A woman in a white t-shirt and brown shorts lifting a barbell in a gym with various weights and gym equipment in the background.

Meet Our Running Coaches

At DPR, we blend comprehensive and fully individualized science-backed training programs with close athlete-coach partnerships to improve performance, mitigate injuries, and cultivate a lifelong pursuit of joy on the roads and trails. We welcome runners of all backgrounds and capabilities and strive for improved gender representation, particularly in the trail running community.

Meet Your Coaches

Coaching is relational as much as instructional. Our coaching philosophy centers on creating athlete-coach partnerships that encourage discussion, transparency, understanding and a true team experience. We are always a direct message away to celebrate with you, answer questions that pop up, or brainstorm about training and racing. Our education and experience means we are here to help with any hiccup that may arise, and our network allows us to provide you with resources if something extends past our scope.

Learn more about each of our running strength coach below.

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  • Dr. Asher Kyger

    Founder, trail running and strength specialist

    Dr. Asher is a licensed physical therapist, certified ultra running coach and strength and conditioning specialist. She works with beginner to experienced athletes who want to chase exciting goals with the best chance of avoiding injury along the way. She designs training with purpose, encouragement and just the right amount of challenge needed for her athletes to dream big without burning out. She has helped over 100 athletes PR, BQ, earn their 24 hour belt buckle and finish multi-day stage events feeling strong and capable.

    Click here to schedule a discovery call with Coach Asher

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  • Leslie Dugger Carvajal

    Certifications: UESCA Ultra Marathoning Coach; RRCA Running Coach; RunDNA Running Coach

    With a background in education, Leslie’s coaching philosophy centers on fostering a growth mindset. She views running as a learning opportunity for everyone who approaches it, whether it's their first mile or 5000th. In this learning adventure, the goal is to reach the finish line through gratitude, joyfulness, purpose, and fun. ​

    Leslie specializes in training runner’s for the 5k to marathon distances as well as those beginning their journey on the trails. Personally, she loves racing the 5k and 10k distances, but dabbles in half marathons. Leslie is a language enthusiast, fluent in Spanish and English, and loves delicious food and a relaxing Sunday.

    Click hereto schedule a discovery call.

    Listen to Coach Leslie discuss running for beginners on Thrive Radio.

Our Tribe, Our Vibe.

The DPR team is filled with lifelong runners of all capabilities, from all over the world. We are run-walkers, Boston qualifiers, just beginning-ers, belt buckle earners, and athletes breaking down the barriers of our sport. We strive to enjoy the journey as much as the outcome and celebrate each other with unbridled enthusiasm along the way.
Our running strength coach supports athletes in building strength, improving resilience, and developing the confidence to enjoy every mile of their running journey.

Your Goals, Guided by a Certified Running Coach

Choosing certified running coaches gives you access to informed guidance as you work toward your personal running goals. At DPR, we value the process behind every achievement, helping athletes make thoughtful training choices rather than chasing results at the expense of consistency.

A man in a purple running shirt and light green cap holding a race medal at a marathon finish line event.
A smiling man in a striped athletic shirt holding a finish line sign at a marathon event outside a store called Tracksmith in London, with a race time of 3 hours, 00 minutes, and 27 seconds.
Three runners participating in a race, dressed in colorful and fun athletic wear, with a green background and race barriers along the route.
Three women trail running along a dirt path on a hillside with green shrubs and grass, overlooking a large body of water and distant mountains under a cloudy sky.
A woman standing on a gravel road with a forest background, holding a sign that reads 'BQ BABY!!!' During a downhill marathon event.
A smiling woman wearing a pink cap with blue sunglasses on top, holding a medal with a mountain and bike design that reads 'Spring Classic Duathlon'. She is outdoors in a park area with other people in the background under a pavilion.
Three people standing together in a desert landscape during sunset, wearing athletic gear and race bibs.
A smiling woman holding a cardboard sign that reads 'MT Democrat 14.148' and a small black and white dog, standing outdoors on a mountain with a vast landscape and blue sky with clouds in the background.
Five people running on a dirt trail through a wooded area, with two runners in front making peace signs and smiling at the camera.
Woman with sunglasses and a white T-shirt, wearing pink shorts, smiling with arms raised, standing on a forest trail near a signpost.
A woman crossing the finish line of a race, smiling and celebrating, with balloons and spectators in the background.
A woman smiling and holding a copper medal shaped like a cupcake at an outdoor event, with a large Aravaipa Running banner overhead.

FAQ

  • It depends on the person. We err on the side of effort, as learning your body and its signals is not only beneficial in training but racing. That said, for certain athletes - as well as specific phases of training - heart rate and/or pace-based training is programmed. Our runners almost always see pace suggestions pop up on their logs as we enter the specificity phase of goal race training.

  • Absolutely! If you have been recently injured or still have pain, clearance to start a return to run program from a medical professional (i.e. physical therapist, orthopedic doctor, sports chiropractor, etc.) is required.

  • We primarily use the Google platform, so run training is provided in a Google Sheet and we utilize Google Chat and Meet for messaging and video calls. However, our 1:1 strength-only athletes are invited to our new app-based service that is mobile and desktop friendly. The app has an integrated chat that we use for frequent check ins and communication.

  • You read that right! If you select the full package, everything is customized to your specific needs AND strength routines are updated weekly. The personalized run coaching package also incorporates strength, but this is a single routine, designed by Coach Asher that renews monthly. Your coach will program the workout into your weekly training, but it only changes at the beginning of each month.

  • Not at all, but it is highly encouraged. The research states that strength training can boost running performance and running economy by significant percentages (this is from a 2017 systematic review in Sports Medicine journal).

  • You don’t! It's nice to have the option to add weight, as the literature suggests heavier lifting supports performance enhancements and mitigates injury. That said, we can glean benefits with heavy bands or even bodyweight moves, particularly if you are new to lifting. If you are in a place to invest in equipment, as little as a moderate weight kettlebell and two heavy weight dumbbells (or an adjustable set) will do the trick!

  • Yes! If you feel comfortable, please reach out so that we can have a conversation. Finances should never be a hurdle to coaching and we can (and often) get creative!

  • They can help you follow a structured, science-backed training plan that aligns with your goals, experience, and abilities. At DPR, our coaches emphasize open communication, individualized guidance, injury prevention, and long-term progress so you can train with confidence and enjoy your running journey.