About Us

Ashley

Hi! I'm Ashley! I am a 40 year-old wife and mom to two little girls and a mini-goldendoodle.  I was born and raised in Virginia Beach. I earned my degree in Education at UVA and have been a Spanish teacher for 17 years and a runner for all of my adult life.  I also taught fitness classes at a local gym for years before I had my second daughter. I love motivating and encouraging others to achieve their fitness goals,  and I find joy in watching people realize their own strength and capabilities, both physically and mentally. 

The past 3 years I have really focused on running and getting faster. I have Boston-qualified 5 times in the last two years, including BQ's at the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, and most recently at the Boston Marathon this past April in 3:08.31!  Matt and I will head to D.C. this October to run in the 50th Marine Corps Marathon. A week later,  I am headed to NYC to run the NYC Marathon for the second time, but this time, I'm honored to have been chosen to be a part Team TCS Teachers!

My husband Matt has inspired me so much with his knowledge and coaching! His guidance and training plans are truly the reason that I have been so successful these last 3 years. I feel very grateful that our joint passion for running has enabled us to share in both the ups and downs of training and race experiences together. Through running, we not only are able to model a healthy lifestyle for our daughters, but we also are instilling in them that with strength, determination, and consistency, you  can achieve your goals and dreams!

Matt

Hello! I’m Matt, and I’m one half of AM Running.

I’m a proud husband and father, and my wife and our two daughters are the biggest motivators and inspirations in my life. In fact, AM Running was inspired in large part by the success Ashley has found throughout her own running journey. I’ve seen firsthand how the right training, coaching, and community can help someone achieve things they once thought were out of reach, and I want to help other athletes experience that same feeling.

I’m a Virginia Beach native who has spent most of my life in the local community, with a brief stint in Harrisonburg at JMU and family roots in New Jersey. I grew up in the Virginia Beach public school system and have now spent more than 15 years as a teacher and coach in the local school system. Education has always been a passion of mine, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have coached and taught so many incredible students and athletes over the years. That experience has shaped the way I approach coaching: meet athletes where they are, help them understand the “why” behind their training, and give them the tools and confidence to continue growing.

I’m a lifelong athlete who grew up competing in team sports including baseball, swimming, and volleyball. As an adult, my focus has shifted toward endurance sports, particularly running and triathlon. I currently coach high school Cross Country and Track & Field, while also working with adult runners through personalized training plans and coaching.

As a runner, I’ve experienced many of the same challenges and milestones as the athletes I coach. I’ve trained for and run races ranging from the mile to the marathon, finished sprint, Olympic, and half ironman triathlons, and most recently crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon in a time of 2:56:16. I’ve received coaching certification from Jack Daniels and earned a USATF Level 1 certification, continuing to build my knowledge and experience so I can provide thoughtful, purposeful training to athletes at all levels.

Ultimately, I believe running should add to your life, not take away from it. I believe in working hard, finding your strengths, staying humble, and creating balance between training, family, work, and everything else that matters. I’m motivated by pursuing my own personal best, but I’m even more inspired by seeing my family, athletes, and students accomplish things they once doubted they could do.

Whether you’re training for your first 5K, chasing a PR, preparing for a marathon, or simply looking for a sustainable way to become a stronger runner, my goal is to help you find your path forward.