Meet Jane Springston | Virtual Running Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jane Springston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jane, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is the ability to stay consistent and not quit even when my hard work doesn’t yet match the results I’m seeking. Too often people have a dream and quit too soon because the success they envision doesn’t come fast enough. When starting a business from scratch, it’s going to be slow moving in the beginning. It takes time to build something great. The term “overnight success” is thrown around, but 99% of the time, I think that’s a misnomer. It only appears as an overnight success because the person looking from the outside in didn’t witness the late nights, countless hours of brainstorming, and often years of grinding away even when very little growth was happening. As a running coach, I tell my athletes that consistency over time is one of the biggest keys to their success over the long-term in the sport, and this rings true in business, as well. Keep showing up because when you build brick-by-brick, big things will come.

What should our readers know about your business?
I have a virtual run coaching business of which I am the solo (for now!) running coach. I run it completely from my home and because I deliver content through YouTube, I am able to reach a worldwide audience and then get to have a clientele that spans the globe. That’s pretty mind-blowing to me when I think about how this all started with the willingness to press publish on that first blog post. What I am most proud of is building this from the bottom up all on my own. For sure, I have had many resources, experts and mentors help me along the way, but I sought those resources out and made those decisions in the best interest of building the business. Seeing a zero-dollar profit for many months and very little still for several more, I am proud that I stuck with it – telling myself that if I just kept going, this would all come together as planned (and actually it’s so much more than I ever realized it could be).

This journey hasn’t been easy, but I always remind myself that if it was easy, everyone would do it. Like most others, I’ve had to juggle other work while building this up. This meant I kept having to make decisions about when it was the right time to leave another paying gig (I was a freelance writer at the time) to take the next leap that would move the needle toward building up my run coaching business, and that was stressful. But every time I had to make one of these exits to have more time to focus on another aspect of my business I kept coming back to something I’d read – essentially that you have to trust your inner guidance and when the pull feels strong enough to quit one thing to do the other (no matter how much logic is telling you this is the wrong choice), it’s the right time.

The other day I listened to a podcast that asked brands to think about why they do what they do in the way that they do it. Like, asking businesses to really narrow down what makes them unique. And I love that because your competitors will have a similar offering, but in the end, no one can do it exactly like you. This made me realize how important it is to show up authentically in the YouTube content that I create. When I show up uniquely as me, viewers get an inside look into my coaching style so when they are ready for one-to-one run coaching, the transition is incredibly smooth. We already have that connection. This makes coaching so enjoyable and rewarding and I have my inspiring athletes to thank for that.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in a suburb outside Denver and am a runner, introvert and mom of three, so showing someone the best time ever wouldn’t likely involve a lot of “city” life. I much prefer the beauty our state has to offer and quaint shops on smaller town main streets. I definitely would enjoy taking someone to Downtown Littleton and exploring the shops and restaurants there. I think Colorado has some of the best hole-in-the-wall Mexican restaurants – honestly not a certain one in particular, I’ve frequented many that serve up some of the most delicious food. I would love to take someone to Red Rocks and to the mountains – Breckenridge is certainly a favorite of mine. Additionally, hopefully this friend is a runner or likes to hike, because I’d have plenty of trails to help them explore. One of my favorites is practically in my backyard at the Lone Tree Bluffs, which I’d cap off with a pitstop for coffee at Monk and Mongoose. We also have the best parks in Denver – perfect for running, having a picnic and playing with the kids. Wash Park is one of my favorites. And if it was truly someone who wanted a great workout, a trip to the Manitou Incline would be a lot of fun or perhaps just quicker trips to the mini incline in Parker or Castle Rock.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It absolutely takes a village to build a business. There is no way I’d be where I’m at if it wasn’t for the support of my husband. When I get down or think my ideas are crazy, he’s always the first one cheering me on. I also have to thank my P12 YouTube Master Group – without their support during the days where I struggled the most and wanted to give up, I wouldn’t be where I am now. Between friends, family and colleagues, I have such an incredible network and I’m thankful for that.

Website: readysetmarathon.com

Instagram: @runningwithjane

Youtube: Running With Jane