Welcome to season 6 of the Runner’s Round Table. This is the Beyond Pace season and features stories that capture each guest’s favorite running memory. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Dr. Kimberly Melvan (@runcoachpt) about moving from running-as-punishment to running-as-part-of-an-active-lifestyle, starting a new business, the importance of support, and the marathon memory that was about being strong and loved enough to finish. Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don’t forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you. To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Den5kR-Sw3c About Stephanie Diaz:Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner’s Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers). https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/https://thecookierunner.net About Dr. Kimberly Melvan:Dr. Melvan developed an interest in amateur running after playing collegiate basketball; running her first half marathon during her graduate studies. After earning her doctorate in physical therapy, she moved to a reviving New Orleans, Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. Thriving in the city’s rebirth, she developed an active outpatient physical therapy practice and completed her strength and conditioning certification. Driven by the allure of a larger healthcare network, Dr. Melvan moved to Atlanta to join Emory Healthcare, the largest healthcare provider in Georgia. In less than two years, she achieved the role of outpatient clinic manager, the first woman and youngest individual to hold this position at Emory. With the help of her leadership, she developed one of the lowest performing clinics into a top earning physical therapy clinic in less than 5 years time. During her time at Emory, she actively engaged in volunteerism at local at-risk women’s shelters, participated in weekly running groups, and supported high school football players on the sideline. Moreover, she earned her board certification as a sports certified specialist (SCS), founded Emory Healthcare’s first running clinic, earned certifications as a kinesiotape practitioner and assisted soft tissue mobilization provider. It was also in Atlanta, that Dr. Melvan and her husband began growing their family, welcoming their first son. Juist prior to the Covid pandemic, Dr. Melvan and family relocated to Fort Lauderdale, where a second son was soon born. As a young mother during COVID, Dr. Melvan began focusing on developing her own practice, RunCoachPT, LLC, looking to assist both amateur and professional runners alike prepare for and enjoy an active running lifestyle. In 2022 she expanded upon her advanced education, earning her coaching certification through the RRCA. In addition to helping her running clients, Dr. Melvan hosts free run clinics for the community and stays engaged with the runners in south Florida through her work as a past lululemon ambassador and a current Ochy ambassador. https://www.runcoachpt.comhttps://instagram.com/runcoachpt
