Thank you for being such a great coach for 3-years! Your passion for ultra running really comes through in your coaching. You have just the right balance of approaches to your coaching... sometimes tough and often gentle when I needed it. I love that your coaching plans are "living documents" and I am free to make changes that adapt to my lifestyle.
Ellie A. -- 2023
Thank you so much for your training schedules. I live in Sonoma county and I have used your plans for various distances. Oh how I wish you and your crew were up in this area. I wish you the best. You make a difference in the lives of many runners; young and old. Happy Trails. Enjoy today.
Cher Guasco -- 2022
Dear Ultra Ladies, I wanted to send you a note of appreciation. Last year, I followed your training plan for the 50-miler, and I successfully completed my first one on the first attempt. I felt strong and prepared. I even got out for a tiny shake-out run two days after the event. I had a wonderful time. It was such a transformative experience. Thank you for providing a realistic plan, especially for folks who work 50+ hours per week. With Gratitude,
Holly S. -- 2022
I can't believe how much my life has changed since meeting Coach Nancy! You have guided me over the years from my first 50k, 100k and 100-mile runs! Your patience with me when I fell off the training really helped me stay on track. Most of all I appreciate the care you took to keep my former "injuries" at bay. Thank you Nancy!!
Bev - 2022
Thanks to Nancy, Blister Fairy at Javelina Jundred, my super sized major blisters were expertly taken care of and I finished my 100k race! Thank you, Blister Fairy! I would not have been able to finish this race without
Ken Young -- 2021
"Thank you for all of the support the last few months. You have really helped me get into a groove as far as consistent training and realizing that I can do hard things. Because of these difficult times I don't think I could have established my running again without your support; it has made a tremendous impact on my life and the way I look at things. Even though my work as a teacher is especially hard right now I know that if I get my run in my day is going to be great."
Roxanne Honaker -- 2020
"Hello, I wanted to thank you for your awesome training plans!! Although the site says Ultra Ladies I decided to use your training plan for my first 100 miler. Let me tell you that It was a great plan which lead to me completing my first 100 miler in 23:11:14. i came in 114 out of 718. I was super happy with my results thanks to your program. Thank you again."
Steven Restrepo -- 2019
"I wrote an email to Coach Nancy asking about training. Her answer to me was a concise list of questions that devled into my history and current state of training and ability. From this information, Coach Nancy developed my personal training plan that slowly added miles over time but with enough recovery periods to let my body adapt to the new rigors it was under.
Most important, Coach Nancy made it clear this was a living document: I was to watch my resting heart rate for any spikes indicating overtraining/under-recovery and report to her given my previous attempts. Coach kept in weekly contact checking in on my efforts both my perception and the hard data my Garmin gave. She made the adjustments to the schedule as needed in a quick, positive manner - always encouraging me to keep at it. She knows when you need an ear to listen, or a drill Sargent to get you moving....but
Jump to race day where I did show and showed feeling ready. The race was a 24 hour run around a 2.43 trail. Nancy was there and gave encouragement and advice: (make your bandanna into a U shape around your neck and stick ice in to cool down)
When other racers were adjusting down the goals for the race and were wearing out during the dark of night, I moved up my goals and kept going all due to the training that Coach Nancy had me do. Not only did I finish my goal of 100K but I stretched that to 65 miles (my age this upcoming birthday). Next year on to 100 miles under the coaching of Nancy Shura-Dervin"
Coach Barry Morrell
Certified USATF, RRCA and UESCA Endurance Coach
Training Chair LA LEGGERS
Coach South Bay Runners' Club and LA Running Club
"I was so pleased with how Avalon 50-Mile went. My mentors were awesome in helping me get to the finish line. Your words of wisdom echoed in my head the whole way! It would've been a lot harder without all your support and I'm looking forward to more"
-- Ivy Castillo -- First 50-Mile Run -- January 2018
Ellie A. -- 2023
Thank you so much for your training schedules. I live in Sonoma county and I have used your plans for various distances. Oh how I wish you and your crew were up in this area. I wish you the best. You make a difference in the lives of many runners; young and old. Happy Trails. Enjoy today.
Cher Guasco -- 2022
Dear Ultra Ladies, I wanted to send you a note of appreciation. Last year, I followed your training plan for the 50-miler, and I successfully completed my first one on the first attempt. I felt strong and prepared. I even got out for a tiny shake-out run two days after the event. I had a wonderful time. It was such a transformative experience. Thank you for providing a realistic plan, especially for folks who work 50+ hours per week. With Gratitude,
Holly S. -- 2022
I can't believe how much my life has changed since meeting Coach Nancy! You have guided me over the years from my first 50k, 100k and 100-mile runs! Your patience with me when I fell off the training really helped me stay on track. Most of all I appreciate the care you took to keep my former "injuries" at bay. Thank you Nancy!!
Bev - 2022
Thanks to Nancy, Blister Fairy at Javelina Jundred, my super sized major blisters were expertly taken care of and I finished my 100k race! Thank you, Blister Fairy! I would not have been able to finish this race without
Ken Young -- 2021
"Thank you for all of the support the last few months. You have really helped me get into a groove as far as consistent training and realizing that I can do hard things. Because of these difficult times I don't think I could have established my running again without your support; it has made a tremendous impact on my life and the way I look at things. Even though my work as a teacher is especially hard right now I know that if I get my run in my day is going to be great."
Roxanne Honaker -- 2020
"Hello, I wanted to thank you for your awesome training plans!! Although the site says Ultra Ladies I decided to use your training plan for my first 100 miler. Let me tell you that It was a great plan which lead to me completing my first 100 miler in 23:11:14. i came in 114 out of 718. I was super happy with my results thanks to your program. Thank you again."
Steven Restrepo -- 2019
"I wrote an email to Coach Nancy asking about training. Her answer to me was a concise list of questions that devled into my history and current state of training and ability. From this information, Coach Nancy developed my personal training plan that slowly added miles over time but with enough recovery periods to let my body adapt to the new rigors it was under.
Most important, Coach Nancy made it clear this was a living document: I was to watch my resting heart rate for any spikes indicating overtraining/under-recovery and report to her given my previous attempts. Coach kept in weekly contact checking in on my efforts both my perception and the hard data my Garmin gave. She made the adjustments to the schedule as needed in a quick, positive manner - always encouraging me to keep at it. She knows when you need an ear to listen, or a drill Sargent to get you moving....but
Jump to race day where I did show and showed feeling ready. The race was a 24 hour run around a 2.43 trail. Nancy was there and gave encouragement and advice: (make your bandanna into a U shape around your neck and stick ice in to cool down)
When other racers were adjusting down the goals for the race and were wearing out during the dark of night, I moved up my goals and kept going all due to the training that Coach Nancy had me do. Not only did I finish my goal of 100K but I stretched that to 65 miles (my age this upcoming birthday). Next year on to 100 miles under the coaching of Nancy Shura-Dervin"
Coach Barry Morrell
Certified USATF, RRCA and UESCA Endurance Coach
Training Chair LA LEGGERS
Coach South Bay Runners' Club and LA Running Club
"I was so pleased with how Avalon 50-Mile went. My mentors were awesome in helping me get to the finish line. Your words of wisdom echoed in my head the whole way! It would've been a lot harder without all your support and I'm looking forward to more"
-- Ivy Castillo -- First 50-Mile Run -- January 2018