Andrew Simmons
Coach, Author, Athlete
Denver, Colorado
USATF Level 2 - Endurance Specialist
Lydiard Level 2 Coach
ALTIS Master Coach
Background
Andrew Simmons is the Head Coach at Peak Performance Running and Lifelong Endurance. Andrew has been coaching Endurance athletes since 2013. Andrew and his wife Katie Whidden started Lifelong Endurance Lifelong Endurance in 2014. Lifelong Endurance is an adult-focused coaching company serving marathoners, marathoners, and triathletes. Andrew works with adults of all abilities and specializes with athletes focusing on road marathoners. Andrew has coached 50+ athletes to sub-3:00 performances, 200+ marathoners, and 40+ first-time Boston qualifiers.
Andrew’s work with youth running started as the Head Coach at Golden Running Academy where he coached a national championship 13-14 girls team in Cross Country. He started Peak Performance Running (PEAK)in 2017 with his wife Katie Whidden to focus on serving athletes of all ages and all abilities. Since 2017, PEAK has grown to 100+ athletes, comprised of 5 teams serving athletes from 8-18. Andrew oversees all elements of PEAK and is responsible for coaching oversight across all teams. Andrew coaches face-to-face with athletes in the High School Program and the Peak Elite.
Peak Elite + Peak High School
Andrew’s work with High School athletes is focused on laying the groundwork for future running. Under Andrew’s coaching PEAK has produced 40+ athletes that have gone on to represent D1, D2, and D3 programs. Andrew’s athletes have gone on to be All-Americans, NCAA Top 3, and contributors to national championship teams. The PEAK HS program is a program focused on culture and building out a program that gives athletes a home to grow their ability, challenge their limits, and become the best version of themselves. the PEAK HS and Elite programs have produced several athletes representing Team USA, National Championship Teams in XC, and Individual State and National Champions. Andrew was named Coach of the Year by the Positive Coaching Alliance in 2022 and coached Team USA in Saluzzo, Italy for the Youth US Mountain Running Team where 2 of his athletes competed in the world championship. Andrew continues to push the Colorado Youth Running scene forward by creating events like the ever-popular PEAK Pre-Season Meets and the Colorado Meet of Champions. To learn more about Andrew’s Coaching please visit peakperformrun.com
Adult Athletes
Andrew’s work with adult endurance athletes over the last 10 years can be counted in the hundreds. Andrew works primarily with Marathoners and Ultra Marathoners tackling some of the most notorious and prized events in running from the Olympic Trials, The Boston Marathon, UTMB, Hardrock 100, and has coached countless athletes to all of the World Marathon Majors. Andrew has run 39 marathoners, 40+ half marathons, and countless other endurance events and brings together personal experience as well as education from multiple resources. Andrew is a USA Track and Field Level 2 Endurance Coach, a Level 2 Lydiard Coach, and is recognized as a Master Coach from Altis. In 2024, Andrew was under direct mentorship from legendary coach Dan Pfaff and has worked on defining new methodologies for educating coaches on Methodology, Youth Return to Play, and Coaching structures for performance. Andrew continues to work with Adult athletes through Lifelong Endurance. To learn more about coaching from Andrew and his current waitlist by using the Contact Form.
Media + Writing
Podcasts
Training Peaks CoachCast: Coach Roundtable Discusses New Athlete Experience
The Science of Ultra - Coaching Roundtable
Scientific Triathlon #210 - Altitude Camps + Altitude Racing
Articles/ Writing
Training in the Grey Zone: How to Avoid the Zone 3 Plateau - TrainingPeaks #1 Article of 2017
Data Analysis: Shaving 30 Minutes Off A Marathon PR
Training Tips I Wish I’d Known Before Running My First Marathon
TrainingPeaks Success Story: How This Ultrarunner Busted Through His Training Rut
NY Times 2018 - Run a Marathon. Then, Quickly, Another
The 5 different Types of Hill Workouts You Should Be Doing Now
Marathon Specific Workouts to Break Training Monotony