First or Fastest
We coach ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Whether your goal is your first or next finish line, a new personal best, or simply becoming stronger and more confident, the goal is the same: help you become the best version of yourself.
First or Fastest is about you.
You do not have to be fast to be an athlete. You do not have to chase somebody else’s goal. We meet you where you are, learn where you want to go, and build training that fits your life.
No ego coaching. Every workout has a purpose.
What you can expect
- Coaching built around your experience, goals, schedule, and available training time.
- Mostly virtual coaching, so support can travel with you.
- A training platform that delivers your workouts and keeps the plan in front of you.
- Help understanding why you are doing a workout—not just instructions to execute it.
- Real-world adjustments when life, weather, travel, fatigue, or training do not go exactly as planned.
Two coaches. Different strengths. One athlete-first approach.
Barry Birdwell
Endurance coach with more than twenty years of experience helping runners and walkers prepare for finish lines of all kinds. Barry emphasizes purpose, consistency, effort, and learning to make smart decisions when the coach is not beside you.
Michele Birdwell
Certified RRCA Running Coach and Licensed Neuromuscular Massage Therapist. Michele helps people restore and maintain movement and better cope with short- and long-term physical challenges.
Our goal
When we coach a first-timer across a finish line, we hope it is not their last step. We want it to be the first step toward whatever comes next.
An attitude we carry forward.
The name First or Fastest reflects an attitude we learned years ago from our friend and mentor, Coach Bernie Sher. Bernie understood that the athlete working toward a first or next finish line deserved every bit as much respect and attention as the athlete chasing their fastest.
It was never about the coach’s ego or comparing one athlete to another. It was about helping each athlete become the best version of themselves. It’s our honor to carry Bernie’s First or Fastest attitude forward in the way we coach today.
Hydration: Find Your Fluid Balance.
There is no single ounces-per-hour number that works for every athlete. Use our two-test hydration calculator to measure your sweat rate and develop a practical working fluid rate for long training and race day.
More Coach’s Corner articles, handouts, videos, and training resources are on the way.
Ready to start a conversation?
You do not need to commit to coaching. Tell us a little about yourself, what you are working toward, and what kind of help you are looking for.
Get to Know UsMore ways to connect are coming.
First or Fastest will use a Facebook Page for public coaching content and a Facebook Group for athlete conversation and community, with Strava, Instagram, and YouTube supporting the same mission. We’ll add the links as each channel goes live.