{"id":25,"date":"2026-05-16T21:42:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T21:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2026-05-16T22:03:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T22:03:07","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Welcome to Coach D&#8217;s Mile Markers: The Starting Line for Your Running Journey<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marblism.com\/K_6sui62VXy.webp\" alt=\"Coach D's Mile Markers Hero Image\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome to the starting line! If you\u2019ve found your way here, it\u2019s probably because you believe that running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other. It\u2019s about building a life that\u2019s more resilient, more energized, and, dare I say it, a lot more fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019m Donald Burgess (but most people call me Coach D), and I am thrilled to welcome you to <strong>Coach D&#8217;s Mile Markers<\/strong>. This blog is our new digital home base, a place where we\u2019ll talk shop about everything from the perfect 5K interval to how to stop your brain from telling you to quit at mile three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you\u2019re a lifelong athlete, a busy professional trying to squeeze in a run between meetings, or a masters runner realizing that your 40s (and beyond!) are actually your prime years, you\u2019re in the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Than Just Miles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the running world, there\u2019s a lot of focus on <em>how fast<\/em> and <em>how far<\/em>. And don&#8217;t get me wrong, I love a good PR as much as anyone, just ask the gold medals I picked up at the <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrunrun.com\/coach\/donald-burgess-fairbanks-running-coach\/\">2025 Alaska International Senior Games<\/a>! But if you only focus on the numbers, you\u2019re missing the big picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At <strong>Donald Burgess: Your Running Coach<\/strong>, we take a holistic approach. That\u2019s a fancy way of saying we care about the whole human. We aren&#8217;t just training your legs; we\u2019re training your mindset, your recovery, and your resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marblism.com\/MHsC0ni8nOP.webp\" alt=\"Holistic Balance and Running Lifestyle\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a former Chamber CEO and a certified corporate wellness coach, I know exactly what it\u2019s like to balance a high-pressure career with a training schedule. I\u2019ve been the person trying to figure out how to stay consistent when life gets messy. That\u2019s why my coaching isn&#8217;t about rigid, &#8220;one-size-fits-all&#8221; plans. It\u2019s about <strong>sustainable habits<\/strong> and meeting you exactly where you are today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who This Blog Is For<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019ve ever felt like the &#8220;typical&#8221; running advice is written for 22-year-old elites with zero responsibilities, this blog is for you. <strong>Coach D&#8217;s Mile Markers<\/strong> is designed for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Masters Athlete (40+):<\/strong> We\u2019ll dive into how to train smarter as we age, prioritizing recovery without sacrificing the intensity that keeps us feeling young.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Busy Professional:<\/strong> Tips for high-performance living, stress management, and making the most of those precious 30-minute workout windows.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Everyday &amp; Returning Runner:<\/strong> Whether you\u2019re starting your first run-walk program or returning to the sport after a decade away, we\u2019re here to help you grow one intentional stride at a time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Mindset Seeker:<\/strong> Because 90% of running is mental, and the other 10% is in your head too.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marblism.com\/dFUbR1hBhCi.webp\" alt=\"Strong Masters Athlete Running\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A Sneak Peek at What\u2019s Coming<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I don\u2019t want this blog to just be a place where I talk. I want it to be a resource you actually use. Here\u2019s a little &#8220;mile marker&#8221; teaser of what you can expect in the coming weeks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The 9-Day Microcycle:<\/strong> Why the traditional 7-day week might be holding back your recovery, especially if you\u2019re a masters runner.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Corporate Athlete Secrets:<\/strong> How to use the same discipline that made you successful in the boardroom to crush your 10K goals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The Fairbanks Connection:<\/strong> Advice for those of us training in unique environments (yes, we\u2019ll talk about running in the Alaskan cold!).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strength Training That Actually Works:<\/strong> No fluff, just the functional movements every runner needs to stay injury-free.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why &#8220;Mile Markers&#8221;?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I chose the name because every run, every race, and every training cycle is made up of markers along the way. Some miles feel like a breeze, and some feel like you\u2019re running through wet cement. But each marker is a sign of progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When I started running back in the late 70s, I didn&#8217;t have a coach. I was self-taught, learning through trial, error, and a lot of dog-eared running magazines. It took me a long time to figure out what worked. My goal with this blog and my <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrunrun.com\/coach\/donald-burgess-fairbanks-running-coach\/\">personalized coaching services<\/a> is to help you skip the &#8220;learning the long way&#8221; part and get straight to the &#8220;feeling great and running strong&#8221; part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marblism.com\/TsKyXxhfiX9.webp\" alt=\"Celebrating Achievements and Community\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join the Huddle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2023, I founded the <strong>Sunshine Striders<\/strong> here in Fairbanks because I believe that running is better together. Even if we\u2019re training individually via <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrunrun.com\/product-tag\/final-surge\/\">Final Surge<\/a>, we are still part of a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This blog is an extension of that community. I want to hear from you. What are you struggling with? What was your latest &#8220;win&#8221;? What\u2019s the one question about running you\u2019ve always been too afraid to ask?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re ready to take the next step: whether that\u2019s a 5K, a half marathon, or just being able to run three times a week without pain: I\u2019m here to guide you. You can check out my <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrunrun.com\/coach\/donald-burgess-fairbanks-running-coach\/\">full coaching profile here<\/a> to see if we\u2019d be a good fit to work together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.marblism.com\/4CHtjhFGMUw.webp\" alt=\"Team Run Run Badge\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Final Stride (For Today)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most important thing to remember is that you don&#8217;t have to be &#8220;fast&#8221; to be a runner. You just have to run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thanks for joining me here at the trailhead. I can\u2019t wait to see where this journey takes us. Grab your shoes, check your watch, and let\u2019s get moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See you at the next mile marker,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Coach D<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ready to get started? Donald offers personalized online coaching and in-person sessions in Fairbanks, AK. <a href=\"https:\/\/teamrunrun.com\/coach\/donald-burgess-fairbanks-running-coach\/#contact-donald\">Contact Donald today<\/a> to start your journey.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Coach D&#8217;s Mile Markers: The Starting Line for Your Running Journey Welcome to the starting line! If you\u2019ve found your way here, it\u2019s probably because you believe that running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other. It\u2019s about building a life that\u2019s more resilient, more energized, and, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-25","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37,"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/25\/revisions\/37"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/36"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/milemarkers.vitalstridecoaching.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}