Coach Christina Hart

RRCA Certified Coach Over the past 12 years, I’ve tackled numerous distances and races, driven by a powerful inspiration. When my mom turned 50, she decided to run a marathon. Her determination inspired me, and I thought, “If she can do it, so can I.” Little did I know, this spark would lead to an addiction to marathons—over 40 and counting! I’ve been meaning to document all of them. I began with the Galloway method for my first few marathons, aiming for a sub-4:00 finish. It took me between 5 to 7 marathons to achieve that goal. My debut marathon was in 2012 at Jacksonville Bank (now Ameris Bank), where I finished in 4:15. My second, a few months later at the Donna Marathon, saw me at 4:25. It wasn’t until 2016 that I qualified for Boston, with a goal of sub-3:40. At that time, the qualifying standards kept getting tougher, adding about 5 minutes each year. In 2016, I ran a 3:37—an achievement I was thrilled about. Remarkably, I signed up for that race only the day before at the expo. Earlier that year, I had run two other marathons, both around 3:45. Starting in 2016/2017, I began incorporating track workouts seriously, which led to a significant breakthrough. I joined PRS in 2014, which helped me connect with fellow runners. My times improved from 3:37 to 3:30, and eventually to 3:17 in 2018 at Mts to Beach. Despite the marathons remaining my favorite distance, I decided to diversify my training and focus on the 5K and half marathon in 2023 and 2024. This shift resulted in personal records across all distances. Currently, I train with a variety of runners at different paces, including a fantastic group of women in Nocatee. Their workouts have contributed to my improved speed. I’ve also enjoyed helping friends with their running goals. For instance, I trained with my friend Jessica for a marathon in 2022, writing out her long runs and pacing her to a 3:42 finish. Another friend, Jennifer, aimed for a sub-4:00 marathon at Ameris in 2023. I guided her on long runs and tempo runs, and she achieved her goal with a sub-4:00 finish, which I paced her through in the final miles. These experiences have brought me immense joy. Current Running Status: • 5K: 19:25 (Dec 2023) • 10K: 41:00 (Apr 2024) • 15K: 1:03:44 (Sept 2023) • Half Marathon: 1:28:29 (May 2024) • Marathon: 3:14:05 (Oct 2023)