About Knighton Runs Marathon Coaching

Meet the Coaches Behind Knighton Runs

Personalized coaching for committed runners who want thoughtful training, expert feedback, and a plan built around their lives.

Knighton Runs Marathon Coaching was founded in 2019 by Chris and Erica Knighton in Providence, Rhode Island.

Coach Chris works with adult marathon and half-marathon runners throughout the United States and worldwide through personalized 1:1 Online Running Coaching. Coach Erica provides Private Running Lessons & Ongoing Development for Youth in Rhode Island.

Chris and Erica Knighton with their daughter at a running event

100+ Athletes Coached • 80+ Five-Star Google Reviews • USATF-Certified • Featured in Runner’s World

Coach Chris Knighton

Head Coach, Author & Founder

I’m Chris Knighton, founder and Head Coach of Knighton Runs. I started coaching runners in 2019 and have coached professionally full time since 2021.

Since then, I’ve worked with more than 100 athletes pursuing goals ranging from becoming more consistent runners to setting major personal bests and qualifying for the Boston Marathon.

I specialize in coaching committed marathon and half-marathon runners who want more than a generic training plan. I follow each athlete’s training closely, look for patterns in how they respond, and adjust the plan as fitness, recovery, schedule, and goals evolve.

I intentionally keep my roster small enough to know my athletes and their training well.

Coaching Experience & Qualifications

USATF Level 1 Certified Coach
Founder and Head Coach of Knighton Runs since 2019
Full-time professional running coach since 2021
100+ athletes coached
Track & Field and Cross-Country Coach at St. Mary Academy – Bay View, 2021–2025
Author of Run Faster Marathons: The Proven Path to PR
Featured as a running expert in Runner’s World

Online running coach Chris Knighton after finishing the Boston Marathon

Personal Bests

1500m: 4:19
1 Mile: 4:42
5K: 16:40
10K: 34:41
Half Marathon: 1:14
Marathon: 2:46

I Coach From Experience — But Your Training Isn’t About Me

I’m also a competitive distance runner, and I’ve trained and raced across a wide range of events on the track, roads, and trails.

That experience helps inform my coaching, but I don’t believe athletes should simply copy what worked for their coach. Your training should be built around your history, strengths, weaknesses, schedule, goals, and response to training.

I didn’t become a serious runner until my late twenties. I know what it is like to build fitness gradually, chase goals that initially seem out of reach, have training go exceptionally well, and work through cycles or races that do not go according to plan.

Selected Running Achievements

1st at 2024 USATF-NE Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships 3000m
2:46 at 2023 Chicago Marathon
1st at 2023 USATF-NE Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships 800m
2:53 at 2022 Boston Marathon
1st at 2022 Super Sunday 5K
1st at 2021 Pomham Rocks 10K Road Race

What I Believe About Coaching

Individualized

Two runners preparing for the same marathon should not automatically follow the same plan. Training should reflect the individual athlete.

Adaptable

A plan is a starting point. Good coaching means paying attention to what actually happens and adjusting when needed.

Long-Term

The goal is not just one good race. I want athletes to become stronger, smarter, and more capable runners over time.

Consistent

One heroic workout matters far less than months of sustainable, purposeful training.

Communicative

The better I understand how an athlete is feeling and responding, the better decisions we can make together.

Realistic

Most runners have careers, families, and responsibilities outside the sport. Training has to fit the reality of their lives.

Learn About 1:1 Online Coaching

The Experience That Shaped My Coaching

In 2014, before Knighton Runs existed, I left my job and thru-hiked the 2,180-mile Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine.

That experience changed the way I thought about difficult goals. Big accomplishments rarely come from one heroic effort. They come from doing the work day after day, adapting when things do not go according to plan, and continuing to move forward.

The marathon rewards many of those same qualities: patience, consistency, resilience, and a willingness to think long term. Those are qualities I try to help every athlete develop.

Coach Erica Knighton

Youth Running Coach & Assistant Coach

Erica is the Assistant Coach at Knighton Runs and leads our private youth running coaching in Rhode Island.

A competitive runner since high school and college, Erica has more than 25 years of experience in the sport. She is especially passionate about helping youth and high school athletes develop confidence, discipline, sound training habits, and a healthy long-term relationship with running.

During her time as Head Coach at St. Mary Academy – Bay View, Erica coached four athletes to All-State honors and two State Champions. She now coaches at Moses Brown School in Providence.

Erica holds coaching certification from the NFHS and is certified in CPR/AED.

Through Knighton Runs, she works privately with youth and high school athletes during summer and winter off-seasons and can provide additional in-season support with permission from the athlete’s school coach.

Learn About Youth Running Coaching

Proudest Race Achievement

3:07:05 at the 2024 Philadelphia Marathon

Trusted by Runners

80+ Five-Star Google Reviews

The most important measure of our coaching is what happens to the athletes we work with. Read what Knighton Runs athletes say about their experience:

    EXCELLENT  
  83 reviews
 
 
        Posted on Google  
   
   Jared W 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I was fortunate enough to connect with Erica over the last several months which led to her inviting me to help out at her High School running camp as sports medicine physical therapist. This allowed me to see first hand how skilled of a running coach she is. I was thoroughly impressed with the level of thought and detail she put into developing the camp for her athletes. Not only that, you could tell how strong of a connection she had with each athlete. Anyone looking for expert coaching along with great personality, please reach out to Erica!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Katherine D 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Chris is a very responsive coach and able to work with athletes across a spectrum of events and skill levels. I have PR’d in all of my events so far working with Chris!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Cheryl m 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  My daughter Jackie has been training with Knighton Runs since her freshman year and I can’t say enough good things about them. Erica and Chris have provided amazing mentorship, showing immense patience with her while still knowing exactly how to push her to reach her full potential. They balance encouragement with excellent training and we couldn’t be happier with her progress and growth as both an athlete and person. Highly recommend them to any parent! Thank you both for everything!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Damian M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I’ve been working with Chris and Erica for the past 3 years. As a strength and conditioning coach to young athletes, I’ve been impressed with the attention to detail they bring to their coaching plans and communication. I can confidently say that the athletes who work with the Knighton’s not only improve as runners but also build confidence.

I would recommend Knighton Runs to any athlete looking for a running coach.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Frank M 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  We have been working with Chris and Erica for over 5 years, she been coaching our daughter Jackie  as a distance runner in indoor and outdoor track as well as Cross Country. They are both very attentive to the individual skills that our daughter possessed and have worked with her to achieve many Personal Records over the years. My greatest compliment in their coaching performance was getting our daughter to get a scholarship to run D1 at a great college.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Robert C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Coach Chris is awesome and would highly recommend him to anyone! He is very friendly, knowledgable, helpful, responsive.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   S C 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Chris is phenomenal. In the short time we’ve been working together he’s already coached me to two PRs. He tells me exactly what to do, which takes all the guesswork out of training. I’m no longer second-guessing whether I’m doing what I should be doing.  I can now just focus on running the miles and executing the plan.

Chris also does an excellent job tailoring my running plan to fit my life. It’s obvious he’s thinking about my schedule, responsibilities, and constraints when he's building my schedule.

If you’re looking for a coach who delivers results, removes the mental clutter, and actually understands how to fit training into a real life, Chris is it.
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Amanda L 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  Chris is very knowledgeable and gives quality planning and guidance through all the training phases including mental and physical readiness. He is responsive to questions and can quickly adapt plans when life happens while keeping you on track with your goals. This is not something you could replace with any AI algorithm or app. Whether you’re training for your first 5k or ultramarathon, Chris is a highly recommended resource!
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Mariana A 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I love working with coach Chris. He is super competent, nice and efficient. After I started being coached by him I PRed 16 minutes on my marathon. His training plan pushes me exactly the amount I need. It's been a pleasure and I saw clear results improvements on my running
  
 
 
      Posted on Google  
   
   Jordan A 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google.  I had a great experience with the Knighton Runs team, I appreciated the personalized runs which were developed on a weekly basis and adjusted as needed depending on how I did, and also the education, motivation, and accountability along the way. It is great knowing that there is a coach that will be reviewing each run, commenting and supporting and providing strategy for race day. Highly recommend!
  
 
 
  
 
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