Pines Endurance Coach
Clayton Foster
Over 14 years of NCAA and high school championship-level experience serving athletes of all abilities. Having helped coach Olympic Trials qualifiers, All-Americans, sub-4 minute milers, Boston Marathon qualifiers, and hundreds of runners chasing personal bests, his approach blends elite-level, science-based knowledge with practical, personalized guidance to help every athlete reach their goals.
He holds a Master’s degree in Exercise Science and Human Performance with honors from Adams State University. He completed his undergraduate studies at Minnesota State University Moorhead, earning a degree in Exercise Science with dual minors in Coaching and Strength Training.
With 22 years of competitive racing experience, he brings a wide performance range. From 49-second 400m speed and a 4:11 mile personal record to a 2:40 marathon debut, two-time Last Runner Standing Mount Ski Gull champion, and multiple top ultramarathon finishes. Most recently, in 2025, he recorded the 16th fastest time ever run at the Wild Duluth 50k trail ultra.
About Pines Endurance
The Vision
To build a stronger running community in the Brainerd Lakes area and provide trusted, knowledgeable coaching that helps every runner improve.
Every runner deserves opportunity to improve.
Philosophy
At Pines Endurance, progress comes from consistent, science-backed, disciplined work over time. There are no shortcuts in endurance sport.
Coach Foster's role is to guide athletes, youth, community members, and everyday runners towards steady progress through educated training decisions and long-term development in a lifelong sport.
Training should be guided by science, experience, and observation. Workouts are not random, they are purposeful and progressive. Every session should serve a physiological goal, and every runner should understand why they are doing it. When runners understand the process, they trust the program.
"Every runner has greater capability than they believe possible. They just need guidance, belief and opportunity." - Clayton Foster
The Story Behind Pines Endurance
Running has always been a constant.
Through different stages of life—competing, learning, coaching, and growing in the sport, running has provided structure, discipline, and perspective. It has created opportunities, built relationships, and taught lessons that extend far beyond the sport.
Over the years, coaching at the collegiate level and working with athletes in competitive programs showed me what is possible when people are given clear guidance, consistency, and a supportive environment to believe in themselves. Success followed physiological preparation. Athletes improved. Teams grew stronger. Confidence kept developing over time.
But eventually, my path led back home.
Returning home meant becoming a teacher, and continuing a coaching career while also growing my family roots in the same community where I grew up. That shift emphasized my view towards the sport, not just as competition, it is a burning fire inside of me I can't put out. Running is a lifestyle, something I have made my fondest memories doing. Running is my passion.
And that is when I felt like something was missing.
For all the active people in this area, there was never really a central place for runners. No consistent group to connect with. No simple way for people to reach out, share experiences, or build relationships through group running. I felt like the sport existed here, but the community around it was scattered. I didn't know who I could reach out to.
The realization stuck. With my running career, coaching background, and education; I'll create what was missing.
Because my fondest memories are beyond just competing.
They're about the conversations during long runs. The shared effort that turns into trust and lifelong friendships. The mutual respect built for one another by choosing to pursue challenge. The exploration your own two feet can take you. The extreme joy of running with others!
Pines Endurance was created to bring those pieces together.
Thank you for reading. I truly hope to see you locally or hear from you online.
Sincerely,
Clayton Foster