Andrew Simmons

Owner at Lifelong Endurance
Head Coach at Peak Performance Running
Co-Owner at Golden Sports Performance

Coach Andrew Simmons is a nationally recognized endurance coach, author, and founder of Lifelong Endurance and Peak Performance Running. With over a decade of experience, he has guided hundreds of athletes—from first-time marathoners to Olympic Trials qualifiers—toward achieving their personal bests. His coaching philosophy blends science-backed training with individualized support, focusing on building both physical performance and mental resilience.

Coach Andrew Simmons is a USATF Level II, Lydiard Level II, and ALTIS Master Coach with a deep expertise in endurance training, running mechanics, and form analysis. He’s known for rebuilding athletes from the ground up at Golden Sports Performance, guiding youth on the track, and coaching adults from the Mile to Ultramarathon. Andrew’s coaching blends science, experience, and individual attention, helping runners of all levels reach their potential. A lifelong learner, he’s constantly expanding his knowledge to stay at the forefront of performance coaching.

Beyond his work with adult athletes, Andrew is deeply invested in youth development. As the head coach at Peak Performance Running, he has mentored over 100 athletes who have gone on to compete at NCAA Division I, II, and III levels, and even represent Team USA. His programs emphasize not just athletic achievement but also personal growth, fostering a supportive environment where young runners can thrive.

Andrew's impact extends into the broader running community through his educational contributions. He has authored popular articles on TrainingPeaks, sharing insights on running mechanics, trainingdata analysis, and optimizing marathon training. His expertise has been recognized in features by The New York Times and through his role as a TrainingPeaks Ambassador.

Grandads Hat, Fast Kids, and a whole lot of smiles

HS Coaching / PEAK ELITE
Since launching my high school coaching programs, I’ve had the privilege of developing athletes who have gone on to achieve remarkable success—on the track, in cross country, and beyond.

Over the past few years, I’ve coached:

Tatum Berg (Fossil Ridge) — Colorado 5A runner in the 3200 & 1600m - in 2024: 10:38.58, 4th & 4:53, 3rd. 17:12 5K, 4th in 5A XC 2025. 16th at NXR, Led her team to a Top 10 Finish at Nike Nationals. Tatum is NCAA Division I scholarship athlete at Colorado State University class of 2030.
Cameron Shull (Golden) — Broke his school’s 800m record of 1:55.5 and qualified for Nike Outdoor Nationals 3x, Nike Indoor 3x. Cameron is a NCAA Division II Athlete at Fort Lewis College
Mia Williams(Fossil Ridge) —Mia started in 2023 with PR’s of 2:16/5:15/18:01. In 2024 she progressed to 2:12, 4:52. In 2025 she ran 17:26, ran an excellent NXR finishing Top 25, and helepd her team to a Top 10 Team Finish at Nike Nationals.
Bryce Reeburgh(Golden HS) — Bryce has been a Peak Athlete since day one. He closed out his HS Career taking hold of 4 school records (800, 1600, 3200, and 5K). His senior year he ran 4:08, 14:42, 1:55.70. Bryce received a scholarship to run at Virginia Tech - Class of 2027
Alexa Hoppenfeld(Private athlete) — Alexa joined me after struggling with staying injury free and needed to find a way to balance cross-training, running, and strength training. Alexa trained with me for 2 years in HS propelling her to PR’s of 10:59, 5:06, 18:02. Alexa was awarded a scholarship to run at The University of Georgia - Class of 2027.

Honorable Mentions:
Sky St.Louis - 4:56, 2:09 as an 8th Grader - ran at Brooks PR and Nike Nationals
Lindsey Kiehl - Summit Hs—> University of FL. 5:09, 2:13, 18:25. Lindsey was dedicated often driving to Denver 2x/ week to train with our program.
Jacob Sushinsky - Jacob is now at Boston University on Scholarship. HE ran 9:04, 4:20, 14:49. Runner up in Colorado 4A in the 5K, and podiumed for 6th in the 3200m

These aren’t just times on a stopwatch—they’re athletes who learned to believe in themselves, embrace the work, and become leaders in their sport.

What makes my program different? I build training around the athlete’s individual needs, strengths, and personality. We combine performance training with a focus on mindset, accountability, and long-term development—so athletes grow not only as runners, but as confident young adults.

Recent Articles:

Minutes or Miles? Why You Should Train by Time, Not Distance
Explores the benefits of time-based training over distance-based approaches.
The Importance of Building a Base Training Mindset
Discusses the significance of establishing a strong training foundation.
Preparing for Half Marathon Success
Provides strategies for effective half marathon preparation.
Training Tips for Your First Marathon
Offers advice for runners embarking on their first marathon journey.
6 Bulletproof Marathon Workouts
Presents a set of workouts designed to enhance marathon performance.
5 Spring Trail Running Tips
Shares practical tips for trail running during the spring season.

Adult Coaching | Lifelong Endurance

I’ve coached hundreds of adult athletes—runners balancing work, family, and life—who still chase bold goals. Whether they’re qualifying for Boston, breaking the 3-hour barrier, or running their first marathon, I provide the structure, strategy, and support to get them there.

Here are a few standout stories:

Darragh McCullogh (Ireland) — Came to me as a 2:55 marathoner and, after 18 months of consistent training, ran a 2:42 and has backed that up with PR’s of 1:16, 33:54, and 16:13. We rebuilt his training from the ground up, improving durability and race execution.
Newton K (Seattle, WA) — Balanced marathon training with a full-time career as a surgeon. We cut her time from 4:59 to 3:46 in under 18 months, with an emphasis on strength work, mobility, and smarter weekly planning.
David Lin (Chicago, IL) — After multiple injuries and DNFs, David went on to complete his first 50K trail ultra with confidence and a smile. We prioritized health, long-term progress, and mental toughness over quick fixes.

Some of the numbers I’m proudest of:

20+ athletes coached from sub-3 to sub-2:50 in the marathon.
🎟️ 100+ Boston Qualifiers since 2017 through customized, data-driven training plans and long-term athlete development.

The real success isn’t just the race day result—it’s helping adults find confidence, consistency, and joy in the process. That’s what keeps me coaching.

Reviews

Jeff Tissue Denver, Co

2:33 Marathon PR; Chicago Marathon American Development Team

My first marathon I hit the wall pretty hard, 3:44. My second, I didn’t bonk but wasn’t fast either, 4:00. A couple of months after my second marathon I started training with Andrew. At first we talked every week then we paired it down to every other week. My goal was a PR and to qualify for Boston. With Andrew’s training plan and knowledge I really noticed everything begin to change. I had a lot of self doubt. He coached me through all of it. We put a plan together for race weekend and I followed it precisely to a 28 min PR, 3:16 and BQ. It’s a lot of hard work but it’s all worth it. I can’t recommend Lifelong Endurance enough.

John Leniz Reno, NV

Marathon Runner

Andrew and LE really present a customized approach and meet their clients where they are at. I just started running 2 years ago and have worked with Andrew for a year. I’ve never considered myself an athlete and he’s really helped me change that mentality. In that year I dropped 45 mins off my marathon PR and 19 off of my half. His workouts have really pushed me physically and mentally he’s helped me progress faster than I would have ever on my own.

David Zwarycz Chicago, IL

Marathon Runner

Andrew has helped me get to my goals from training for my first marathon coming from a total beginner runner to now as I approach my fifth marathon. He knows me. He knows when to push, when to challenge me and when to say ease up. More so, when I hit the doldrums of my off season, he helps keep me motivated.

Joe Guarino, Chicago IL

Marathon Runner

I would recommend Andrew because he takes the time to get to know you as a person and as an athlete. This allows for open and vulnerable communication which is key to success. Meaning I felt comfortable talking to my coach so that if something felt off, too tired or sick, he could adjust my training. I also had a season of injury and my coach helped me navigate this difficult time which would have potentially otherwise ended my season. With his guidance I was able to properly cross train, stay fit, and start the race with fresh legs, feet and mentally able to give it my all. I honestly was a little skeptical about getting a coach because I figured I knew enough to coach myself but after working with a coach I have found the real value is having someone who believes in you and supports that belief with evidence from all the training and work you put in together. Yes having a plan delivered to me and not having to think about my own training was nice but the accountably and motivation are what set me for success both physically and mentally which is big because once you are in good shape physically, the hardest part of any race is your mental game.

Michelle Hiland Bozeman, MT

First overall female of the 2019 Dirty 30 50k