Joanne Ottaviano

New York Marathon 2009

“I began training with John in June of 2009. I had the modest goal of meeting my personal best in the marathon, 3:28, and making it to the starting line in NY without many of the injuries that plagued my former training regimen. Having trained for 6 marathons and only toed the line in 4 due to stress fractures, I knew my training methods were falling short. With John’s personalized program I was able to fit training and weight sessions into an already tight schedule and customize around vacations and business travel. As a result, I shaved over 2 minutes off my half-marathon best with a 1:39 in the 2009 Grete’s Gallop and 4 minutes off my marathon best with a 3:24 in the 2009 NY marathon. Best of all, I was free of injury and toed the line in NY with more strength and confidence than in any previous marathon. Unlike the coaches I had come to know and dread in high school and college, John listened instead of ordered, and was prescriptive instead of pedantic.”