RIK AKEY
Road Runners Club of America certified Distance Running Coach
American Red Cross cerified in CPR, AED and First Aid

My favorite running experiences

First 5k, March 2009

I was physically trained for my first race, but I was terrified!

I thought the "real" runners would judge me for being so overweight. I was very surprised at how welcoming everyone was!

And I met my goal of running the whole 3.1 miles, without walking. I was hooked!

First marathon, October 2010

After training for 6 months, 5 days a week, I was prepared to take on the challenge of running 26.2 miles.

My goal was to finish under 4 hours, and I made it with just 7 seconds to spare!

At the finish, I was so exhausted and emotional that cried like a baby.

First time pacing a marathon, October 2013

I led a group of new marathon runners at the Milwaukee Marathon. I trained to run at exactly the same pace for every mile, and to finish at exactly 4:20. It was very rewarding to help the group reach their goals!

Running with Dean Karnazes, July 2013

Dean, in yellow, is a legendary endurance ultra runner, and a huge inspiration to me.

Among his many accomplishments, he has run 350 continuous miles, foregoing sleep for three nights. He's run across Death Valley in 120 degree temperatures, and he's run a marathon to the South Pole in negative 40 degrees.

I got a chance to run with Dean Karnazes when he came through my town promoting his book, "Run!".


Confessions of a former couch potato

I haven't always been a runner. In fact, for a large part of my life, I was an obese couch potato. It was never an emotional thing; I just come from a long line of fat people and great cooks. Family gatherings always centered around food, and my social circle consider ourselves to be serious foodies.

And one day in early 2008, weighing 275 pounds, as I sat in a hospital room with my dad, who was recovering from having a heart stent put in, it hit home for me. My dad was also a big guy, diabetic, with back trouble. And now, he looked old. And tired. >> Read more

Why I became a running coach

I received such amazing help and support along my journey from obese couch potato to marathon runner, and I realized it wasmore than I could ever possibly pay back. I began to feel very strongly that it was my obligation to instead turn around and pay it forward, to help others achieve success.

I've studied to become certified as a Road Runners Club of America distance running coach, as well as a Breakthrough Coach, allowing me to coach the total person, physically and mentally, to accomplish what seems impossible.

Since 2011, I've successfully coached people with a wide range of initial fitness levels to cross finish lines ranging from 1 mile to the marathon. Take a look at my Success Stories page for details!

And now, I want to do the same for you! If you can dream it, together we can do it!

Let's get started! Request a FREE Consultation!

Personal running accomplishments

  • Fastest 5k: 20:36
  • Completed Marathons: 10, in 8 states
  • Fastest marathon: 3:29:37
  • Most miles run in a year: 1,531