Meet Coach Amy

Coach Amy of Roadrunners of Kansas City is unique in her knowledge, experience, and coaching style.

Expertise and knowledge.

Amy Parkerson-Mitchell is the owner and Head Coach of Roadrunners of Kansas City and the owner and sole physical therapist of CoachAmyPT.

Coach Amy is a certified running coach. Her knowledge of all things running comes from her personal experience and education in kinesiology, biomechanics, and physiology, which she has honed as a physical therapist for the last 30 years.

Coach Amy participates in research at local universities studying running-related science and speaks at local running clubs, schools, and corporations. She also coaches runners worldwide through the Garmin Coach adaptable training program.  

Amy graduated with a Master's Degree of Science in physical therapy from the University of Kansas Medical Center and is certified in Active Release Therapy (ART), Integrative Dry Needling, and Applied Functional Science. 

Experience and Passion

Amy's passion for running began in elementary school when she ran her first half-mile around the playground wearing a shirt that said, "Girls can do anything boys can do...better." This love of running continued to grow as she ran track and cross country through high school and for a short stint as a walk-on in college.

Amy started running again in earnest as a member of Personal Best with Steve Hinman as her coach. She has run several marathons, including Boston and Chicago, the Silver Falls trail marathon, and the Half Ironman Ohio triathlon. 

As an endurance athlete with multiple past injuries, Amy easily empathizes with runners as a coach and therapist.

Coaching Style

Amy is an accessible, approachable, and giving coach. While she has a particular philosophy about running and training, she recognizes that every runner is different, so one coaching style and training plan doesn't fit all. 

Coach Amy excels at modifying her style for each runner. One runner may need an "in your face, no sugar coating" approach, while another may need something gentler with analogies and stories to convey a message. Others like lots of technical details and answers, while some like to do their own thing with little to no interference - kind of an as-needed coach. 

Amy's ability to combine personal running experience with expertise in running biomechanics, training principles, and treatment strategies makes her a unique asset to the Kansas City running community. 

Amy has three grown children and lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with her husband, David, and her dog, Levi. She writes about her running journey in her blog, Diary of a Happy Runner.