Coach Jess Walhof

Hi, Im Jess Walhof, a fitness professional with a passion for running and its community, especially when it comes to trails and ultra running.

Education:
I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Exercise Science from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, matched with a Fitness Management Concentration and Coaching Endorsement.

Certifications:
-American Council on Exercise Certified Personal Trainer
-RRCA Level 1 Certified Running Coach

Running Community Involvement:
-Sioux Falls Area Running Club Board Member (since 2021)
-SFARC Group Run leader/coordinator for weekly Thursday night trail runs at Good Earth State Park.
-One of the six minds now behind organizing and directing the Glacier Hills Ultra Trail Race.
-Volunteering at various races throughout the community including but not limited to the SFARC Trail Race Series, the Sioux Falls Marathon, Sioux Falls Skedaddle and Zippy Mile, Glacier Hills Ultra, the Blood Run at Good Earth Farm, the Black Hills 100 and the Cowboy 200.
-Crewing and pacing friends at various ultra races including Kettle Moraine 100, Zumbro 100, Tunnel Hill 100, Mines of Spain 100, Black Hills 100, Leadville 100, Crazy Mountain 100, Potawatomi 200, Cowboy 200, and Tahoe 200.

My Journey:
I would never have thought Id be a runner, much less an ultra-runner. Growing up I only
ran if it involved chasing a sports ball and my track and field participation started and
ended with throwing the shot put and discus. But then I had to partake in a VO2max test
for a college course, so I started training to avoid completely dying in front of my peers. I
started at ground zero, running a half mile and found a love for running. Since then Ive
completed (with some competing) nearly every distance imaginable: 5k, 10k, half
marathons, marathons, 50k, 50 miles, 100k, 100 miles and beyond as well as sprint,
olympic, half ironman, and ironman distance triathlons. I truly believe that you can start
from anywhere and accomplish big things!
Professionally, Ive worked in the fitness industry for over a decade and have been
fortunate to work and engage with a diverse population of varying skills and goals
ranging from high school athletes, to the general population, to those managing chronic
health conditions and disabilities. This experience and knowledge, I believe, had helped me develop strength training and running plans to run virtually injury free throughout my over decade long running career.

Notable Running Achievements:
-Glacier Hills 50k Womens Champ 2018
-Glacier Hills 50k Womens Runner Up 2019
-Hitchcock 101k The Hard Way Womens Champ 2019, 2021, and 2022; setting and then sequentially breaking the women's course record in 2019 and 2021
-Black Hills Man in Black (completed the Black Hills, 30k, 50k, 50 mile, and 100 mile)
-Established the Fastest Known Time for running the entire Mickelson Trail (109 miles)
-Established the Fastest Known Time for women for running the Three Rivers Trail in
Iowa unsupported (33 miles)