Testimonials

  • "When I decided to take on the challenge of running my first marathon—the Chicago Marathon 2024—I knew I needed guidance to navigate the daunting journey ahead. Thankfully, I found Vale, and I couldn’t have asked for a better coach. From day one, Vale provided a clear, personalized training plan that felt both challenging and achievable. But what truly set her apart was her consistent availability and unwavering support. Whether I had questions about adjusting my schedule, issues with a particular run, or just needed moral support, Vale was always just a WhatsApp message or call away. Her ability to problem-solve in real-time, coupled with her encouraging demeanor, made all the difference. Throughout the training, Vale was a rock—offering reassurance and positivity when self-doubt crept in. She not only helped me cross the finish line but also made the entire process enjoyable and deeply rewarding. Thank you, Vale, for making my first marathon an incredible experience!"

    — Meryllin

  • "Deciding to work with Vale was the best decision, for my running performance and overall health. I was a recreational runner but I found myself feeling tired after my runs, I was loosing weight and I also felt I’ve hit a ceiling with my running in general. My goal was to run my first half marathon, and to do it in a healthy way. I also wanted it to be fun and a great experience overall! Fast forward, I have my first medal in the pocket and most importantly, I finished my first race with a big smile on my face! Vale helped me bring structure into my training, and I loved her holistic and compassionate way towards running training. She has helped me become a stronger runner in a balanced and sustainable way. I’m grateful to have found Vale and I look forward to working with her to prepare for my first marathon. I can highly recommend working with Vale to become a stronger runner and achieve your goals with a big smile on your face :-)"

    — Melina

  • "Valeria is an exceptional running coach! Before working with her, I never felt comfortable running and honestly didn’t enjoy it at all. After just 5 months of her guidance, I successfully completed a half marathon, enjoying every kilometre along the way. Her detailed tips and insights made a world of difference, and her training plans were always perfectly aligned with my busy schedule. Thanks to Vale, I not only improved my performance but also developed a real passion for running. Highly recommended!"

    — Guilherme

  • "Vale is the first ever running coach that I've used, and I was so grateful to have worked with her. She helped me run my first marathon in a time I had only hoped for. It was so helpful to have her guidance, not only in planning a monthly programme based on my evolving needs, but also in adapting and helping me through the tough times - both physically and mentally. I am very excited to work with Vale again in my next challenge!"

    — Marina

  • "Vale has supported me in my journey from a 100kg couch potato who couldn't run 2 miles to a full marathoner within 8 months. Her monthly calls, programming, and weekly check-ins on WhatsApp have helped me to stay dedicated, stay focused, and run without any injuries. She was always realistic and had a constant vigilant finger on the pulse and I could feel she cared very much about my safety and getting me through the program without issues. I was very impressed and I have decided to continue running and going after better results under her guidance. I would highly recommend her to everyone that would ask about a good running coach!"

    — Juriaan

  • “Coach Vale has been the best thing that happened to me in my persistence for running. I started running to lose weight which soon became an addiction. However my running was a bit chaotic. Coach Vale brought the system to it. She taught me how to run with a process in order for me to scale it to the next few levels. She has always been available for any clarification and I have annoyed her all the time by asking so many questions. Thanks to her, I had the courage to participate in professional races such as Dam tot Damloop and the TCS Amsterdam Half Marathon. She is a friend and a coach and I would always go to her whenever I decide to race anywhere seeking her help and support.”

    — Ashish

  • “I started training with Valeria in April 2022 at the time I was recovering from a hamstring injury. Valeria really took her time to understand my goal which was to run a Half Marathon in September 2022. She set up a training program that will have me injury free and we therefore started off slowly with run/walking to set my base until I could fully run without any pain. Valeria has a very caring nature when training you and when I came with different goals she would first think about you and your situation and would advise you accordingly. With her help, motivation, and training plan I was able to run back to back half marathons in September and October injury free! This was the first time in 2 years that I was able to run the distance again. Today I feel like I am a stronger runner. Thanks Coach Vale!”

    — Ilse

  • “I just had one of the most enjoyable and successful running seasons I have ever had, all on the back of the dedication and oversight Val provided. Last year I trained for my first half marathon, and took it upon myself to set my training. For years I had been a competitive cyclist, prepared for numerous events, and figured I knew what I was doing regarding training. So I downloaded a basic plan from Strava and set out on my training, and right from the start, everything was wrong. I started too early, so then I had to reset. Instead of staying on track, I felt good, so I added KMs to my long runs. I did not do internal training, and I didn't fuel properly. A week before the 2021 half, I set out for a maintenance run of 5k and was in so much pain I could only stomach 1k before hobbling home. The following week was spent in numerous physio appointments because I had over-trained, under-rested, and overall just did everything wrong. I ended up running the Half, and in the end, it was all I could do to get home. I hurt myself so bad that it would be 6 months before I could even run 3k. Then comes this year (2022), determined not to make the same mistakes, I reached out to Val. I ended up setting a PR in this year's Half, and to top it off, I ran a 5k just a couple of days later. I achieved every goal I set out for this year, and that would not have been possible without having Val in my corner along the way, keeping me on track and reassuring me when life got in the way of training and pushed me off track at times. There is no doubt I will work with Val again next year to see what we can achieve when we have more time to plan.”

    — Dan