Our Coaches

Team Oregon

Team Oregon was formed in 1991 to provide professional coaching and fitness education. Our coaching staff has over 100 years of combined experience. The goals of Team Oregon are to provide runners with training plans and coaching for their individual needs; to educate them in physiology, nutrition and racing; and to provide a training group environment where they have others of their own ability to run with and where they can meet other runners. The primary goal is to have fun.

Team Oregon has runners of all levels from beginning to Competitive. We sponsor competitive teams and group training and education programs. Our Seasonal programs emphasize periodicity of training, breaking the year into Base and Strength Building periods and Sharpening and Racing Periods. Training sessions consist of structured workouts tailored to individual abilities. Team Oregon meetings discuss training theory, learn from guest speakers in running related fields and provide an opportunity to socialize with other runners.

We also offer specialized coaching for Injury Prevention and
Rehabilitation. See the Rehab Section.

Coaching Staff

Our coaches are certified by the Road Runners Club of America. They are also active competitive runners themselves. This gives them a unique practical knowledge of training and racing.

Patti Finke

Patti is an exercise physiologist and RRCA certified running coach. As the current chairperson of the Road Runners Club of America coaching committee, Patti instructs and certifies running coaches. She coaches individuals and groups of runners and walkers for distance from 5k to ultramarathons. Patti has been coaching runners and walkers for over 25 years. She is a Director and Founder of the Portland Marathon Training Clinic and author of "Marathoning Start To Finish". She is the author of many articles on training and racing for local, national and international publications. She has been running and racing for 30 years. She has held individual U.S. age records for 50km and 50mi and has three times been Oregon Road Runners Club Age group runner of the year.
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Janet Hamilton

Janet is an exercise physiologist who specializes in biomechanics, gait analysis, and exercise program design. She is a certified strength and conditioning specialist who has been working with athletes of all ages for over 18 years. Janet is an avid runner and marathoner. She provides wellness programs, rehab coaching and injury prevention programs through Running Strong. Running Strong is based in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Warren Finke

Warren is a RRCA certified running coach and fitness consultant. He is an instructor for the Road Runners Club of America coaching certification program. Warren has been coaching beginning to elite road and trail runners for more than 25 years. He is a Director and Founder of the Portland Marathon Training Clinic and co-author of "Marathoning Start To Finish". Warren has authored or contributed to numerous local, national and international publications. He has competed in over 170 marathons and ultramarathons winning more than 20. He is 2 time U.S. track record holder for 100km and was the 2nd place veterans finisher in the 1992 Boston Marathon.
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Bob Williams

Bob is a personal running coach, former All-American Steeplechaser from the University of oregon and 1968 Olympic Trials 5th place finisher in the Steeplechase. He continues to compete in Masters track. Bob has been coaching beginning to elite distance runners for 29 years. He recently coached 3 women and 1 male to the '96 Olympic Marathon Trials, one high school state 800m Champion and Lisa Karnopp to the 1996 Olympic Trials 5,000m finals.
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DeeAnn Dougherty, PT

DeeAnn started running at age 13 after watching the 1972 Olympics on TV. She competed in track in high school in Madison, WI, and in track and cross-country at Mankato State University, MN. She began road racing while in physical therapy school at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and ran her first marathon in 1980. She has run personal bests of 2:51 in the marathon and 35:53 for 10k, and is currently competitive in masters competitions, specializing in the steeplechase. DeeAnn has been a physical therapist since 1981, and started coaching runners in 1996. She is a certified coach through USA Track and Field (Level II) and Road Runners Club of America, and has been a director with the Portland Marathon Clinic since 2000. DeeAnn currently has a private physical therapy practice, Fine Line Fitness, in Lake Oswego, OR and specializes in the biomechanical evaluation and treatment of distance runners. She also teaches yoga at Gudmestad Yoga Studio in Portland OR.
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Katie Hunter

Katie is a RRCA certified running coach and an ACE fitness instructor. Katie has been involved in the fitness industry for 15 years and marathon running for 10 years. As a director for the Portland Marathon Clinic, Katie has been active in group coaching, as well as coaching individuals one on one. She and has a particular interest in working with new runners wanting to learn to run. With attention to injury prevention, nutrition, and adaptation with gradual progression Katie can help you learn to love to run. You can contact Katie for individual or group coaching.
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Susan Schmidt

Susan Schmidt is a Portland native and wellness enthusiast. She began running marathons in her early 30s and has currently completed 14 marathons and numerous half-marathons. As a director with the Portland Marathon Training Clinic, she trains marathoners from April through October each year. She also provides private coaching to runners of all levels. Susan teaches pilates at her private studio, Essential Fitness, Inc. She is a STOTT.-certified pilates instructor, RRCA-certified running coach and ACE-certified personal trainer. She also practices yoga and enjoys hiking, trail running, and golf.
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