Miami’s My Olympic Coach group trains 200 runners
A Miami-based training collective, My Olympic Coach, brings together athletes from 2:11-marathoners to former NFL players, all focused on improvement rather than status. The program, led by Venezuelan Olympian Luis Orta, offers tiered coaching and has seen a 92 % personal-record rate at recent races.
Paxton Smith, once a mid-field runner at the University of Colorado, found a new purpose in Miami when he joined My Olympic Coach (MOC). The group, founded by Venezuelan Olympian Luis Orta, now gathers more than 200 runners for Tuesday and Friday workouts at Tropical Park.
A Diverse Training Cohort
MOC’s roster spans a wide performance spectrum. At one end is Daniel Chavez, a 2:11 marathoner and Brazilian Olympian. At the other, 2:34 marathoner Hiruni Wijayaratne, who competes for Sri Lanka. The group is split into eight performance-based squads, yet every member shares the same mantra: "We are here to train, to get better, and that’s it."
Performance Highlights
The collective’s results illustrate the shared goal. In the fall, 70-plus runners took part in Indianapolis, where 92 % achieved a personal record in the half-marathon or marathon. Individual milestones include:
| Athlete | Notable Time | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Paxton Smith | 2:17:21 | Grandma’s Marathon, Olympic Trials qualifier |
| John Green | 3:14 | Chicago Marathon |
| John Green | 2:58 | Eugene Marathon |
| John Green | 2:48 | Goal for Berlin Marathon |
| John Green | 4:40 | First marathon |
| John Green | 4:37 40-yard dash | Pro-day speed |
These figures show that even athletes with vastly different starting points can progress together.
Membership Structure
MOC offers two subscription tiers. The base plan, $59.99 per month, provides access to group workouts without individualized coaching. The full coaching plan costs $159.99 per month and includes personalized guidance.
From Football to Marathon
John Green’s journey illustrates the program’s reach. A former UConn cornerback who played in the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason, Green turned to running after a knee injury ended his football career. He began with a 4:40 marathon, but after training with MOC, he recorded a 3:14 Chicago Marathon and a 2:58 Eugene Marathon. Green now aims for a 2:48 finish in Berlin, hoping to qualify for Boston.
The program’s philosophy, championed by Orta and his wife Hiruni, rejects the notion that only elite times matter. "We’re all the same here," Wijayaratne says. "We’re all doing the same workout. The paces are different, but the expectation is the same."
Paxton Smith, who once thought his competitive running would end after college, now credits MOC with giving him a lifelong path in the sport. "I’ll probably never get a Nike sponsorship," he admits, "but this allows me to train and keep growing the team. It’s super cool."
Luis Orta, who began running at 12 in Venezuela and represented his country at the 2016 Olympics, sees running as integral to his identity. "It’s what I am," he says, "It’s what I do."
MOC’s model demonstrates that a shared purpose can unite athletes across a spectrum of abilities, fostering improvement and camaraderie rather than competition alone.
