Athletes
Participate in coaching and become a team athlete.
amanda R. - New york
“I am currently training for my third marathon with Raj and I can't recommend him enough! I've PR'd every race (including two BQs) that I've run since working with him. He's great at accommodating my busy schedule and is super supportive. If you're looking for an incredible run coach, look no further!”
Newport Marathon 2022, Berlin Marathon 2022, Boston Marathon 2023
amanda E. - New york
“I have always identified as a ‘runner’ which means something different for each individual. For me, it meant that running was something I truly enjoyed. Beyond just a form of exercise, running was a way for me to pause, unwind, and find myself in an otherwise hectic and sometimes stressful daily routine. I still enjoy running for all of these reasons, but after training with Raj, I have developed an appreciation for the more challenging aspect of the sport: racing.
During my 11 weeks of training for the NYC marathon, Raj taught me that with hard work and persistence, I could get faster than I ever thought was possible. Raj has inspired me to keep racing because with each race, we learn something new about ourselves. I look forward to seeing what my next race will uncover!”
New York City Marathon 2019, New Jersey Marathon 2020, Chicago Marathon 2022
casey - san francisco
“Even though I live in San Francisco, I was incredibly excited by Raj's enthusiasm, knowledge, approachability, and kindness and know I needed him as my coach. Having a coach to keep me accountable to my workouts has completely transformed my mindset.
I've seen amazing progress in the few months of working with Raj and can't wait to see the types of things we'll accomplish together in the future!”
Napa Valley Half Marathon 2019, Ottawa Marathon 2019
catherine - new york
“Raj brought my racing game to the next level. Even though I have been running marathons for several years, it wasn’t until I started training with Raj that I tapped into my true potential. His running expertise, coupled with his energy and enthusiasm, will help any runner achieve their goals. With only 12 weeks of training, Raj helped me surpass any goal I ever thought I was capable of, PR’ing by 18 minutes and racing my first sub-3 hour marathon.
Beyond his knowledge of running, Raj is an all-around incredible support system to have for your races. When I found out that the Tokyo Marathon was cancelled, he helped me figure out a new race and adjust my training. Raj is such an inspirational coach, and choosing to train with him is the best decision I ever made!”
Napa Valley Marathon 2020, Tokyo Marathon 2021
CHRISTINA - new york city
"Raj paced me to my fastest half marathon! I never thought it would be possible in that race, but he kept a nice steady pace at the beginning and then really pushed me in the last miles. He miraculously knew how much I had left in the tank and made sure I made it to the finish line."
Philadelphia Half Marathon 2014, Challenge Poconos 70.3 2015, NYC Half Marathon 2019, Brooklyn Half Marathon 2019
connor - new york
“After training solo for a few years, I was introduced to Raj through my sister who frequented Raj's classes. Working with Raj is the best decision I've made and helped me improve my PR by over 15 minutes.
He's easily accessible and helps motivate you while setting realistic, achievable goals. Moreover, he's just a humble, all-around good person.”
New York City Marathon 2015, Vancouver Marathon 2016, Athens Marathon 2016, Osaka 50K 2018, New York City Marathon 2019, Paris Marathon 2020
Elizabeth - san Francisco
"I wanted to take the joy I get from running and work towards my lifetime goal of a marathon. I knew that I needed someone to hold me accountable and create a plan because I haven't taken running seriously before.
Coach Raj creates a program that is challenging but obtainable. We connect on the phone weekly to discuss the workouts, how my body felt during the training and plan for future runs. He has been extremely helpful and supportive not only with running and strength training but also finding the right gear and nutrition."
San Francisco Half Marathon 2017, San Francisco Marathon 2019
EMMA - New york city
“Raj is an amazing coach and mentor. I began taking his classes at MHRC about a year ago and quickly realized he was a very special and dedicated individual. After training with him throughout the past few months, I have never felt more mentally and physically fit.
He is always there to provide advice on training, nutrition, and is quick to answer questions. Raj has reinvigorated my love and passion for running and I am so thankful to have him as a coach!”
New York City Marathon 2018, New York City Marathon 2019, Boston Marathon 2020, Boston Marathon 2021, United NYC Half Marathon 2022
ERIN - New york city
“I had been running for 20+ years before I started working with Raj. Working with Raj led me to my fastest marathon time and my first time qualifying for Boston. Raj is an extremely knowledgeable and motivating coach. Following his meticulous plan and being supported by him throughout my training made a huge difference for me as a runner. His love of running is infectious and I couldn’t have asked for a better coach!”
Berlin Marathon 2022
Fernando - New york city
“Raj is an excellent coach and I absolutely recommend hiring him. Raj is an expert marathoner who coaches runners with really varied experience and goals. So, he’s perfectly attuned to creating a plan that is customized to your individual needs and goals. He’s hyper organized, very approachable, kind, and motivating.”
New York City Marathon 2022
Flavia - New york city
“As a new runner, Raj has been a incredible motivator and amazing coach. Starting to run can be intimidating, but Raj has always been welcoming and willing to meet me where I was. After consistently joining Raj’s Tuesday run clubs for over a year and seeing how much stronger and faster I felt , he inspired me to sign up for my first half this past January.
The longest distance I had run before signing up for the half was 6 miles and I was feeling very nervous. Raj developed a week-by-week plan that was tailored to my level of running and my goals and I immediately felt less overwhelmed by the challenge ahead of me. Raj’s plan told me when to run, stretch, condition, cross-train, and rest, making it easy for me to stay on top of my training and remain healthy for the race. I ultimately finished the race under my realistic goal and I have Raj to thank for that.
There are a lot of things that make Raj a good coach. He’s knowledgeable about the sport and he’s supportive of your goals. But what makes him an exceptional coach is his dedication to and investment in your success. He’s helped me push past what I thought my limits were, forcing me to grow in discomfort and proving to myself that I can do hard things. I can’t thank Raj enough for giving me the life-long gift of running!”
Miami Half Marathon 2023
GRACE - New york city
“Raj went above and beyond to ensure I had the best first marathon experience possible. Raj had a comprehensive plan laid out for me that was tailored to what I had asked for in terms of number of hours of training, and his plan was carefully designed and detailed to help me meet my goal pace.
Throughout the process, Raj checked in frequently with me, especially about any aches and pains. His suggestions kept me on track and healthy, even in the face of what I thought would be a marathon ending injury. One day in the middle of my training, I woke up with pain in my foot that prevented me from running, but Raj recommended some stretches and (I am convinced) one of the best physical therapists in NYC. I was back running within a week and a half, and during my time off Raj worked with me to tailor my plan to cross train.
Although I doubted myself a few times throughout the training process, Raj helped me shatter not only my goal of 3:30 but also my stretch goal of 3:25 (I finished in 3:24:21). The amount of care, passion, and kindness Raj brings to his coaching is absolutely unparalleled. You can always follow a training plan online, but I guarantee working with Raj will be infinitely more meaningful than that. Raj will teach you how to run smart, stay safe, and build mental toughness. Raj is the reason I want to keep going with my marathon journey, and he is an inspiration and rock star coach all in one.”
New York City Marathon 2021
Jess - New york city
“Before I took my first class with Raj I had never run more than 3 miles at a time. But Raj has an incredible way of breaking down a long distance or a big goal (such as running a half-marathon) into manageable parts so that any goal can be achieved.
Furthermore, Raj genuinely cares about his students and always goes the extra mile (no pun intended)! Signing up for coaching with Raj was one of the best decisions I've ever made, and I couldn't recommend him enough.”
Fred Lebow Half Marathon 2019, Shape Half Marathon 2019, New York City Half Marathon 2019, Brooklyn Half Marathon 2019, NYC Marathon 2019, New Jersey Marathon 2020
jessie - London
"Raj and I have been training together for 4 years, and his influence and support have only deepened my love of the sport. A few examples: Raj is up for a jet-lagged morning run when you both happen to both be in London for work. Raj will text you before your big race with anxiety reducing tips. I once ate what Raj ate and drank what Raj drank before a marathon and PR'd by 5 minutes. Raj will celebrate your first BQ with you like it's 1999. Raj is the ultimate running coach!”
Berlin Marathon 2014, NYC Marathon 2015, Portland Marathon 2016, NYC Marathon 2017, Paris Marathon 2018, Tokyo Marathon 2019, Boston Marathon 2019
Jen - new york city
"You won’t find a coach who has the same knowledge, enthusiasm, and infectious passion for running as Raj. Whether it’s race strategy, gait analysis, injury prevention, race fueling, or speed work, Raj’s years of experience and training makes him an invaluable coach. But what sets Raj apart from all other coaches is his genuine care for his athletes.
He’s always there to motivate, listen, support, push, and cheer on each and every one of his athletes. He sets goals for me that I previously thought were unattainable and continues to help me grow as a runner and achieve new milestones I never dreamed possible."
NYC Marathon 2017, NYC Marathon 2018, NYC Marathon 2020
JOON - chicago
"Raj has accumulated a wealth of knowledge in endurance training and his track record speaks for itself. I couldn't think of a better coach as I train for the Indianapolis Marathon. If you are looking for a running guru, then run with Raj!"
Ironman Melbourne 2012, Chicago Marathon 2015, Indianapolis Marathon 2017, Chicago Marathon 2018, Berlin Marathon 2019
JUN - chicago
“Raj helped me achieve my goal of breaking 4 hours at the Philadelphia Marathon in 2014.
He created a detailed training plan for me, ran with me each week, and gave me the support I needed. Raj even ran half of the race with me! And I remember him chugging a beer at mile 24 which I didn't do (but thanks for offering).
Although we live in different cities now, I can always count on him to catch up over a morning run when he's in town. Thank you Raj! You continue to inspire me.”
Philadelphia Marathon 2014
JUSTIN - new york city
"Raj's coaching has been invaluable to me. Whether it be hammering down the specifics of a training plan or building the tools to develop mental toughness on those longer runs, he's been there every step of the way. I certainly wouldn't have BQ'ed and hit my marathon PR without him."
Sugarloaf Marathon 2017, Lehigh Valley Marathon 2017, Spring Chance BQ.2 Marathon 2018, Boston Marathon 2019
Katherine - new york city
“I've been friends with Raj for twelve years. The first four of those, I was a hockey player. The next eight have been, with his coaching, as a runner. Raj inspired my brother, my husband, and me to run my first marathon, and since then I've run another with him as well. The first, Grandma's Marathon, was in my home state of MN and the second, Tobacco Road Marathon, was in NC where he paced me to qualify for Boston.
My favorite memory during the qualifier was "Dineen - are you a JV athlete or are you Varsity? Pick it up!" He knows what I need to hear. Between training runs and marathons, Raj has helped me transition from the short-twitch hockey player to the longer-twitch runner I am today.”
Grandma's Marathon 2014, Tobacco Road Marathon 2015
kelly - hoboken
“If you are considering working with a coach and you found Raj's page, congrats! You struck gold. Seriously, running with Raj has changed my life. He is the absolute best.
In one year he helped me shave 13 minutes off my marathon PR, and 7 minutes off my half marathon PR. He believes in me and in turn I believe in myself. He pushes me to achieve goals that I thought were impossible.
Raj has an awesome attitude towards running. He motivates me, but also keeps it light & fun. He listens to my feedback and modifies the plan for me when life happens. He is very responsive whenever I have questions. Not to mention, he walks the talk! 70+ marathons, he has seen it all.”
10/10 recommend!
Chasing the Unicorn 2022, Newport Half Marathon 2022, New York City Marathon 2022, Boston Marathon 2023
kristina - New york city
“Through Raj’s coaching, I not only physically, but also mentally got stronger. Raj taught me how to push past that wall and become “comfortably uncomfortable” (as he says). One of the most important aspects of Raj’s training is how he always has you finish stronger than you started. Which isn’t easy, but it’s why his training works. His coaching is all-encompassing and builds both physical and mental stamina, which is key for marathon runners. Give it your all, put in the work, and you’ll see the results.
I started training with Raj before this year’s 2019 New York City Marathon, with the goal of qualifying for Boston with a 3:30 finishing time. Thanks to Raj I finished the 2019 New York City Marathon with a 3:25 time, a PR and Boston and Chicago qualifier.
Raj is truly a superhuman and an incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and inspirational coach. Thanks to him I’m running farther, faster, and smarter…and setting PR’s along the way (added bonus)!”
New York City Marathon 2019, New York City Marathon 2020, Boston Marathon 2021, New York City Marathon 2021, New York City Marathon 2022
mAdison - hoboken
"I cannot recommend Raj enough!! I've worked with him for a couple of half-marathons and marathons, and now training for a 50 mile race in March. He has helped me return from an injury and rediscover my love of running - I could have never imagined that I'd come this far!
Raj is unbelievably thoughtful in creating the perfect program for me, while still ensuring that we are listening to my body. He maps out my race plans with enough detail that it removes so much of the pre-race stress from my plate. He has provided nothing but support, care and love for me, even beyond just my training cycles.
I feel so lucky to have Raj in my corner! He is always pushing me to be the best I can be, noticing my potential when I often don't recognize it, cheering for me regardless of my finish time and checking in on me week over week. I am extremely grateful to call Raj my coach, running role model and friend. He is a (humble) beast of an athlete and I have full trust in him guiding me to any of my goals.”
Sri Chimnoy Marathon 2022, New York City Marathon 2022, Squatchapple 50-Miler 2023
mATT - NEW YORK CITY
"Whether you’re completely new or getting more serious about wanting to improve your running, hire Raj! This was my first time working with a coach after trying to build up gradually on my own. I knew Raj is not only tremendously experienced (the man has won marathons in multiple states), but also incredibly knowledgeable and just overall a really great human. He developed a customized race plan for me, which also included helpful tips and pointers for fuel, rest and recovery, which I really appreciated and found very useful and motivating. Something that I think separates how Raj coaches/his plans is that it is meant for real life - the plan he created for me was challenging, unique to my goals, and also realistic and flexible enough to accommodate some traveling that I had to do for work and an upcoming wedding where I was in the wedding party. With Raj, you feel like you’re set up to succeed and he’s accessible when you have any questions (big or small). He’s an incredibly supportive and invested coach, and I am grateful to have him in my corner.”
Chicago Marathon 2021, New York City Half Marathon 2022, California International Marathon 2022
melissa - cranford
"Coach Mike is an amazing running coach, and I’ve had the pleasure of working with him for about 3 years. I’ve come to know him as committed, knowledgeable, and attentive. He designs a detailed and tailored plan to help me reach my goals.
After finishing six marathons in four years, Coach Mike continues to give me positive advice, and I followed his most recent plan to run the Houston Marathon. I ran a PR of 44 minutes and a BQ!
I have the highest praise for Coach Mike. I am grateful for the opportunity to be coached by him. I have learned so much about myself as a runner and my true potential.”
Houston Marathon 2019
MEREDITH - Boulder
"Raj has had a tremendous positive impact on many aspects of my running. He built my New York marathon training plan in 2015 when I knocked 11 minutes off my previous time. He leads a weekly speed workout run group which helped me break my 5K PR. He also encouraged me to co-lead another weekly run group when I moved to London. I'll be signing up for the London marathon next - thanks to Raj!"
NYC Marathon 2015, Ted Corbitt 15K 2016, Al Goldstein 5K 2017, London Marathon 2020
Nina - Los Angeles
"Raj is a dedicated, encouraging, and incredibly knowledgeable running coach. With his detailed + personalized approach, he has pushed me to run faster, farther, and more consistently than I ever thought I was capable of! He keeps training plans varied and fresh and has been supportive around recovery strategies when I've faced injuries along the way.
Raj's intuitive knowledge on everything from pacing to form to how to deal with the mental challenges that come with running has helped me achieve new PRs across half marathons and 10ks, but most importantly has given me confidence in my abilities as a runner. I am so grateful to get to work with Raj-- he's truly been an instrumental part of my running journey!"
Joe Kleinerman 10K 2019, Fred Lebow Half 2019, NYC Half 2019, NYC Marathon 2020
Noelle - hoboken
"I met Raj through his classes, and his energy and expertise around all things running were evident within the first few minutes of class. He takes the time to understand his athletes and is meticulous in identifying their strengths and areas of improvement, and I find myself to be a perfect example of his impact.
I started my running 'journey' barely able to run 3 miles without stopping. Thanks HUGELY to Raj - like, 99.9% thanks to him, I just listened to what he said :) - I completed the NYC Half Marathon and will be running the Popular Brooklyn Half in May. He makes the impossible seem doable and then coaches you every step of the way to get you across the finish line.
There aren't enough ratings, stars, or frankly, words, to describe how great of a coach, motivator, and inspiration he is. Without him, I wouldn't be running with a fraction of the speed, confidence, or strength I do today. One of a kind. SIMPLY THE BEST!"
New York City Half Marathon 2019, Brooklyn Half Marathon 2019, New York City Marathon 2020
NORA - New York City
“I’ve been running on my own for several years and met Raj during one of his classes. His passion and knowledge for the sport, as well as his openness to helping others, stood out to me.
I started working with Raj 4 months before the 2019 NYC Marathon and can confidently say that his coaching transformed my training. His program helped me build mileage gradually and become a stronger and faster runner with consistent speed and tempo work and strength training. I’ve progressed considerably (20 minute marathon PR!) and have never had more fun doing it.
Raj is incredibly knowledgeable, supportive and inspirational. He leads by example and constantly shows his runners what it means to work hard and push outside of one’s comfort zone. Best coach ever!”
New York City Marathon 2019, New Jersey Marathon 2020, Baystate Marathon 2021, Malden Half Marathon 2022, Cheap Marathon 2022
Rachael - new york city
“Raj is an encouraging, supportive, kind, and incredibly knowledgeable running coach. The first time we ran together as part of our coaching sessions, I was slightly embarrassed because I was such a poor pacer and felt self-conscious about my lack of endurance at the time. Raj immediately made me feel comfortable.
With Raj's analysis, we made important adjustments, and I went on run my first 5k, then 10k, and then half-marathon without ever taking a walking break. My goal of long distance running without breaks was more than accomplished with Raj's help--I also became a faster runner over time. He truly cares about the physical and mental health of his trainees. Raj elevated my running level and love of running. I am eternally grateful!”
Rosh - New York City
“I took Raj’s class at Mile High Run Club and was impressed with his energy and enthusiasm for running, which was infectious despite the short 1-minute breaks between crazy intervals! Doing a triathlon has always been on my bucket list and with a milestone birthday coming up, I figured it would be a wonderful way to celebrate life.
Raj has been an amazing coach through this process, being tough on the workouts but so kind and generous with his advice and insight. This race is going to be both a mental and physical stretch for me and Raj has helped guide me in both aspects. Not being an elite athlete, I was hesitant to get a coach but I’m glad I did and I’m grateful that I found someone knowledgeable and patient to help me achieve my goal.”
March Madness Duathlon 2019, UAE Healthy Kidney 10K, New York City Triathlon 2019
Sam - New York City
"I have high expectations for coaches after working with some of the best during my competitive swimming years. Raj is top notch: he is thoughtful, collaborative, and supportive. He's not only a great source of training guidance, he's also a wellspring of positivity and inspiration."
New York City Marathon 2017, New York City Marathon 2018, Brooklyn Half Marathon 2019
Samira - New York City
“I started training with Raj as I wanted to train for the marathon in Rio 2019, safely and with supervision! I had trained for Paris in 2013 and injured myself during it. It's been great working with him. He's not only made me a better physical runner but I am no longer concerned with self-preservation and injuries. He works with you, your needs and schedule to create a flexible plan and doesn't pass judgment with a positive approach to solutions.
Raj has also helped with the mental side too - deciphering when your body can't do something and when your mind takes over with inertia or laziness. Since working with him, I've attended a couple of his classes where it's been helpful to run with like-minded folk and listen to his motivational speeches and stories! I'm grateful we have crossed paths.”
Rio Marathon 2019
