MEET YOUR DC RUNNING COACH
DC Running Coach, LLC is operated by Michael Hamberger, a former multi-sport athlete whose run-splits consistently ranked at the top of the field. In 2010, Mike finished his 3rd Boston Marathon, setting a new PR at 2:46:33, and at the Army 10-Miler he finished in the top-100 overall for the second time. He was an overall podium finisher in all of his 2010 multi-sport races, earning All-American honors for the 2nd time. Mike has represented Team USA three times at the amateur Duathlon World Championships. In 2008, he finished the Marine Corps Marathon as the first DC resident across the line.
In operating DC Running Coach since 2006, Mike has been correcting running form in athletes training from 5k to marathon, from couch potato to Olympic hopeful, and from ages 8 to 80, including scholastic athletes of all ages, sports, and experience.
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He is currently a PhD candidate in cognitive motor neuroscience at the University of Maryland, and has taught undergraduate sport psychology at George Washington University and Marymount University.
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In 2015, Mike published his first book: The Art of Run Training. He has also published twice as lead author in the Journal of Contemporary Athletics (2004 & 2005) and as second author in the World Leisure Journal (2006). He has been consulted by numerous publications, including Runner's World magazine and The Washington Post. Mike has covered many topics at various clinics for the Girls On The Run coaching program, University of Maryland Triathlon Club, George Washington Triathlon Club, DC Tri Club, the Nation's Triathlon Clinic Series, VIDA Fitness and Prince George's Running Club. He has also been a Run Ambassador for Lululemon Athletica and has coached the Runner's World 10k program in DC. Mike even once served as Reese Witherspoon's running coach on the set of the film "How Do You Know"!
Mike began his career in triathlon while in graduate school at the University of Maryland (M.A. Kinesiology, concentration in sport psychology) as a way to accept new challenges in the realm of athletics. His previous experience in athletics included being a three-sport collegiate athlete in football, rugby, and track & field at Widener University (B.A.). His running career began while competing as an All-Conference decathlete for the track & field team for two years, where he won the 1500m race at the Conference Championships both years, and won the 400m race his senior year.
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In addition to collegiate athletics, Mike also played football and baseball in high school and now enjoys basketball as a leisure-time sport. He grew up in Bear, DE and currently resides in northwest Washington, DC, where he was a former full-time track & field coach and physical education teacher at Sidwell Friends School.
