Great Lakes Running

My name is Sue Lesner, and my athletic journey began as a swimmer and swim instructor. In 2010, after the birth of my third child, I discovered running—and after many years away from competition, it brought back a lost joy to my life.

My primary focus has been distance road running. I have completed several marathons, including two World Marathon Majors, as well as a trail marathon. While I enjoy the marathon, the half marathon is my favorite distance. Throughout these years, I have been actively involved in pacing groups, as I truly love helping runners achieve their goals in a race setting.

Becoming an RRCA coach has been an aspiration of mine. One of my greatest passions is bringing people into the sport of running—or helping them return to it with confidence and enthusiasm. As a masters runner, I understand firsthand the challenges of balancing work, family, and training, as well as the unique concerns and adaptations that come with aging as an athlete.

Professionally, I spent many years as a public elementary school teacher. Through this career, I developed strong skills in patience, empathy, and delivering clear instruction. I believe these qualities are fundamental to effective coaching and allow me to support runners of all levels in a thoughtful, individualized way.