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Coach Tommy Gulch

By Greg Sisengrath

January 12^th, 2023

About Coach Tommy

"I officially began coaching in summer of 2021 as my love for the sport evolved and grew in my 5 previous years of running trails and ultras. Over the years of crewing and volunteering I found more and more joy in helping others achieve their goals than me accomplishing my own and wanted to take that to the next level and become an Ultra Endurance Coach. One of the best decisions I’ve every made.

I enjoy coaching athletes from all walks of life, ability, and goals. Each athlete is unique and cookie cutter plans just don’t always cut it, that’s why I enjoy getting to know the athletes and customizing plans that fit their life schedule and still give them the best shot to complete their goal or adventure, and stay as healthy as possible in the process."

Several of Tommy's highlights are below.

Cross Timbers 50M - 1st Overall
Possum's Revenge 52M
Silver Rush 50M
Habanero Hundred 100K - 8th Overall
Loup Garou 100M
Bandera 100K
Jackalope Jam - 72H, 100H
Tour de los Tejas - 300K - 4th Overall
Sasquatch Shuffle 100K - 6th Overall
Franklin Mountains 100K
Cocodona 250M

Follow him on Facebook, Instagram and Strava. You can also contact Tommy via email at tlgulch@gmail.com.

Athlete Testimonials

Kathleen Hanley

I wanted a coach to help me train for Moab 240. I had seen that Coach Tommy was training for Cocodona 250 and had done the 200 distance before. In 2020, work and life was really stressful for me, and I wanted a coach that would help me train but also be able to help me adapt training to challenging life circumstances. I was always good at following a plan, but what I needed was a coach who would help me get stronger and stay healthy. This meant someone who understood the importance of adapting training to life stressors, not overdoing mileage, and adding strength training, which is essential for trail and ultra training. My first call with Tommy, I knew his values aligned with mine.

Coach Tommy came out to one of my first trail races after working with him. The night before the race he texted me and helped me work out doubts and fears. I ended up getting 1st place at that race and I don’t think I would have if he hadn’t empowered me. After the race, he told me how proud he was of me. I never got the sense it was about placing 1st, but about putting myself out there. To have a coach be there to understand what you’re capable of, push and support you, is an incredible feeling.

After that, he helped me train over ten months for Moab 240. Many times, my runs were shorter than my road marathon running friends, but after a run I often had a strength or mobility session (which he told me I could do later in the day if I didn’t have time right after a run). I contribute these strength and mobility sessions as key to my success of having a healthy training cycle. I also appreciate that Coach Tommy listened to me and understood that excess mileage was not something that had worked successfully for me in the past. Within weeks of being coached by Tommy, I could see my body getting stronger. In the races leading up to Moab 240, we worked together to understand areas of weakness and add strength where needed. Coach Tommy got me so strong, that after I finished Moab 240, I wondered, what else am I capable of? I think one of the greatest gifts of having Tommy as my coach is that I have been able to grow as an athlete in ways I didn’t know were possible.