Trail Transformation

I started working with Michael this fall when I was hoping to PR in the half marathon. He was always so gracious with my questions and supplied me with challenging yet manageable training plans. With his guidance, I was able to PR and smash a goal I was working toward for years. I would absolutely recommend Michael and Trail Transformation and look forward to working with them again for my next big race! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I was having good results by following training plans on my own for a long time, but had hit a low spot. I was questioning my reasons for running, and had a hard time deciding on a goal. It was getting easy to say, “I’ll run tomorrow!” A couple running friends had talked about Trail Transformation a few times, so I decided to give them a try. I need To change my attitude towards running, and reach a couple goals that I believed I could achieve, but wondered if I was too old. Then Michael Rodriguez became my coach, and history was made!! He pushed me harder than I would have myself, and listened to my old body aches and pains to train me for PRs in 10k, half marathon, and marathon. Breaking 3:00 hours was a dream, I didn’t think I could achieve!! Now I want to see what I can do next. I Highly Recommend Michael Rodriguez and Trail Transformation!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The Trail Transformation coaches are the real deal because they are experts on every aspect of the training process—performance maximization, injury prevention, race strategy, race fueling, and nutrition—for everyone at any level. As a competitive runner in college, I was plagued by recurring injuries and burnout. After taking several years off from competitive running, I yearned to get back into racing, but I didn’t think it was possible given my history of injuries on top of a job/life that was significantly more demanding than college. Now, after several months of working with Jake and Rachel, I’m injury free and in the best shape of my life. I’ve hit huge personal records in two races: first and second places. Perhaps most important, I feel healthier, less stressed, and love running again. Therefore, I highly recommend Trail Transformation to everyone, whether your goal is maximizing your performance or learning how to enjoy running.As for me, I’m certainly looking forward many years of training with the Trail Transformation team. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I've been running 5-10k road races my whole life but slowed down when kids came along. When I tried to ramp things back up (right around age 50) I was slow and injury prone and not getting anywhere. One running friend told me I needed PT. Another running friend told me to get a coach. A third running friend finally convinced me to call Jake. I wish I'd heeded their advice long ago. At the time hiring a coach seemed self-indulgent, and shouldn't I know how to run by now anyway? Jake and his crew welcomed me into this community of trail runners, tweaked my training so I was able to run without injury and transformed my whole outlook (Jake says "We don't call it Trail Transformation for nothing" lol). Jake has another line that has rung true for me: Most people run to get fit but you have to get fit to run. I'm 6 months into this journey, just ran my first 25k (zero knee pain), and am happy to report they've breathed new life into my running practice. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I started with Jake at Trail Transformation back in June. I have a bit of a history with injuries (Achilles, knee, bone spurs) and would let those things keep me from running. Since starting the program with Jake, I've had next to zero problems with injuries. The plan was tailored to my needs and schedule. I've run two 25K trail runs since signing up. The second was 35 minutes faster than the first and a PR. If you're looking for results, Trail Transformation delivers! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

The folks at Trail Transformation are awesome! I have been working with Mike for the past year and credit his coaching, knowledge, encouragement, and support with helping me get in shape to run my first 25K. Prior to working with him, I had been running sporadically. This past year was a transformation—my speed and endurance improved and I learned how to take better care of my body and avoid injuries. While I'm not an elite runner (I will never win a race) nor am I an ultra long distance runner (25K might just be the longest distance I ever run), thanks to Mike's coaching, I have developed a passion for running that I never had before and I'm excited about the races in my future. I would highly recommend (and have recommended) Trail Transformation to my friends and family and anyone who is looking to improve their speed, endurance, or just overall relationship with running! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

If you want to take your running or your racing to another level I can't recommend Trail Transformation enough. The training plans and email support work perfectly for me and adjust based on my running and racing goals. The nutritional counseling has also been super valuable. Together, you can't beat Trail Transformation. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I used Rachel at Trail Transformation for nutrition counseling with the goals to help create consistency in my diet and develop a hydration and nutrition plan for my long runs. With the overwhelming amount of information on the internet, working with an intelligent and responsive dietitian was the best thing I have done for my training and running. I now know how to fuel for my training and have the tools to eat right and lose or maintain my weight. Highly recommend to at least do the consult with Rachel, but the counseling was well worth the time and money. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

It's been a blast working with Pat and the Trail Transformation team. Saw him crush out the Win at the 2018 Hixon 50K, while I sputtered to a DNF. Felt like I had plateaued in my running career and needed to make a change. Working with this team has been extremely positive, leading to my best running season to date. He and the team have been such a great resource/sounding board. On top of all of it, they're a cornerstone in the upper midwest trail running community and have been very warm as I've entered the trail scene. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I had a great experience working with Trail Transformation and having Jake as my coach. My goal was to train and race in my second trail marathon and I had an awesome race, met my goals and it's due too the personal training that I got. I also really enjoyed that fact that they take time to get to know you and where you are at in life and then make the training be part of my life not my life. I will keep working with them too!! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I have had a great year working with Coach Pat at Trail Transformation! I was an experienced athlete wanting help training for my first marathon. This experience has far exceeded my expectations- I gained a ton of fitness but also really enjoyed the ease of not having to think about my workout planning, and then also the accountability of having a coach tracking my progress. I have already recommended Trail Transformation and will continue to recommend them to family and friends! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Thanks to the help of Pat Griffith and Trail Transformation this season I was able to PR my half marathon, marathon, Half Ironman, and complete a full distance Ironman! Pat is an awesome tri coach and provided a balanced training plan that took an overwhelming task and made it possible to execute. Pat is encouraging, flexible, and an awesome tri coach! I'm looking forward to next season and being able to hit more goals with his help! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I love running and have done a few ultras, but have never felt satisfied with the training process or my race results. After a couple consecutive DNFs, I knew my DIY training plans were not cutting it. Working with Mike has changed everything. My training has been so much more effective and it seems like every week, I see considerable improvement both physically and mentally. I have learned to dig deeper physically and have gained confidence where I used to underestimate myself. I'm running my first 100 miler in a couple of weeks and no matter what happens, I will be happy with the work that I've put in thanks to Trail Transformation. I wish I had done this sooner and would definitely recommend! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

When training for an Ironman, you need to have a good team who supports what you are trying to accomplish. Coach Pat at Trail Transformation was just the person to help me reach my goals. His ability to provide great workouts while being a resource for advice was just what I needed in order to help me reach my goals. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

How do I love Trail Transformation? Let me count thy ways.Michael, my running coach, has been nothing short of spectacular. I’m almost at a loss for words for how helpful/supportive he’s been (but this is a review, so I need to find some). He kept me in check. It’s in my nature to push too hard and do too much too soon, especially as a newbie runner. He wouldn’t have any of it. I entered into my race with full health and full fitness; wouldn’t have been able to pull that off alone. His training blocks were customized for my ability level and goals. He was very responsive and gave feedback after every run. I love seeing those green dots! Sign up and you’ll understand! Rachel, their RD, is equally as amazing and impactful. I’m blown away by her knowledge and expertise. I entered my marathon with confidence; had a solid fueling strategy and a week-long carb loading plan heading to race day. She listens, she’s supportive, and an overall joy.Michael and Rachel were the first two people I thought of after my race. I was proud, and I wanted them to be proud, too. I set a goal to run Twin Cities sub-4, a huge goal for me, but I came into it brand new with only 12 weeks to train. It was borderline unrealistic but, with their help, I wound up running a 3:56!The value they offer far surpasses their price point. Austin is a fantastic business manager and an absolute monster on those trails. Client for life. Can’t wait to see what the future holds! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Working with Trail Transformation's coach Pat has been excellent. I decided to try trail and distance running a little late in life, around 50, but didn't know how to properly train. Pat took the guesswork out of the equation and I arrived at every event confident that I was ready. Pat is a great guy and super easy to work with. Highly recommended. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

My nutrition goals seemed conflicting- I wanted to focus on body comp transformation specifically reducing weight and body fat% without compromising my marathon training and race day nutrition. Happy to say that Rachel enabled me with the tools to do both. Over the course of 5 months working with Rachel I lost 10lbs, reduced my body fat% by 8pts and gained 5lbs of muscle- all while training for a marathon! With her guidance I learned how much I should be eating, what to eat and when, to best fuel for my workouts and keep my energy levels up. And she was 100% supportive of my plant-based lifestyle. If you are stuck with your own transformation, I recommend scheduling a consultation with Rachel to see how she can help you meet your goals. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Coach Jake has helped me far exceed my goals in a short time from 100miles down to 1/2 marathon distance on trails. Speed, strength ,hip mobility are all things we have worked on to improve race results and keep me injury free. I’d recommend Trail Transformation to anyone looking for these things as well as being part of a incredible team with outstanding people. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Coach Jake has helped me take my trail running “racing”to a level I didn’t think possible. In particular specific speed and taper plans for ultras is giving me incredible results. In addition to that the PT exercises have made me run more efficiently and kept me injury free. Trail Transformation is composed of incredible coaches and team members I can’t say enough good about. I’m so happy to be apart of this team and strongly recommend them to anyone interested in performance and being injury free. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Coach Pat at Trail Tranformation got me ready for my Ironman race and I couldn't have done it without him. He was a great resource and provided me with a plan that helped me reach my goals.

Reviewed on Facebook

Coach Pat has been awesome to work with! He helped me reach my goals, but made it easy and fun along the way! It was great to have someone else planning all my workouts and also to have the accountability of a coach tracking my progress.

Reviewed on Facebook

I started working w TT earlier this year! I was able to increase my speed and finish a 110 mile race! The communication is great. If I had any question any day... I was able to get a response.. because let’s be real, life isn’t predictable! I highly recommend TT!!!! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Dr. Jake (doogie!) Is the best.

Reviewed on Google Maps

I've been working with Rachel on race day nutrition for just over a year now. I started with her after failing due to nutrition at my 2nd attempt a distance over 50 miles. Since then I have completed a 50 miler, a 100k and recently a 100 mile race. In all these races nutrition I have been able to take in enough calories with liquids and take in more solid foods then I have ever before. Rachel has been great to work with. Based on my symptoms in my other races she recommended a few options for me to experiment with and once we figured out what worked we fine tuned amounts and then worked to add in different types of solids to supplement. We continued experimenting during long runs after each race and have developed basic plan that gets me enough calories to finish. Whilst we still haven't figured out the perfect nutrition plan I feel confident that with more data on my races and Rachel's expertise my next training cycle will continue the progression in figuring out my nutrition. I would highly recommend people work with Rachel as knows runners and understands our individual dietary tastes/needs More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Rachel was great to work with! She helped me figure out a nutrition plan for my first half ironman. She was there to hold me accountable as I trackied my eating (not always easy) so she could better give me nutrition suggestions. .

Reviewed on Facebook

I used Trail Transformation to help me with the Rut Run, a high altitude technical run in Montana. Obviously that created some unique challenges living in Minnesota. I tried it on my own a couple of years ago and failed. I tried it this year with Trail Transformation, and exceeded my own expectations! So I guess what else to you need to know!My coach was Tyler. He was great the whole time. I travel a lot for work and so often needed to move things around. He was very flexible and timely in his communication. I would recommend Tyler and Trail Transformation to anyone looking for a little more structure in the training regimen. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Mike is great at motivation. He does a great job explaining how each exercise works a muscle/muscle group. He stresses the importance of how to perform an exercise correctly!

Reviewed on Facebook

I heartily recommend trail transformations. For my 50th birthday this year I decided to give myself the gift of seeking a coach. After six months of coaching, I took 23 minutes off my half marathon time. Jake gave me fun, challenging and varied workouts and was responsive to my questions and requests. I highly recommend them! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

I had a phone consultation with Rachel about nutrition and my goals. I've always found being active easy, but my bad eating habits have caught up to me as I've gotten older. Between her knowledge, advice, and personalized plan for me, I now have a plan for my goals. I'm only at the beginning of this journey, but I'm optimistic that a healthier me is in my future. Rachel was friendly, easy to talk to, and answered all of my questions. I would recommend her to anyone! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I was feeling tired and lethargic for over a month, especially after the 3 mile mark on my runs; with a quick look at a 3 day diet log, Rachel was able to pinpoint some deficiencies in my diet. After a month of adding some supplements and more protein to my diet, I feel SO MUCH BETTER and can run comfortably for more than 5 miles. I asked Rachel about some of the tests they offer but she didn't think I needed any (all of which were quite expensive). Rachel was knowledgable, helpful, and able to make some impactful recommendations in just one consultation. I am so grateful for her and is my #1 choice if I need any diet/nutrition advice in the future!! Sarah Smith More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I whole-heartedly recommend Trail Transformation!! Their services are comprehensive, and tailored to each individual and his/her goals. I returned to running after decades of inactivity and old injuries. I had hoped to someday finish a marathon... Coach Mike has helped me finish several -- plus a 50k and a 50 miler! I know that with his help I can continue to be a runner for many years. On top of all this.... they're just really fun people More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Trail Transformation is amazing! The whole staff is knowledgeable-- and a lot of fun! I am a definite back-of-the-pack runner, but that doesn't mean I don't get quality attention. They are quickly responsive to questions, and they tailor the training to each individual. My primary goal is to be able to run for many, many years. With their help I know I can do this! More...

Reviewed on Facebook

The coaches were extremely helpful and helped me reach my personal goals. They took the time to assess my current performance and create a customized plan. Pat and Rachel then tracked my progress to adjust as necessary for me to achieve my best.Great experience and would recommend to anyone who is looking to improve their running. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

When I started questioning my training from being burnt out, from injury, and being unsure about my race day and everyday nutrition, I filled out the initial evaluation with Trail Transformation. From that initial questionnaire to where I am now is more than I can fit into a review. I feel confident in my training, and consistent during my races with a plan of action for nutrition and how I should treat each race and the goals I have set in place. Recovery post-race has felt great since I started using their coaching services, and can be completely transparent with them as well about how I am feeling with how my training and races are going, or if certain aches or pains pop up in the process. They also understand that life happens and that switching or tailoring the training plan can happen. They truly care about my goals and the training it takes to get there. The communication system, check-ins, and questions that may arise are always answered! If you want to take your running to the next level, to think about the longevity of running in your life, to feel consistent, strong, confident, and even more connected in your running community, as well as fueling yourself to the best potential, I would highly recommend Trail Transformation not only for coaching but for nutrition services. They have not only helped me but coached many others to achieve their goals and have seen many succeed! They are also some of the kindest and caring people I have ever worked with! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Great coaching at Trail Transformation! Pat and Rachel helped me achieve my goals by understanding my current fitness level and building a customized plan.

Reviewed on Facebook

I worked with Rachel on the MRT. It's definitely a challenging process and having someone go through it with you was super helpful. Rachel answered all of my questions and the results were as expected. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I worked with coach Tyler for 6 months to train for a road marathon. He was so knowledgeable, patient, and accommodating in my program. I saw success and had fun doing it- a win win! The whole process was smooth and I would highly recommend Trail Transformation. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I'm not one to set big goals, but I signed up for 2 bike rides that are each over 200 miles. I did the fitness class twice and found it to be super helpful to my general fitness and day to day activities, as well as my on bike handling. As a single sport athlete, I didn't realize how great that would be. I also have had diet issues for a number of years and decided to do the MRT food sensitivity testing with Rachel. She walked me through the process and supported me. I feel much better day to day and more prepared for the eating-contest-on-a-bike that a 200 mile ride will inevitably be. I can comfortably say that the class and diet testing have both put me in a better place to be successful in my endurance endeavors. More...

Reviewed on Facebook

Michael and Jake have really helped me push to new limits in my running and riding. I've been able to confidently charge at the front of my MTB races and set a new PR in a marathon. I know none of this would have been possible without the guidance from them. Highly recommend the Trails Transformation team. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Michael with trail transformation has completely transformed my trail running, in ways I didn't think were even possible. It's been work, but I'm running stronger on trails than I ever have previously . As well as helping me to fall in love with running again after having a year long slump. I can not wait to see how the rest of the year plays out with my lofty goals. I am so glad I came across TT before I started training for my first 100 miler, it's taken the guess work out of wondering if I am adequately training. I plan to stick with them long term, and highly recommend them to anyone on the fence thinking of working with a coach! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I’ve been working with coach Mike for over a year now. It’s been a great experience and with his help I’ve been beating race times that I ran 10 years ago! Looking forward to continuing to improve and excited for the coming year! Thanks Mike!I also went through the MRT food sensitivity testing protocol with Rachel. Rachel was great at helping me through the process step by step. I had been dealing with stomach issues for quite some time, and following the MRT protocol and adhering to it all the way to completion made a HUGE difference. I felt absolutely amazing. My sleep was better, my running improved, my stomach issues dramatically improved. I now work with Rachel monthly and she is very knowledgeable and helpful. If you’re experiencing GI issues while running or just in every day life, I’d highly recommend getting in touch with Rachel! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Working with Rachel through the MRT process was a valuable experience that helped me achieve my nutrition goals and also provided me with a road map for sustained success. I would definitely recommend contacting Rachel and the Trail Transformation team if you are looking to understand and improve upon your current nutrition. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I've been working with Jake for over a year now and he has really taken my running to the next level. I was looking for a coach that could prepare me for the Superior 100 last fall and the plan that Jake put together helped me achieve that goal. I'll be back again this September with the goal of improving my overall finishing time. He's helped me and encouraged me during the low moments of injuries and adjusted the training plan to match how my body was feeling. Anyone looking to improve their overall running performance or someone needing a custom training plan, the folks at Trail Transformation can get it done!! More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

Working with Coach Mike has changed my whole mindset on my running. For so long I considered myself a runner wannabe. He helped show me that I’m not only a runner but that I can accomplish so much more than I have ever dreamed. His workouts and feedback have not only made me a stronger runner, but also a confident one. Coach Mike’s scheduled workouts for me are challenging and they give me a sense of accomplishment when finished. I have ran a handful of half marathons over the past few years and he even helped me to finish my first full marathon this past fall (2018). I’m now registered for 2 full marathons, a 17 mile trail run, and the Hixon 25k in 2019. 50k in 2020 Watch out trails. With Mike’s help who knows what I can do!Kim Siegersma La Crescent More...

Reviewed on Google Maps

I sought out Trail Transformation in order to improve my ultramarathon performance and develop better training habits. They’re reputation was excellent and it has lived up to my expectations. My speed and endurance are improved after a few months and I’m looking forward testing it at a race. More...

Reviewed on Google Maps