aligned. I’m a hyper-driven, goal-oriented business owner. Coach Chris is the same way.

Chris has been great to work with. He’s available when needed and is a great listener. He’s never shy to jump on Zoom to discuss this upcoming week’s training plan. Chris even paced me to my half marathon PR this year. If you’re a first-time runner looking to complete a 5k or an experienced runner looking to hit your next PR, I’d highly recommend Coach Chris. You won’t be disappointed.”

– Mike P, Watertown, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping to pace Mike to a big PR at The 2021 Black Goose Half Marathon. He then went on to smash his marathon personal best by 21-minutes a couple of months later!

“I have been working with Chris Knighton since August of 2020.  As a brand-new runner, I knew I needed a coach who would help me meet my goals but would help me progress safely.  Chris has helped me progress from a half walk/half runner to an actual runner.  His training plans are both achievable and challenging. He always incorporates my feedback into training plans and works with me and my physical limitations.  As I have a few artificial joints, there are sometimes I can’t run: he has helped me to develop cross-training plans for those days.  His comments and notes on my training are always thoughtful and hit the right buttons for me.  Since working with Chris, I have had huge PR drops in the 5K and 10K as well as consistent improvement and increased enjoyment in running.  I highly recommend his coaching!”

– Lella B, Marlborough, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Consistent Improvement as we work towards Lella’s first Marathon!

“Coach Chris and I started working together after the 2021 Newport Marathon. I was ready to make some changes and knew a mentor was key. Seeing his results and having a conversation with Coach Chris, I knew he would be the right fit for my aggressive race schedule. I ran five marathons along with many smaller races in 2021 and improved my marathon time by 70 minutes under Coach Chris’s guidance. Chris is a knowledgeable, caring coach who has his athletes and their goals as his top priority.”

– Victor M, Coventry, Rhode Island

Coach’s Highlight: Helping Victor break 4:00 in the marathon for the first time at the 2021 Philadelphia Marathon!

“I came to Coach Chris in the summer of 2020 looking for a coach whose training philosophy matched my own. I found Coach Chris’s philosophy unique in that he was a strong advocate of not just trusting the process, but enjoying it along the way. All I can say is, I was NOT ready for the incredible experience and progress that would follow. Chris worked with me to build a plan that would allow me to safely rebuild my fitness after a bad collarbone fracture. The training that followed my injury led to some of the best running of my life, with PR’s in the 800m, 1-mile, and 5k. Throughout the entire process, Chris was never more than a phone call or text away to support me in any way I needed, from modifying my plans to just words of encouragement for the tough workouts. My second training block with Coach Chris was difficult, as life just got in the way of training at times. Through the tough days of training, Chris was always there to support, and build a training plan that was manageable and safe for me. During this block, I would go on to run huge PR’s in both the 10k and half marathon. It goes without saying, without Coach Chris I wouldn’t be anywhere near the runner I am today. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

– John G, Boston, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Focusing John’s talent and enthusiasm towards the right training for him, which is letting him set new PR’s in every distance he tries.

“I hired Coach Chris because as a running coach myself, I understand the importance of having someone else put in the effort of creating a training plan as opposed to me over analyzing every run I did. I worked my way up in mileage with few hiccups and really embraced his philosophy of keeping easy runs easy. I was all in for Boston and when that didn’t happen due to COVID-19, I went out and did a ten-mile time trial in 58:04!! It was easily one of the best times of my entire running career and made me realize I’m capable of some times that I didn’t think were possible!”

– Matt G, Boston, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping Matt break 60-minutes in the 10-Mile while training for the Boston Marathon!

“I started working with Chris on my way back from an injury. He put my health first and designed a plan that helped me build strength and speed at a safe rate while also challenging me. I exceeded my expectations in my first race back and I’m excited to continue to work with Chris as I aim to break some long-standing PRs. Chris is thorough, compassionate, encouraging, and realistic and I can’t recommend him enough!”

– Kat O, Malden, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Helping Kat on her path from injury to her highest weekly mileage ever!

“I’ve been working with Chris since just September and already have PR’d in the 10K and Half Marathon! I came onboard with Knighton Runs with lofty goals and little time to prep. He worked with me to create a personalized plan with short training blocks. The workouts were hard but Chris gave exceptional guidance on how to run them. Chris has been a joy to work with. He gives great tips and always explains why a workout should be done at the given pace, the benefits of being at that pace, and the detriments of exceeding it. Chris has been extremely accommodating with my schedule and provides suggestions if I need to change my workout schedule last minute.”

– Jason Y, Brookline, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Setting 10K, 10-Mile, and Half Marathon PRs while running his highest mileage ever!

“It’s so helpful to have direction and accountability for my training, especially in the time of COVID-19. It’s clear that Coach Chris has comprehensive knowledge of aerobic training. He explains the importance of each step of the workouts he gives very well. His fun team programming makes me feel a part of a bigger community. If you’re ready to take your running to the next level, the Knighton Lions are your pack!”

– Meg J, Boulder, Colorado

Coach’s Highlight: Consistently running her highest weekly mileage and longest runs ever!

“Being a new-ish runner, I had doubts about my ability, but Chris put all those doubts at ease. Every week he created a tailored plan to my ability that not only gave me some comfort but also pushed me to hit and exceed my goals. I went from only running about 10-12 miles a week to running over 20 a week, each week improving my overall fitness level. He was always prompt in response to my questions and did a great job of telling me the “why” behind my workout plan for the week. I can’t recommend him enough.”

– Brendan O, Malden, Massachusetts

Coach’s Highlight: Huge 5K and 10K PR’s after several months of dedicated and consistent training!