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Welcome to Coach Debbie Runs, where our goal is to give you inspiration and motivation to help you live a healthy lifestyle.
Coach Debbie Runs, in its previous incarnation of Live from La Quinta, was launched in 2009 as a way to share inspiration and motivation with women and men who were trying to juggle a family, career, and still find time to enjoy the benefits of living a fit and healthy lifestyle.
Over the years, Coach Debbie has shared hundreds of running tips, workouts, training plans, product reviews, and has created dozens of easy and quick plant-based recipes that are delicious, healthy, and simple to prepare. Here are a few of my favorites:
Half Marathon: The Perfect Race Distance (plus a Workout!)
A One-Sided Workout: Unilateral Exercises to Help You Stay Balanced
The Joy of Tofu
Terrific Tempeh Tacos
Double Chocolate Brownies: Vegan & Gluten-free
It’s Real! A Vegan Omelette Recipe
You will also benefit from Coach Debbie’s seven years of blogging experience with tips and tricks to help you be a successful blogger.
Meet Coach Debbie
Hi there! I’m Debbie, a wife, mother, dog-mom, athlete, and vegan, trying to maintain my sanity and sense of humor as I deal with the changes and challenges brought on by life and time.
I live with my husband in La Quinta, which is in the Southern California desert east of Palm Springs. We share our home with five six a lot of dogs and three cats (my adult sons moved out long ago). One interesting fact about Alan and Debbie: We met and three years later got married at the Palm Springs Tram Road Race. Yep, right there on the finish line, I in my white satin running shorts and lace running bra, Alan in his morning coat and running shorts. Oh, and yes, we ran the race before our wedding.
In 2012 I was blessed with a beautiful grandson named Samuel, and three years later, his sister, my granddaughter, Emma Marie. They live with their parents in Southern California, fortunately only a short drive away.
I ran my first marathon in 1996 (Honolulu), and since that time, I’ve run about 35 more. In 2014, I ran number 36, alongside my husband 
(running his 66th!) in San Diego. While my time has slowed over the years, we had a great time, took a lot of pictures and even sang along with some of the bands along the course.
My best time ever was 3:16, in the St. George (Utah) Marathon when I was 41 years old. A long time ago, but I’m still pretty proud of that effort and the training it took to get there. My favorite marathon, though, has to be Paris. We’ve run it twice, both times with camera in hand enjoying the 26.2 mile tour of the city of lights.
I have been a personal trainer for about 16 years and I recently became a Fascial Stretch Therapist. I’m also an RRCA and USATF certified running coach. In addition to training and coaching private clients, I also offer online coaching services.
It has been over eight years since I switched to a plant based diet for ethical reasons, first as a vegetarian, then gradually over the years cutting all animal products out of my diet. I love to create new recipes (and share them here, of course!). I take great pride in proving that an athlete can expect high performance on a vegan diet.
In addition to this little old blog, I also work as a personal trainer and FST therapist at a country club in Palm Desert, California. I am working on an e-book designed to help beginning bloggers with tips that can help them be more successful. I hope you will follow me here, as well as on Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
If you’re interested in working with Coach Debbie Runs for advertising or sponsorships please see my Contact page.
I love that your blog will help people know that it is possible to be a thriving vegan athlete!
Thank you. It is something I truly believe in, so I’m glad it shows.
Great blog! Found it as I am looking for cycling routes in the La Quinta/Palm Desert area for this weekend. I need to get in 5-6 hours. Any suggestions on safe routes/roads?
Hope you are enjoying San Diego, my home town. You’ve certainly hit all the good places to eat! Congrats on the La Jolla Half!
Thanks, Stacy! If you’re used to riding in the SD area, you’ll find the whole desert pretty safe, especially if you like low traffic, decent roads, few stop signs, and even fewer traffic lights.
I have a 70 mile route posted on mapmyride: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1533661 I’m not sure how helpful it will be because I don’t think I did a route slip to go with it (long time ago :-), but it’s pretty straight forward. I also have a 97 mile route there, if you’re interested. I usually head out my front door, do a loop of the La Quinta Cove, then head east, sometimes as far as the Salton Sea.
It will probably be hot this weekend, so get an early start!
Hey! I couldn’t find your email address but I wanted to put FitFluential.com on your radar because I think you would be a good fit. Check out http://fitfluential.com for more info on who we are or feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Hi,
I write about La Quinta for the Desert Sun and I’d love to talk to you for a story. Would you mind calling or emailing me directly so we can chat one-on-one?
Thanks!
Sonya
(Last name & contact info removed for privacy)
Hi Debbie, I love the article in My Desert! Great motivating story, which should encourage others to stay or get fit. http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110818/NEWS01/108170348/Coach-makes-lifelong-commitment-exercise
How do you like the Technogym equipment at the La Quinta Rec Facility?!? If you like it… maybe some day at The Springs?!? Hope all is well with you, and hope you keep up the great work. Healthy regards, Tony
Thanks, Tony, I appreciate the feedback. I would love to have a small part in encouraging fitness.
I really like the Technogym equipment. Over near us at Mission Hills, they have a Kenisis Wall, which a few shared members have raved about too. I don’t think we have the space for that, but when the time comes I would certainly look into purchasing Technogym.
I don’t know if you saw this, but when I first joined the La Quinta Fitness Center, I raved about the Technogym equipment.
U are thieves taking money $219 out of my account and won’t reply to my emails
I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t have your money.
Hi Debbie, I just read your blog, Thank you!! so glad you like the equipment. As a runner and cyclist, like myself, you are going to love those FLEXability pieces… and speaking of the Kinesis, we came out with ‘compact’ version called the “Kinesis One”
http://www.technogym.com/us/products/resistance-functional-training/kinesis/kinesis/kinesis-one/1892
A lot smaller and very affordable.
I hope we stay in touch.
Debbie,
I am a new blogger and fellow LQ resident. Had the pleasure of having a fast chat with your kind husband who directed me to your site. He is Very proud of you. I advised him I am new to blogging and started writing a book. I have met some great new friends along the way. Adding your site to my blogroll. Kellie
Hi Kellie,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting on my blog! I see that you are relatively new to La Quinta. I, too, grew up in Orange Country (in Los Al). I’m happy to find your site. I’m sure it is really helpful for people with Celiac Disease, and these days everyone is interested in cutting some of the gluten out of their diet.
I see you have found the new La Quinta Fitness center too! We love it, and what a bargain! I wonder if we have been in there at the same time working out.
Thanks for adding me to your blogroll. I have returned the favor 🙂
Loved your story. I became a vegetarian 20 years ago. (I’m from Texas, so it wasn’t easy. HaHa!) The only way I knew I was going through menopause was that I stopped having a period. I had no symptoms whatsoever. I attribute most of that to my diet. Some people say it’s hereditary, and I say, NO WAY! My mother had a horrible time with menopause. I say it’s being a vegetarian. Now, I’m trying to become a vegan, and am doing pretty good, although not perfect.
I hooked up with you on Twitter, and I’m glad I did. I really enjoyed your website.
Hi Paige,
I’m glad you found your way here! I’ve never been to Texas, but I can imagine the challenge begin a vegetarian there, especially 20 years ago. I read your post about Larry Hagman, which made me thing of Dallas and all things Texan, which seems more about 16 oz ribeye steak than tofu steak.
I think of veganism as a journey and some of us get there faster than others.
Debbie – I love that I found your site through the wonderful interwebs 😉 and FitFluential community. I am a fairly new ambassador myself, but a lifelong athlete and wellness warrior. Your story resonated with me for a lot of reasons, not least of which is that I am an aspiring vegan athlete 😉 I just went vegetarian earlier this year but know I want to get to vegan some day soon. Also, I used to live in 29 Palms! Small world ’cause there are NOT a lot of people who live out there! haha 🙂 Anyway, I just wanted to drop in and say “hi,” and tell you that if I can EVER help you or enhance your mission in any way, please let me know. I am a public speaker now (after serving 7 years in the USMC) and I love to mentor and coach youth. I was a big time runner through high school when I decided to focus on soccer in college and ended up playing for (and captaining) the US Military Olympic Women’s Soccer Team the last 5 years. Maybe one of the times I”m back out in Cali there’d be an opportunity to speak to some of your athletes? 🙂
I commend you for your accomplishments, your passion, and your heart to share with and inspire others!:)
In friendship and servant spirit,
Sarah
Hi Sarah, I’m so happy that you stopped by! It has really been amazing in the short time since I became a Fitfluential Ambassador how many inspiring, wonderful people that I have have “met.”
I’m always to excited to hear that someone is planning to adopt a vegan lifestyle. It is a journey really, but one that is so rewarding, both in health benefits and the psychological benefits that come from living cruelty free. If I can help in any way during your transition, please let me know. I am happy to help.
It would be awesome to meet you if you are ever in the area (something else that has happened since I became Fitfluential, the word awesome seems to have reappeared in my vocabulary :-)). I would love to have you speak to my athletes!
Thanks for your compliments. It is you who should be commended, first for your service to our country, now for your continuing work with young people.
Hi again Debbie – Thank you for your incredibly (awesome LOL) response. I don’t think I’ll be back in the Palm Springs area until next February, so we’ll have to keep in touch between now and then. I’ll be in Vegas in early October and LA in early December, but I know that’s still kind of a hike from the desert. Anyway, lets keep talkin’, though, and see if something works out to meet your student athletes! 🙂
PS How have your 31 min for 31 days of activity gone?? 🙂
Hi Sarah,
First of all, how are you doing? I’m afraid to say that after you got hurt, I kind of fell off the 31 for 31 challenge. Not that I’m not active, but, you know, I do it on my own schedule, which means some days I do 120 minutes and some days, nothing.
I’m so sorry that you won’t be able to make it out here. February is getting into track season, though, plus the Palm Springs 1/2 marathon in that in February too. Even if we can’t work it out with the kids, I’d love to meet you.
So happy to find your blog! I’m so glad to see another “not twenty-something” out there staying healthy, training and writing about it all!
Ha! Thank you. I’m a long way from twenty something (or thirty or forty something!). Thanks for stopping by!
My husband and I also became vegetarians in 2007, still not vegans, but are lacto vegetarians. We also just recently became grandparents. I used to run in my 30’s, but now only walk and hike. We have made hiking trails on our farm. I found your website by looking up gluten free.
Hi Jerri, thanks for stopping by. I’ve been exploring all the wonderful drawings on your site! You are very talented!
How fortunate you are to have actual hiking trails on your own farm. I’m pretty lucky too because I have trails within a half mile from my house.
Sometimes I think it might be time to hang up my running shoes and slow down a bit, but then I always think maybe next year :-)).
Hi Debbie ~ I just read a response of yours in Runners World and decided to write (nothing to do with the article). I am a runner, teacher, vegetarian ( mostly) and live in La Quinta. I am a recent New York transplant who is struggling with the changes in running conditions/habits as well as dealing with the “m” word and the “d” word, all in one year. I’m nearing my 55th bday and training for the LA 26.2. I hope to find suggestions and inspiration by reading your blog. Thank you, Mary
Hi Mary, It’s nice to meet you! I’m glad you found my blog. I love hearing from people that live in La Quinta. Maybe we’ll meet running along the trails! I hope your training is going well. I haven’t done the LA Marathon for a long time (way before they changed to the current course).
Hi Debbie,
Great blog! I’m going to email you now as we’d love to work with you.
Hopefully speak to you soon!
Amy
Ha Ha – so vegans are unhealthy are they? Sounds like you are THRIVING! What a great advert for the vegan lifestyle.
Congrats on being a SkirtSports ambassador.
I love LaQuinta. I have a friend that lives there. She teaches in La Cochanella.
I’ve visited her twice. Once we ran the Mayor’s 10 miler. We also ran a few times on the Bump N Grind Trail.
I love Dibbie’s writing. Hopefully her e-book will soon be published, and many people will rely on it to improve the health of themselves and their families.
This is so great! I’ve been trying to become a runner and it is not working. I ‘m also not consistent but anyways, what tips would you give to someone who wants to love running but can’t seem to get the hang of it?
This is so fun! What a great idea. Also I love how authentic you seem to be. Your style and passion for blogging is contagious. Thank you for sharing your life!
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Thanks so much for this! I have not been this moved by a blog post for quite some time! You have got it, whatever that means in blogging. Anyway, You are definitely someone that has something to say that people need to hear. Keep up the wonderful work. Keep on inspiring the people!
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