Your running journey, our passion.
Meet the Experts Behind Your Best Runs.
Meet Coach Alli
Alli Felsenthal is the founder and head coach of RunWithAlli Coaching, a holistic run and nutrition coaching company that helps runners of all levels. From first-time 5K finishers to Boston Marathon qualifiers and marathon PR seekers alike, Alli believes that training smarter, staying healthy and enjoying the process while keeping things challenging and doable is a foundation for success. A six-time Abbott World Marathon Majors finisher with a marathon personal best of 2:57, Alli combines evidence-based training, strength, nutrition, cross-training, injury prevention and mindset coaching to help athletes achieve sustainable, lifelong success. She is also a UESCA-certified coach and mentor, V.02-certified coach, a League of Garmin Captain, the Lead Ambassador Coach for Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego, and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Nutrition. With years of experience coaching athletes of all levels, she’s known for her practical, no-fluff training strategies, deep understanding of mindset, and her supportive, real-talk approach.
Meet Coach Shikha
Shikha is a postpartum running specialist who embodies what consistent, intentional training can achieve. She has improved her marathon time from 4:46 to 3:49:58, proving that motherhood and high performance can go hand in hand. After breaking the four-hour barrier with a sub-4 marathon at the 2024 Venice Marathon, Shikha went on to set another personal best of 3:49:58 at the 2026 Geneva Marathon, just nine months after welcoming her son, Isandro.
Originally a competitive swimmer, Shikha transitioned into running without a strong strength-training foundation, which initially made longer distances challenging and left her feeling less resilient than she wanted to be. Rather than accepting those limitations, she transformed her approach by prioritizing strength training, improving her running mechanics, and training with purpose. The result was not only faster race times, but also greater durability, confidence, and enjoyment of the sport.
Today, Shikha is passionate about helping runners build strength, return to running safely, and discover that they are capable of far more than they ever imagined.
Shikha is a UESCA-certified running coach and has been coached by Coach Alli for the past five years. She is deeply committed to helping athletes fine-tune their running, improve race times, and fuel well. She is especially keen to take on postpartum runners who are ready to build their strength and endurance safely while still having fun. Outside of coaching and being a mom, she enjoys making pastries and exploring London with her husband, Orlando.
If you’re looking for an expert in returning to running postpartum, or you want to crush your next half or full marathon while feeling good along the way, Shikha is your go-to coach!
Meet Coach Chris
Chris Varela Benitez brings both competitive experience and an approachable coaching style to the RunWithAlli Coaching team. A San Diego native, Chris began his running career on the track before transferring from San Diego Mesa College to San Diego State University, where he earned his degree in Journalism while continuing to compete at the collegiate level.
After college, Chris remained deeply involved in the local running community, competing with Milestone Running and Pacific Track Club. His racing experience spans the 800m through the 5,000m, highlighted by personal bests of 2:04 (800m), 4:17.88 (1,500m), 4:43.10 (mile), and 16:10.71 (5,000m). He also ran a 1:15:37 half marathon at the 2023 Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon off of primarily track workouts and relatively low running volume.
Chris specializes in coaching athletes from the mile through the 10K and enjoys helping runners of all experience levels. From those just beginning their running journey to competitive athletes chasing ambitious goals like breaking 5:00 in the mile, 18:00 in the 5K, or 38:00 in the 10K distance.
His coaching philosophy centers on consistency, balance, and making training sustainable. Chris believes running should be both challenging and enjoyable, and one of his favorite coaching mantras is, "Never neglect strides and hills." He encourages athletes to pursue their goals without losing sight of why they started running in the first place.
Outside of coaching and his full-time career, you'll usually find Chris exploring San Diego on foot, soaking up the outdoors, catching a Padres game, or unwinding with a well-earned craft beer. More than anything, Chris is someone who genuinely cares about people. An empathetic coach who finds purpose in helping others discover what they're capable of through movement, athletics, and healthy living. Whether he's celebrating an athlete's first mile or a lifetime PB, Chris believes running has the power to build confidence, create community, and positively impact every aspect of life! Whether you're aiming for your first finish line or your next personal best, he'll meet you where you are currently fitness-wise and help you take the next step with confidence!
We can help you achieve your goals.
Training Built for You
No two runners are the same, and your training shouldn’t be either. Our personalized coaching plans adapt to your fitness level, experience, and goals—helping you train smarter, stay injury-free, and run your fastest marathon yet.
Expert Guidance, Every Step of the Way
With years of coaching experience and a deep passion for running, our coaches provide the structure, accountability, and support you need. From pacing strategies to race-day mindset, we’re here to help you push past limits and achieve breakthrough performances.
More Than Just Miles
Success in marathon training isn’t just about running more—it’s about running better. Our approach includes strength training, mobility work, fueling strategies, and recovery techniques to optimize your performance and help you feel stronger at the finish line.