Ruth Atkinson

Bio

Ruth Atkinson is a running coach with McKirdy Trained who proves it's never too late to discover your passion. A former music teacher and drum corps performer who once despised the gym mile, Ruth spontaneously started running in 2018 when she decided she needed a hobby beyond watching Grey's Anatomy. What began as a tenth-of-a-mile jog around her apartment complex quickly transformed into a passion—Ruth ran her first 10K. Now based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Ruth channels her music education background and personal transformation into her coaching philosophy, emphasizing patience, curiosity, and building durable runners through smart training and strength work. She believes every runner deserves a chance to find their best, regardless of pace or experience, and encourages athletes to stop comparing themselves to others and focus on their own ambitious goals. Ruth's approach combines practical wisdom on fueling, injury prevention, and the importance of single-leg strength training with an unwavering belief that no one should ever count themselves out. When she's not coaching, you can find her helping runners across all levels discover what they're truly capable of achieving.