February 14, 2025
The Man Who Coaches Champions: How To Have Sustainable Excellence As A High School Athlete With Niwot's Coach Kelly Christensen + Insights On How He Coached An NXN Winning Team & Individual
THE RUNNING EFFECT PODCASTAbout this episode
We are joined today by one of the best high school cross country coaches in the country, Kelly Christensen. Coach Christensen leads Niwot High School in Colorado. They recently won the High School Nike Cross Nationals boy’s race in December. The team put together one of the best finishes in NXN history, totaling just 70 points, and emerged as the first boy’s team to capture the title in Colorado high school history. Coach Christensen became a school counselor and coach at Niwot in Colorado in 2016, after transitioning from a career in construction management. Coach Christensen earned a bachelor’s in psychology from Western State College. During his time at Niwot, the Cross Country program has achieved five girl’s state championship titles and two boy’s state titles. The boys have crowned four individual state champions and one individual runner-up finish as well. Prior to coaching at Niwot, Christensen served as the head cross country and track coach at Palmer Ridge High School from 2014 - 2016 (achieving two boys’ track and field titles and a cross country title). In today’s conversation, Coach Kelly takes me through his coaching philosophies, his backstory into coaching, how he emphasizes the importance of balance, the story of how his boys won their first-ever NXN title, how he coaches disappointment, and so much more. This conversation was a true blessing and I hope you take the time to listen to it. I wish I had this podcast episode when I was a freshman in high school. Don’t waste the opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches in the sport. Tap into the Coach Kelly Christensen Special. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it. If this episode blesses you, please share it with a friend! S H O W N O T E S -BUY MERCH BEFORE IT’S GONE: https://shop.therunningeffect.run -Our Website: https://therunningeffect.run -THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ -My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningeffect/?hl=en