Meet your team for 2025 Fall Distance Training Powered by ON

Lexa Keenen - Training Program Coordinator, Ballard Coach

Hi, I’m Lexa! I’m so excited to be part of the team supporting this season’s training program. I first got involved with Fleet Feet’s training programs in summer 2023 and volunteered as a coaching intern in spring 2024. Over the years, I’ve coached indoor cycling classes, mentored new runners, and trained through plenty of highs, lows, and comebacks. I’ve raced distances from 5Ks to 50Ks and I’m currently training for the Copenhagen Half Marathon. My favorite part of coaching, whether in fitness or in my day job, is watching people push past their limiting beliefs and realize they’re capable of more than they imagined. I’m here to support your journey and I can’t wait to see what you accomplish this season!

Alexander Lesher - Coach Capitol Hill

Hi, wow, I’m Alexander—and I couldn’t be more excited for this season’s training program!

Back in 2012, I couldn’t even run a mile. But everything changed when I joined Fleet Feet’s seasonal training programs in Fall 2014. I started in the half-marathon group, and by Spring 2015, I had completed my first marathon—and just three weeks later, my first ultramarathon.

I began mentoring for the program in Spring 2016, and it’s been an incredible journey ever since. I love racing, especially on trails, and my philosophy is simple: training and racing should never be a source of overwhelming stress. If I finish a race and feel excited to sign up for the next one, I know it was a success.

While I spend most of my race days out on the trails, I think Seattle is one of the most beautiful cities in the world to run through—and this program is an amazing way to explore it.

I’m drawing on the wisdom and support of the many coaches and mentors who’ve inspired me over the years. This season, we’re making it a true team effort, with a strong focus on community, connection, and fun while building toward our goals.

Brianne Burnett - Mentor Ballard

Hi my name is Brianne, I’m based in Fremont and have been doing FF training programs since Spring 2023 when I trained for my first marathon. Since then I’ve done three marathons (including the famous Istanbul marathon running across two continents - my mom still thinks I ran across the whole country) and four half marathons. I was a mentor in Spring 2025 and trained for the Vancouver, Canada half marathon. My favorite thing about the program is combining running with social time and exploring new routes/destinations. I like that the program is wildly accessible, even for newbie runners like myself! Admittedly, I also train better with friends! I’m working my way into trail running this fall and hoping to mix in lots of stairs.

Xiaoshan Zhang - Mentor Ballard

Hi! I’m Xiaoshan. I’m originally from China, but Seattle has been my home for the last 8 years. I have been casually running for over a decade, but only really found my stride in running since enrolling in the Fleet Feet training program this spring. Since then, I’ve set personal records in mile time, 5k and 10k—both during workouts nonetheless—and half marathon twice(!). The Fleet Feet training program makes the daunting task of training for a distance race approachable and fun, turning running into a team sport. I have received so much support and encouragement from mentors and others, and I’m grateful to have this opportunity to pay it forward. I’m beyond pumped to welcome all of you to the community. This fall, I will be training alongside all of you for my very first full marathon ever. I hope you, like me, will also realize that you are more capable than you think.

John Dore - Mentor Capitol Hill

Hello there. Pleasure to meet you, I’m John and I like to run. I have been running with Fleet Feet since the spring of 2023 and did my first training program in fall of 2023 in preparation for the Seattle Marathon. That was my first marathon and since then I have run the North Olympic Discovery Marathon, Tunnel Light Marathon, and Boston Marathon. I am also an experienced trail runner and have run a handful of trail races, including the Devil’s Gulch 50 Miler.
I have been running for about 15 years but largely credit the Fleet Feet program for helping me reach my full running potential and creating an incredible training community that has made the prospect of waking up at 7 AM for a 20 mile run in cold rain an exciting (or maybe just tolerable) idea.

I’m excited to now serve again as a mentor for the fall training program. My favorite part of the program, season after season and year after year, is meeting new people and sharing with them the wonderful sport / hobby / lifestyle of running.

Outside of work I like to – wait. This is it. Outside of work I like to run with people!

David Miller - Mentor Capitol Hill

Hi, I’m Davd, one of your mentors for the Fall training program.  You’ll see me mainly running with the Capitol Hill crew.  This will be my second time mentoring with Ballard Fleet Feet; it was awesome to be a part of the Spring 2025 program, watching runners improve week after week, so I was happy to be invited back for this season. As I’ve gotten older I do less road running, preferring trails for the excitement, beautiful nature and technical challenge on softer surfaces. I’ve been helping athletes and regular folks be stronger and healthier humans as a personal trainer, group fitness instructor and running coach for 12 years.  I look forward to running with you!