Meet Erica! She is an avid runner and dedicated running coach based in Orlando, Florida. Drawing from her rich running experience, Erica not only strives to achieve her own athletic aspirations but also passionately guides others in reaching their full potential.
Erica’s journey into sports started with kiddie races alongside her family, gradually evolving through middle and high school where she actively participated in track, cross country, and soccer, both at the school and club levels. During her time at Marlboro High School, she was a member of the school record-breaking 4x800m relay team that advanced to the Nike Indoor Nationals for the first time in school history. Erica took fifth in the event at the Coca-Cola Nationals, ran with the Freehold Area Running Club, earning the organization’ s Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, and was a member of Athletes for a Better Community.
Next, Erica pursued her academic journey at the University of Central Florida, where she was recruited as a walk-on recruit for UCF’s Division I Cross Country and Track teams. She placed second among UCF runners at both the Conference USA Championships and the NCAA South Regional. The highlight of her college career was being part of the groundbreaking Conference USA 1st place Championship team in 2010.
Post-college, running continued to play a significant role in Erica’s life. In January 2019, she accomplished a lifelong dream by qualifying for the USA Olympic Trials Marathon, with an impressive time of 2:41:54 (6:11/mi) at the Houston Marathon. Erica then faced the challenging and hilly course of the Olympic Trials Marathon in February 2020. In 2021, she achieved personal records in various distances, including the 5k (16:59), 10k (35:32), 4 mile, 5 mile. Her PR [personal record] for her half marathon is 1:17:58.
Acknowledging the value of a running coach, Erica, who has overcome challenges such as battling low iron, emphasizes the importance of staying injury-free. She is on a continuous journey of improvement, aspiring to become faster and stronger.
Not content with personal achievements alone, Erica is actively contributing to the running community through her business, Exclusive Endurance. This is an amazing platform for runners looking to improve their times, be inspired, and accomplish their goals. Erica is currently involved with Cheetah’s Youth Track Club through Track Shack Orlando. Her coaching business caters to a diverse range of athletes, including those with High School District titles, State Qualifiers, Boston Qualifying times, and Personal Records. She’s expanded to offer coaching to Individuals and groups, online personal training clients, and runners of all abilities. Erica also started the Tap It & Run Club in September 2020. The club meets every Thursday at 6pm in Thornton Park, Florida and is open to all levels of runners. She built a community that includes runners, walkers, and even happy hour goers. Erica passionately shares her love for running with everyone she meets and inspires them to do their best!
Looking ahead, Erica sets her sights on chasing down more personal records across various distances, from the 1-mile to the marathon. Her ultimate goal is to improve her marathon time with the aim of qualifying for the USA 2028 Olympic Trials Marathon. For the last 5 years she has been committed to helping her athletes reach and exceed their fitness/running goals. She is a true inspiration and excellent motivator. Read about Erica and how athletics has had a positive impact on her life!
Q: What sports did you play growing up?
Growing up I played soccer and ran at the local running club (distances from 100m up through 5k). In high school for the first two years I would play club soccer and school soccer in the fall, indoor soccer and indoor track in the winter and club, soccer and outdoor track in the spring.
Q:Was there anything that made you hesitant about starting your sport(s)?
I wanted more than anything to run! I had to wait until 7th grade to run on a team. I was hesitant about playing club/travel soccer when I had previously played on a recreation team. I decided to join club soccer in 8th grade, along with track.
Q: What female athletes (or any athletes) did you look up to?
That’s a tough one because I don’t follow too much. I think Keira D’Amato in the marathon because she came back after a long break and broke the USA full then half marathon records at age 38-39. She has shown you can improve as you age.
Q: What is your favorite memory associated with sports?
My favorite memory was qualifying for the USA Olympic Trials Marathon. It was always a dream of mine and was a huge accomplishment!
Q: How has playing sports helped shape your life?
It has created an amazing community, self confidence and an incredible career as a full-time running coach for my own business!
Q: What advice would you give to young girls who are just starting off in sports?
Find a sport you love and stick with it and develop it to the best you can! It can lead to amazing opportunities like running in college and beyond!
You can learn more about Erica and her business at https://www.exclusive-endurance.com/.
Coach Rachel 