Running Programs
At Lions Den we offer personalized running plans for those who race throughout the year and are looking for periodization and peaking in their training schedule. The plan includes personal consultation and weekly availability by phone or email.
Running programs are done through TrainingPeaks. Features include daily workout reminders, mobile app and reports to summarize your training. The running group focuses on building friendships, finding running partners, racing together and going out for a post race beers!
When Daylight Savings starts, we conduct track workouts. The track workouts are included in this pricing option. If you would just like to partake in the track workouts, pricing is $5 per track workout.
Contact us for more information and let’s work together to make the program fit your goals and objectives!
WHY HIRE A RUNNING COACH?
The question you might be asking yourself is why I should hire a running coach? It’s a great question to ask and if you’re the type of runner who is self-motivated, knows how to incorporate the long-distance run, tempo runs and speed workouts, plus create a schedule that has you peaking on race day, then you might be better off saving money and going on your own. If you’re not an expert in running, let us tell you why Lions Den SMP Run Club is for you!
Training Schedule: There are a ton of marathon and half marathon training schedules that you can follow. The problem is the one size fits all approach. If you’re anything like us, life can get in the way of running. You miss a long run, a tempo day, heck you might even miss two long runs in a row. At that point, you can throw the book out the window, because you’re off the schedule and adjustments need to be made. A good running coach knows how to adapt the schedule and accommodate the training program to suit your needs and lifestyle and get you back on track.
Practice: You’ve probably heard of the 10,000 Hour Rule but one of the nuances of the 10,000 Hour Rule is that not all practice is equal. If you want to become a better runner practice is the primary way to get faster. Simply going out every single day and running the same mileage at the same speed will keep you in shape and help burn the calories, but it’s not going to turn you into your own personal champion. To reach your goals and become that champion for yourself, you have to understand the deep practice, which means working at the edge of your capacities. Lions Den SMP Run Club will put together a program that focuses on training variability to make you a champion on race day.
Accountability: Training for a marathon or half marathon is hard work and finding the motivation to go out and run 18 miles on Sunday morning can often leave the most hardcore runner yearning to stay under the covers. Setting a training program with a set schedule and knowing that your running coach is expecting you to perform the workout is the helpful nudge that keeps your feet moving.
Guidance: Simon Escorcia and Tristan Mitchell are experienced runners with thousands of miles logged, numerous marathons run, and plenty of mistakes made along the way. We are here to assist you! Not only with your important running goals but, even with the small things; picking out a pair of shoes, what to eat the night before a marathon, or what type of clothing to wear to suit the weather conditions.
Motivation: One of the best motivators to get runners out the door is signing up for a race. We work with all of our athletes to encourage them to sign up for races in Colorado and across the country and develop a race strategy that will work to reach their goals.
Results: At the end of the day, results are what matter. Getting the results that you desire require a systematic approach to your running and Lions Den SMP Run Club will put the system into place.
Lions Den SMP Run Club has been training runners in Colorado for over five years. Check out our success stories on Facebook, we’ve helped a lot of Colorado runners qualify for the Boston Marathon and reach their marathon and half marathon goals.
MEET OUR COACHES
Tristan Mitchell
Education: Arapahoe High School (Centennial, CO) - Metro State University (Denver, CO) - NASM Certified Personal Trainer - The Ready State 102 Movement and Mobility Coach
Running Accomplishments: Chicago Marathon - 2:36:51, Colfax Half Marathon - 1:13:24, & Justice Run 10K - 33:49
Tristan Mitchell was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado. He grew up playing sports throughout the early years of his youth, but by the time he reached high school he stopped playing organized sports and began to put on weight. When he was 17 years old, the seed for fitness had been planted in his mind and he began lifting weights. After graduating from Arapahoe High School he had a steady weight lifting regime but was hampered by a poor diet and a relatively low over all activity level. Weighing in at 215 pounds and climbing he knew a change had to be made.
After implementing diet changes, he began running three days per week for 15 minutes. As he started to lose weight and feel better, the mileage increased and ran his first 10k when he was 19. After that 10K, he was hooked on running and racing. Running slowly but surely became a fact of life for him and just before he turned 21 he ran his first marathon, the Denver Marathon in 2006 in a time of 3:19. While pleased, he knew he could do much better and vowed to put in a better effort in 2007. And that he did, he returned to the Denver Marathon and on a cold, rainy day, he ran a 2:53. At that finish line Tristan knew running would forever be a part of his life and he never looked back.
Tristan continued to evolve as a runner and athlete throughout his years in college at Metro State University and after graduating knew he wanted to work in the world of fitness. Driven by helping others achieve their own fitness goals, as he continues to pursue his own, Tristan works as a personal trainer and prides himself on his experience, knowledge, enthusiasm, and ability to motivate others.
Tristan has run a total of 23 marathons, with numerous high placing at both local marathons, Denver and Colfax. In 2019, he ran a PR at the Chicago Marathon in a time of 2:36:51. You can check out his race results on Athlinks.
Simon Escorcia
Education: Luther College (Decorah, IA) - St. Ambrose University MBA (Davenport, IA)
Running Accomplishments: Indianapolis Monumental Marathon - 2:43:39, Denver Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon - 1:18:46, Justice Run 10K - 35:55, & Des Moines Marathon 5K - 17:00
Born in the Land of Lincoln, Simon Escorcia was brought up in a family that valued being active and outdoors. At the age of ten, the family moved to Burlington, Iowa along the Mighty Mississippi. Simon’s dad was a runner and cyclist, so he went to races with his dad from a young age and by the age of 13 Simon was competing in road races and duathlons, alongside his father.
Simon attended Notre Dame High School, in Burlington, Iowa and ran track and cross country for the Nikes. After college, Simon went to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he continued his love of running by racing track and cross country for the Norse., while obtaining his B.A. Simon then went on to pursue his M.B.A. from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa.
After graduate school, Simon took a break from racing competitively, until one day he glanced at a photo of himself and thought “I need to lose weight and get back into shape.” In 2006, Simon started running again and signed up for the Denver Marathon, even though the farthest he had ever raced before was seven miles. Simon finished his first marathon in 3:28:55 and managed to give himself a stress fracture in the tibia by increasing his mileage to rapidly and not being smart about his training.
After that first marathon, Simon caught the marathon bug that so many runners seem to catch and has since completed 11 marathons, you can find a lot of his results on Athlinks.
Simon is the owner of Colorado Race Timing, a successful Colorado race timing company that times over 100 races per year. Simon brings an analytical approach to running, constantly looking at and reviewing data to develop a plan of attack. Combine this with Tristan’s excitement and enthusiasm and you have the foundation of Lions Den Run Club.
RUN CLUB MEMBERS
