Coach Rich Grove
Rich Grove is a running coach for All Day Endurance. Rich is a United States Marine Corps veteran with deployments to the Persian Gulf and Mediterranean. After five years of honorable service and working as a helicopter mechanic, Rich resettled in the Washington DC area where he was introduced to the active running community.
In 2001, Rich trained with a run and walk method, and finished his first marathon in 4 hours and 42 minutes. During this training, every weekend was a milestone and personal best because each long run was the first time for that distance. Rich continued to race short, mid and long run distances finishing in the middle of the pack. Starting in 2008, Rich joined a triathlon team where he learned how to swim. Again, with every practice and every race completed, Rich was achieving personal bests as the miles increased. Gaining more confidence as a swimmer, Rich signed up for his first Ironman distance race. Crossing the finish line after a 2.4 miles swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run, motivated Rich to continue to train harder.
For the next 10 years, Rich continued to participate in various endurance distance events that included multiple triathlons, cycling rides, and two more Ironman races. Rich also lead and coached team workouts at the track, indoor and outdoor rides, and boot camps.
Once Rich relocated to Naples, Florida, he continued to spend time helping others in the sport of cycling and running as a volunteer with Collier County Special Olympics and the St. Matthew’s House Justin’s Place addiction recovery program. Rich coached a group of Special Olympics athletes that qualified and competed at the county games and the state championships. Rich programmed and coached the first half marathon program at Justin’s Place. Nine Justin’s Place residents trained and finished the Naples Half Marathon with consistent weekly group training runs and Rich’s guidance.
Rich’s passion is in helping people find the benefits and joy in exercise and balanced nutrition like he did. Eating well and exercising regularly was not always a priority. After seeing positive results in achieving a healthy weight, and improved race times – Rich is eager to share his lessons learned and teach others about living a fit and healthy lifestyle.