When Katie Coughlin laced up her running shoes as a high school student, she discovered something bigger than the sport itself — a sense of belonging, confidence, and community. Years later, she’s helping Girls on the Run participants discover those same gifts, even as her own path with running has changed.
Katie began coaching with Girls on the Run in Parsippany in 2015, later joining the Toll Gate team in Pennington after moving to central New Jersey. Over 19 seasons, she’s been a steady, joyful presence at practice — guiding girls through lessons on goal-setting, confidence, and self-compassion.
“One of the most magical parts of GOTR for me is watching the girls surprise themselves with how much they can accomplish when they put their minds to it, all while having a lot of fun,” says Katie.
Running once played a defining role in Katie’s life — as a member of her high school track and cross-country teams, she learned discipline, teamwork, and resilience. But it also brought challenges. Repeated injuries sidelined her from competing in college, an early lesson in adaptability that would later shape her coaching journey in unexpected ways.
In 2021, Katie was diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), a rare connective-tissue disorder that causes widespread chronic pain and joint instability. “The most significant symptom for me is chronic pain,” she explains. “I’ve had two spine surgeries as a result.”
At first, she thought her diagnosis meant the end of her GOTR story. “I stopped coaching to focus on my health and because I thought I couldn’t be the kind of coach I wanted to be without being able to run,” Katie recalls. “But I really missed GOTR and the joy it brought to my life.”
When she reached back out to GOTR NJ East, she was met with encouragement — and a reminder of one of GOTR’s core truths: everyone belongs. With the support of her fellow coaches, Katie found ways to adapt her role to her new reality. Some days that means coaching from a chair, cheering from the sidelines, or—when she’s feeling good—walking laps and chatting with the girls, using those moments to build deeper connections and meaningful conversations.
“I realized that the best thing I could do was be honest with the girls about my limitations,” she says. “Part of what I love most about GOTR is that there is room for everyone, no matter their level of ability.”
By being open about her experience, Katie models strength and self-acceptance for her team. When a participant asks why she isn’t running, she explains that her disability changes how she moves — but not her ability to participate.
“I might not be running 5Ks anymore,” she says, “but coaching has actually become more rewarding since my abilities changed.”
Through GOTR, Katie continues to find joy in movement — and in showing girls what it means to move through life with courage, gratitude, and adaptability.
She also treasures the friendships she’s formed along the way. “Some of my closest friends are women I’ve coached with,” she says. “My very first co-coach, Angela, and I used to talk about how many of the GOTR lessons were things we were still learning ourselves. Ten years later, we’re still great friends — and those lessons have truly helped shape who we’ve both become.”
Looking ahead, Katie hopes the next 25 years of GOTR NJ East will open the door for even more girls to find their place.
“One of the best parts of GOTR is the joy and confidence the girls learn from the program,” she says. “I hope this program continues to be available to any girl who wants to be a part of it.”
Because, as Katie shows every season, there’s no single way to move forward — what matters most is finding your happy pace and embracing what you can do.