Northwoods COACHING

Custom, weekly, adaptive. Track, road, trail. Short, long, ultra-distance. It’s all up to you. Let us help you take your running to the next level and enjoy the process more.

The Coach

A father, a coach, an athlete, the man of many hats, Benjamin True hails from North Yarmouth, Maine. Incredibly kind with a near inexhaustible drive, his accolades speak for themselves. He is the figure at the helm of the ship and the head coach to the Northwoods Pros.

what athletes say about working with Ben:

  • Ben is the real deal. He is not only a superstar runner with years of experience but also a patient, methodical, and meticulous coach who brilliantly balances the art and science of running. In barely six months of coaching, Ben has gotten me back to paces that I thought were gone forever. If you have the chance to work with him, grab it. Put in the work and watch your running take off.

    Jonathan S.

  • I have been working with Ben as my coach for only four months, and have already PR’d three times in that window. He’s able to draw on his many years of running at the highest levels to develop the best training regimen I’ve seen bar none - I feel like I’ve developed more in the past few months than in all my years of running prior. The personalized run coaching is supported with a well-rounded approach to strength training and open line of communication. I would rate his coaching as a 12 on a scale of 1-10, highly recommend.

    Daniel B.

  • Working with Ben has been a game-changer for my running journey and my appreciation for the sport. He's not just a coach with exceptional experience and knowledge; he's a mentor who genuinely values and connects with his athletes. Ben meets you where you’re at, personalizing your schedule and sharing his wealth of knowledge, from nutrition and injury prevention to general body wellness. His guidance has made me a stronger, faster, and more confident runner as well as finding excitement in building community — things I attribute to directly to his personalized approach and appreciation for the sport. If you're serious about tackling new heights, Ben is the guy to get you there. Invest in Ben and he'll fully invest in you.

    Nick L.

  • When I was in my mid-30s, I decided it was time to get back in shape. I'd have a few good months of training but then get injured and wouldn't be able to achieve my goals. As a lifelong competitive athlete, I'm pretty knowledgeable about training and sport science, but I found it difficult to balance volume with intensity on my own. About 5 years ago, Ben started writing my workouts with me. He's learned along the way how to help me not over do it, while ensuring I can balance work and family commitments. I haven't had an injury now for several years, and was able to drop my marathon PR by 10 minutes at age 43. He also helps me maintain solid base fitness that allows me to compete on any given weekend without much prep in multiple sports (running, cycling, and nordic skiing), or to dig in for a few months peak for an event where I want a good performance. The biggest value in having Ben as my coach is that the customized structure provides me with confidence and motivation to make sure I get the benefits of periodization, bipolar training, and sport-specific workouts without getting injured.

    Adam G.

  • I’ve been working with Ben for just over a year now and can’t imagine working with someone else. There are no false promises of quick PRs, use of trendy workouts, or a one size fits all approach. Ben takes the time to get to know you and not just your running, but what kind of training can realistically fit into your life, considering work, family, injury history, etc. He is an exceptional listener, humble, and proactive/responsive in making adjustments based on feedback, weather forecasts, illness, injury, or other factors. In a noisy world of conflicting online advice, Strava comparisons, and podcasts with claims of training hacks, Ben is the voice of reason and often with eye-opening levels of science backed answers. His approach is holistic and encompasses fueling, strength training, and incorporating cross training seamlessly. I had consistently underperformed my fitness in the marathon for years and finally broke through under Ben’s guidance at Philly this past fall. In a testament to his philosophy of consistency over time yields success, I also somehow ran within seconds of my 5K PR at the peak (95 mpw) of that marathon build.

    Sherwin P.

  • When I was racing competitively and living in Vermont, I wouldn’t have reached the goals I set for myself without Ben. He balances his vast firsthand knowledge of the sport with the individual needs of his athletes. For that reason, I continue to work with Ben even as my priorities have shifted away from running and towards my career.

    Fred H.

Pros who also offer coaching

  • DAN CURTS

    Collegiate D1 All-American, Big 12 Champion (5k), and sub-four-minute miler. All-time High School record holder: Maine’s outdoor 3200m, and New England’s indoor 3000m. Two-time member of Team USA, running short-mid distance trails.

    SEE PRICING

  • ERIC LIPUMA

    Multi-time member of Team USA and national champion in the road 50k. Seventh at World 80k Trail Championships. Podium at Broken Arrow 52k, JFK 50mile, and Bighorn. Trail and ultra runner with a background in anything from 5k - 100 milers in the mountains.

    SEE PRICING

Northwoods team members receive a 20% discount on all coaching by Dan and Eric, as well as on Ben’s hourly consulting.

What’s Included?

GOALS.

Either come with ‘em or ask us what we think. We’ll work together to identify your next big race.

PLANS.

Your training plan will be custom-made by us. Expect easy days, workouts, and strength. All delivered on the schedule you choose.

access.

We know that things come up. We’re here for you—via email, text, phone call. Whatever. You’ll get your questions answered.

changes.

Something not quite right? Let us know. Our process is dynamic. We rely on your constant feedback to make sure we’re crafting—and adjusting—the best plan for you.

support.

You’re not alone. We’ll meet regularly to check in, catch up, and talk running. Not only are you gaining a coach; you’ll join the community.

SUCCESS.

There’s nothing better than watching you succeed. It’s our reason for why. Afterward, we’ll do race-recon to move onto what’s up next.

Wahoo_Ben_True_Stills_Exports_WebRes-115 (1).jpg
20210321_True_0558Ap.jpg

Everyone has their training mantras. Ours are simple: eat a lot, sleep a lot, effort in everything. We keep the same routine, and we do it again and again and again. Stack enough ‘agains’, and the magic starts to happen. Simplicity allows us to focus on the things we love. The extras have a habit of getting in the way. Stress, rest, recover, repeat. That’s our process.

our philosophy

 FAQs

  • That’s an easy one. We’ve all found our niches—and we want you to, too. No matter which one of us you relate to most, you’re getting the same level of investment, support, and experience.

  • Glad you’re thinking about it. We know too many runners who haven’t maxed out their potential. We want to help you reach the next level—to finally get that new PR you’ve been after, or to tackle something totally new. Just choose the amount of support you need. We’ll do the rest.

  • Another Upper Valleyite. Love to see it. It always helps to lay eyes on every once in a while—to gauge effort, comfort. Some things just don’t translate on paper. Let’s talk about making our regular meetings face-to-face. Oh, and come to Tour de Northwoods in the meantime.