The Low-Down on Kristen Smith
Coaching and helping others is what Kristen loves to do: she says it’s so important to teach individuals how to be patient, improve physically and mentally, make and achieve goals, receive unconditional support and accept challenges. After graduating in 2006, Kristen moved to Wilmington and started working as a personal trainer with Tom Clifford, and shortly after they started their coaching careers with Without Limits. Since then, she’s coached over 35 Ironman finishers, 50 half Ironman finishers, 120 Sprint and Olympic Triathlon finishers, 70 half marathon finishers and over 40 marathon finishers.
What She Coaches
WOL Running, Swimming, Cycling, Triathletes, Multisport, and some Performance Testing
Favorite Events
It’s a tie – Visiting family and friends and 5K Open Water Swim
Kristen’s Mantra
“I believe one of the most important relationships an athlete can have, outside of family and friends, is their coach. We can spend hours together through training and traveling to events. This relationship is important to me, as it can lead to a life-long friendship. To me, a great coach thinks of the individual as a person versus just an athlete. I enjoy coaching my athletes to live a good life with a balance of proper, structured and efficient training methods allowing them to reach their goals.”
Top Songs on her playlist
Unstoppable – Red
Good Day – Forrest Frank
Guilty Pleasures
Chocolate and craft beer
Certifications
- Certified Coach
- Level 1 USA Swimming
- Level 1 USA Triathlon
- Level 1 USA Track & Field
- Level 3 USA Cycling
- Level 1 & 2 U.S. Masters Swimming
Certified Personal Trainer – ACSM
US Masters Swimming NC LMSC- Chair 2019 – 2021
- Vice Chair 2016 – 2019
- At Large Member 2013 – 2016
- Coaches Chair 2013 – 2016
Accolades & Accomplishments
Triathlon
- 2007 2nd in AG for NCTS
- 2008 Ironman Lake Placid Finisher
- 2009
- 1st in AG for NCTS
- Beach 2 Battle 70.3 and White Lake 70.3
- 2013 Ironman 70.3 Vineman Finisher
Running
- 2007 OBX Marathon
- 2008 Myrtle Beach Marathon
- 2008 Uwharrie Mountain Run 8-miler
- 2009 Myrtle Beach Half Marathon
- 2010 New York Marathon
- 2011 Chicago Marathon
- 2012 Houston Half Marathon
- 2014
- Grandma’s Marathon
- Philadelphia Marathon
- 2015 Grandma’s Marathon
- 2015 Uwharrie Mountain Run 8-miler
- 2016 North Face 50K
- 2018 Uwharrie Mountain Run 20-miler
- 2019 Conquer the Rock 50K
- 2019 Uwharrie Mountain Run 20-miler
- 2024 16-Hour Lock-In – 50 miler
Swimming
- Director of Swim The Loop – 1st Open Water Endurance race in the Wilmington/Wrightsville Beach area. Started 2011
- Director of SwimRun Lake James
- 2012 Short Course Masters Nationals
- 50yd Free
- 200yd Free TOP 15
- 500yd Free TOP 20
- 2013 State Master’s Championships
- 100yd Fly
- 200 Medley Relay
- 100yd Back
- 200yd Free
- 100yd Free
- 200yd Free Relay
- 500yd Free
- 800yd Free Relay
- 200 Mixed Medley Relay TOP 3
- 2013 Pan-American Masters Championships
- 50m Back 2nd in AG
- 100m Fly 3rd in AG
- 2014 FINA World Championships
- 800m TOP 10 in AG
- 3K Open Water Swim TOP 20 in AG
- 400m TOP 20 in AG
- Women’s 4 x 50m Medley Relay TOP 10 in AG
SwimRun
- 2015 OtillO Swimrun World Championship – Qualifier & Finisher
- 2016 Hanging Rock Swimrun – 3rd OA
- 2016 Casco Bay Swimrun – 4th OA
- 2016 Swimrun Georgia
- 2017 Hanging Rock Swimrun – 1st OA
- 2017 Casco Bay Swimrun – 2nd OA
- 2018 Hanging Rock Swimrun – 1st OA
- 2018 Rockman Swimrun
- 2019 Rockman Swimrun
- 2021 Austin Swimrun Solo
- 2021 One Water Adventure Swimrun 60 hrs
- 2022 One Water Adventure Swimrun 60 hrs
- 2023 One Water Adventure Swimrun 60 hrs
- 2025 Hanging Rock Swimrun
- 2025 One Water Adventure Swimrun 60 hrs
