When it comes to high-end running, getting in physical shape is just half the battle.
There’s the very important mental, emotional side to it, too, and that’s where a coach such as Natalie Johnston can factor into the equation as well.
Johnston, who operates the RUNF.I.T program in Doylestown, has been helping athletes of all abilities for a number of years. And keep them running for a number of years.
As a physical therapist, she tends to make sure injuries don’t slow runners down. But she also looks to inspire her clients with athletic feats of her own, like running a 3:06 marathon.
“At the heart of what I do is connection, compassion and intentional training for longevity in sport,” Johnston says. “My coaching isn’t just about logging miles or chasing PRs.
“It’s about creating a sustainable relationship with movement and each other. I want my athletes to see running as the cherry on top of a full, vibrant life. Not the whole pie.”
Johnston works with a client base of about 20 athletes. Those alone keep her busy throughout a hectic work week.
This one-on-one format has multiple benefits.
“When you learn how to train both your body and nervous system in balance, performance natually improves,” Johnston said. “Beyond that, you gain something bigger: More resilience when life gets messy and a deeper sense of joy in the process.
“Running becomes not just a sport but a pathway to living with intention and wholeheartedness.”
Johnston, a native of Long Island (Holbrook, N.Y.) currently residing in New Hope, arrived in Bucks County a number of years ago and found the area to her liking.
Training with outfits such as the Bucks County Roadrunners Club proved to be positive. She originally ran middle distances for Manhattan College and C.W. Post. Those were rewarding experiences and one gets the sense she wanted to pay some of those benefits forward.
Now she does in-person and online coaching, offers message therapy and just about anything connected to efficient forward movement.
Before COVID she saw as many as 30 runners. Now she’s down to a more manageable number.
“That was a lot,” she acknowledged. “At some point I decided it was just too much. I turn 41 in January and it was time. I’m focused now more on longevity these days with both my athletes and myself. So practice what you preach.”
Of course that extends to recommending good diet, proper rest and a positive frame of mind.
“I’m still really busy,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s crazy to think I was seeing 30 to 33 people a week. I don’t know how I did that.”
Johnston also works out of a company called Locomotion in Princeton on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As for her own running, a big milestone is coming up shortly. Next month she will be heading out west for the Chicago Marathon. She said it’s going to be her last 26.2-miler.
She will be accompanied by Jin Lee (a runner/nurse we wrote about a few weeks ago). Lee is a client but also a good friend of Johnston’s. This should make for a memorable trip.
Johnston believes she can still complete the 26.2-mile course in the 3:15 range. While there are still a lot of long distance miles in her legs, she wants to try new ventures in athletics.
The two ran Boston together his past April. For Chicago, they are roommates again.
“I’m retiring from the marathon distance,” Johnston said. “This will be my last one. I want more time, more personal time. I love training, that’s not stopping me. I just want to explore different things.”
Such as?
“I want to have more life activities,” she said. “I want to try something new. I’ve been competitive distance running for almost 30 years. I want to know what it feels like to be a better sprinter.”
She ran the mile and the 5K in college so she’s sort of returning to her roots. And perhaps more.
“As crazy as this might sound, I want to explore contemporary dance,” she explained. “So I’m in this mode where I want to enjoy my last marathon, go out with a bang. Then I’ll see what happens in the next year or so to come. See where I want to shift my focus.”
Then again, never say never.
“I keep on saying to everybody, if I Michael Jordan myself and come out of retirement, that’s cool, I’ll come of retirement,” she said. “But for right now I need that exploration time.”>30th anniversary for Bucks 5K SeriesHard to believe but the Bucks 5K Series will be celebrating its 30th year in operation in the spring of 2026.
To kick off the big milestone, the event is holding a “Comedy Night” fundraiser at Poco’s nightclub in Doylestown on Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m.
Plenty of laughs and lots of good times. Tickets are $35. For information, contact johnny@bucks5kseries.com>Race calendar
There’s the very important mental, emotional side to it, too, and that’s where a coach such as Natalie Johnston can factor into the equation as well.
Johnston, who operates the RUNF.I.T program in Doylestown, has been helping athletes of all abilities for a number of years. And keep them running for a number of years.
As a physical therapist, she tends to make sure injuries don’t slow runners down. But she also looks to inspire her clients with athletic feats of her own, like running a 3:06 marathon.
“At the heart of what I do is connection, compassion and intentional training for longevity in sport,” Johnston says. “My coaching isn’t just about logging miles or chasing PRs.
“It’s about creating a sustainable relationship with movement and each other. I want my athletes to see running as the cherry on top of a full, vibrant life. Not the whole pie.”
Johnston works with a client base of about 20 athletes. Those alone keep her busy throughout a hectic work week.
This one-on-one format has multiple benefits.
“When you learn how to train both your body and nervous system in balance, performance natually improves,” Johnston said. “Beyond that, you gain something bigger: More resilience when life gets messy and a deeper sense of joy in the process.
“Running becomes not just a sport but a pathway to living with intention and wholeheartedness.”
Johnston, a native of Long Island (Holbrook, N.Y.) currently residing in New Hope, arrived in Bucks County a number of years ago and found the area to her liking.
Training with outfits such as the Bucks County Roadrunners Club proved to be positive. She originally ran middle distances for Manhattan College and C.W. Post. Those were rewarding experiences and one gets the sense she wanted to pay some of those benefits forward.
Now she does in-person and online coaching, offers message therapy and just about anything connected to efficient forward movement.
Before COVID she saw as many as 30 runners. Now she’s down to a more manageable number.
“That was a lot,” she acknowledged. “At some point I decided it was just too much. I turn 41 in January and it was time. I’m focused now more on longevity these days with both my athletes and myself. So practice what you preach.”
Of course that extends to recommending good diet, proper rest and a positive frame of mind.
“I’m still really busy,” she said with a chuckle. “It’s crazy to think I was seeing 30 to 33 people a week. I don’t know how I did that.”
Johnston also works out of a company called Locomotion in Princeton on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As for her own running, a big milestone is coming up shortly. Next month she will be heading out west for the Chicago Marathon. She said it’s going to be her last 26.2-miler.
She will be accompanied by Jin Lee (a runner/nurse we wrote about a few weeks ago). Lee is a client but also a good friend of Johnston’s. This should make for a memorable trip.
Johnston believes she can still complete the 26.2-mile course in the 3:15 range. While there are still a lot of long distance miles in her legs, she wants to try new ventures in athletics.
The two ran Boston together his past April. For Chicago, they are roommates again.
“I’m retiring from the marathon distance,” Johnston said. “This will be my last one. I want more time, more personal time. I love training, that’s not stopping me. I just want to explore different things.”
Such as?
“I want to have more life activities,” she said. “I want to try something new. I’ve been competitive distance running for almost 30 years. I want to know what it feels like to be a better sprinter.”
She ran the mile and the 5K in college so she’s sort of returning to her roots. And perhaps more.
“As crazy as this might sound, I want to explore contemporary dance,” she explained. “So I’m in this mode where I want to enjoy my last marathon, go out with a bang. Then I’ll see what happens in the next year or so to come. See where I want to shift my focus.”
Then again, never say never.
“I keep on saying to everybody, if I Michael Jordan myself and come out of retirement, that’s cool, I’ll come of retirement,” she said. “But for right now I need that exploration time.”>30th anniversary for Bucks 5K SeriesHard to believe but the Bucks 5K Series will be celebrating its 30th year in operation in the spring of 2026.
To kick off the big milestone, the event is holding a “Comedy Night” fundraiser at Poco’s nightclub in Doylestown on Saturday, Sept. 13, 8 p.m.
Plenty of laughs and lots of good times. Tickets are $35. For information, contact johnny@bucks5kseries.com>Race calendar
>Saturday
58th annual Mill Street Run 5K, 8 a.m., Bristol. Contact www.runsignup.com
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