Meet the Coaches
Head Coach — Neely Spence Gracey
@neelysgracey
Neely has represented team USA five times including the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the Pan American Games. In college, she was an 8x NCAA DII National Champion.
Neely was the top American at the 2016 Boston Marathon and the 11th American female ever to break 70 minutes in the half marathon.
In 2023, she competed in the Run Disney Princess challenge and won the women’s race in the 10K and then won the overall race in the Half the following day! She also set the world record for the fastest stroller mile with a time of 5:24!
Alongside her own goals, Neely helps coach other runners to reach theirs.
She has worked with over 1000 athletes through her business, Get Running.
After taking time away from competitive running to have her two boys, Athens (5) and Rome (2), Neely just ran a personal best time of 2:30 in the marathon and qualified for her fourth Olympic Trials. She is coached by her husband, Dillon with whom she just celebrated 11 years married!
Certifications:
Lydiard Level 1 & II
UESCA Running Coach
Bridget McGahen
@bridgetmruns
Bridget was involved in just about every activity available when she was a kid — dance, music/band, cheer, track, volleyball, etc. After running track in high school, she transitioned to marathons in college. She made a lot of rookie mistakes leading up to her first marathon in 2009 that left her injured. She has navigated the waters that many of our first time marathonners are in now.
Bridget’s marathon time improved from 4:46 to her PR of 3:28 when she joined the Get Running team as an athlete in 2016. She is a mom of 2, a pastor’s wife, and the owner of the Vector Strength app (a strength app for runners).
She has loved getting to be the support coach at several big races in the last few years — NYC, Houston, Boston, etc.
She has a passion for helping her clients safely build running into their lifestyles while seeing both athletic achievement and an improved quality of life. Bridget’s primary goal as a coach is to help her athletes have a healthy, long-lasting, joyful relationship with running.
Certifications:
UESCA Running Coach
Revo2lution Running
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor.
Rochelle Basil
@run.kiwi
Rochelle is a three time New Zealand representative and thrilled to be joining the GRC team in the New Year of 2024! Since 2017, Rochelle has helped hundreds of runners from across the globe reach their running and training goals.
As native of New Zealand, she grew up competing in a wide array of sports - judo, equestrian, volleyball, netball and settled on distance running in her senior year of high school. She was fortunate to secure a scholarship to the United States in 2008 and during her time in college she received multiple Academic All-American and All-Region honors.
Rochelle and her husband Matt moved to CO from the East Coast in 2019 and haven’t looked back. They have two Rhodesian Ridgebacks (who may or may not believe they own the house!) and love the life they have built out west.
Rochelle loves and is passionate in her craft and career as a coach. She knows how much a supportive coach can bring to all aspects of life. She is a strong proponent of people-first coaching and is dedicated to building community among her athletes and the running community. She has experience with a wide array of athletes; be it a healthy return to running postpartum, hitting that elusive BQ, running your first, or venturing under three hours in the marathon Rochelle would love to chat and learn more about you and your running goals!
Certifications:
RRCA
VDOT Running Coach
NASM CPT
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
GGS Pre + Post Natal
Lara Rogers - GRC Elite Coach
Lara Rogers (fka Lara Crofford), is a distinguished coach in the world of professional and elite running, previously leading the women’s Under Armour Professional Run team in Baltimore. With a career that spans collegiate and professional coaching, Lara has made significant strides in promoting female representation in the coaching ranks.
Early Life and Running Career:
Lara’s journey into running began in high school after she didn’t make the field hockey team she quickly found her passion for running. Lara ended her high school career winning the 2007 Pennsylvania Class AAA 3,200m stitle and captured runner-up honors at the Nike Outdoor Nationals in the 5,000m and sixth in the 2-mile to earn All-American status; which led her to a successful collegiate career at the University of Nebraska and Shippensburg University. During her time as an athlete, she set impressive personal bests and earned multiple accolades, including becoming a 2x-All American and 9x All-Big 12 selection. Upon completion of her collegiate eligibility and while still completing her graduate degree at Shippensburg, Lara coached with Shippensburg, assisting legendary Coach Steve Spence with the team. Shortly after, Lara had the opportunity to run professionally with Saucony and New England Distance in Providence, Rhode Island. After two years of competing for the brand and team, Lara realized her true love and passion in the sport lied in coaching.
Coaching Career:
After her professional career, Lara spent seven years coaching at the University of Cincinnati, where she was recognized as the USTFCCCA Great Lakes Region Men's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2021. Her tenure at Cincinnati was marked by significant achievements, including leading many Bearcat student-athletes to All America honors and conference championships, including leading current professional athletes Aaron Bienenfeld (Nike) and Ellie Leather (Under Armour) to fifth and third place finishes respectively at the NCAA Championships.
Most recently, Lara was the head coach of the Under Armour Mission Run Baltimore Distance team starting in 2022. She was instrumental in building the team from the ground up, starting with just two athletes and expanding to a talented roster of six women. Under her guidance, the team achieved remarkable success, which included Olympic and World championship qualifying marks, Diamond League appearances, national records, and most recently leading Lauren Ryan to the 2024 Paris Olympics in both the 5000m and 10000m.
Personal Life:
Lara’s journey from a high school athlete to a professional runner and now coach is a testament to her passion for running and her commitment to helping others achieve their goals. She continues to inspire and lead by example, proving that with dedication and hard work, anything is possible.
Certifications:
USATF Level I and Level II Endurance
NCAA Women’s Coaches Academy Graduate