In follow-up to episode #156 about Mary Cain, a listener (thank you Mimi!) connected me to distance coaching guru Dena Evans to discuss the topic further. 

Dena Evans has spent the the last 20 years dedicated to coaching athletes at all levels. It all started in 1999 when she became the Assistant Cross Country and Track & Field Coach at Stanford University under Coach Vin Lananna. In 2003, she was promoted to Head Women's Cross Country Coach and led the Cardinal to the NCAA cross country title that same year to go along with numerous other conference championships and other team and individual accolades during her tenure.

Since her 6 years at Stanford, Dena has served and continues to serve in various coaching roles with Team USA at events such as the World Cross Country Championships, the IAAF World Relay Championships, and the IAAF World Track & Field Championships (indoor and outdoor), including in Doha in October of this year.

In addition, she has spent the last 12 years as Club Director and Coach for the Peninsula Distance Club (formerly the Strava Track Club). The PDC is an elite development club dedicated to helping post-collegiate and adult athletes pursue their running goals in the Bay Area.

Prior to coaching, Dena was a stand-out soccer player and track and field athlete at Stanford University where she majored in American Studies as an undergrad and received her Masters in Education and Secondary Teaching Credential from the Stanford Teacher Education Program.