Paul’s history in endurance sports began as a novice runner in 1977. Since then he has gained a breadth of experience participating in hundreds of events (running, multi-sport and bicycle racing). Paul has many successes competitively, though, emphasizes health and active living as core motivators. Paul is very supportive in his coaching style, blending the use of science, personal experience and consciousness to promote athletic economy and positive outcomes. His educational background in anatomy, kinesiology, physiology and biomechanics complement his ability and coaching effectiveness. Paul is an experienced, nationally certified (NCTMB) and Michigan licensed (LMT) massage therapist as well as a certified personal trainer with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA ‚ CPT). For more on massage, see sports massage on this website.

Paul has successfully coached beginner-intermediate runners and groups since 2007. From a practical perspective, he understands the importance of balancing work and family life while developing a progressive and consistent athletic program. Athletes looking to improve general fitness and performance can look forward to a well-developed program of periodized linear and/or non-linear training that targets specific goals and events. The development of running economy, assessment of biomechanics (running form), range of movement (ROM) and restrictions due to tight or weak musculature may be topics of discussion and evaluation.

Personal Note:

In today’s fast-paced world it’s easy to lose focus. For an athlete, a loss of focus can lead to inconsistent training, performance decline, complete abandonment of a training program and/or an increased risk of injury. Proper coaching and planning are vital and key components of result oriented training and successful training programs.

Joey Chester has been a competitive athlete his entire life. While at Defiance College, Joey was an integral part of the school’s football team, excelling as a running back all 4 years. His moves on the field led him to become the third leading scorer going into his senior year, averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Off the field, he was a member of the Sports Business Association and received a degree in Wellness and Corporate Fitness.

Joey began his career at Athletic Mentors as an intern during the summer of 2013. Since that point he has become a familiar face among the athletes, staying with AM after graduation in May 2014. Joey has become entirely immersed in the training at AM. He oversees strength training of athletes in the areas of hockey, soccer, football, volleyball, tennis, swimming and others. He also offers personal training for adults looking for a lifestyle change.

Helping people reach their training goals inspires him. Being able to see the positive effects of the training is rewarding. Joey is passionate about what he does and all of the people that he is able to help along the way. His calm demeanor and insight have proven to motivate all that he works with.