The V.O2 Podcast

V.O2 kicks off the newly relaunched show with running coach Megan Cooke, founder of Never Give Up Coaching (NGU Coaching).
Megan brings a unique background to the running world, having spent 25 years competing and coaching at the highest levels of D1 NCAA rowing (including head coach at Duke University) and representing Team USA. After transitioning to road racing, breaking 3:00 in the marathon, and launching her coaching business on the V.O2 platform, Megan built a thriving, waitlisted coaching business in less than two years.
In this episode:
Transitioning Elite Coaching Experience: How Megan leveraged decades of D1 rowing and high-performance physiology to launch a running coaching business without a traditional running resume.

Authentic Social Media Content: Why raw "FaceTime-style" Instagram reels connect far better with athletes than polished graphics or sales pitches.

Training Principles & Marathon Workouts: Megan's favorite workout structures (including mixing marathon pace with threshold work) and why aerobic patience is key to breaking goals.

The "Human Edge" in Coaching: How she balances data-driven VDOT pacing on V.O2 with the emotional and mental support athletes need on race day.

Debunking Marathon Myths: The biggest misconceptions around volume, injury prevention, and consistency.

Follow & Connect:
Follow Megan Cooke on Instagram: @runningcoachmegan

Learn more about NGU Coaching: Never Give Up Coaching

Start coaching or training on V.O2: vdoto2.com

🎵 Credit: Mike Quinn, Reforming

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Ariane Hendrix is a VDOT Certified Coach and the 5th fastest U.S. born African American woman of all time in the marathon. She’s shown steady progress first running the event in 3:57 ten years ago. Recently, she placed third at the Bayshore Marathon in 2:42.

Connect with Ari on her coaching profile page: https://coaches.vdoto2.com/ariane-hendrix-roach Follow her progress on Instagram @ari_hendrixroach.

Music credit: Mike Quinn, Breakadawn

Sara Lopez is an athlete on V.O2 working with Ame For It Run Coaching. Recently, Sara has set new PRs of 1:13:53 (64 VDOT) in the half marathon and 32:59 10k (65.1). Both were road racing wins too.

We learn in this episode how her pursuit to become a walk-on at BYU put her down a dark path and how she found her love of running and training again.

Follow Sara's progress @saraannelilopez

Music credit: Mike Quinn, Breakadawn

Blake Dircksen is a licensed physical therapist at Bespoke Treatments and assistant high school coach. In this episode we discuss the success he's having remote coaching his high school alma mater on V.O2. Blake is also offering free strength and mobility exercises for download on your V.O2 calendar. You can sign up for free here: https://coaches.vdoto2.com/blakedircksen

We also discuss ankle injuries and our new Stats feature on the app.

Jason Martuscello is a researcher at BEESY Strategy, a behavioral science agency, conducting consumer and market research. After transforming his life by losing over 100 lbs. he became relentlessly determined to deeply understand the universal ingredients of behavior change. His weight loss has created a burning curiosity and passion to understand how we change and sustain behavior.

In just four years Jason got into running and completing marathons. He has since completed three majors (NYC, Berlin and Boston) with a PR of 2:46. He currently works coach Dylan Belles on V.O2.

Music Credit: Mike Quinn, Breakadawn