Distance Coaches Adam Justin and Amanda Bittmann
Minnesota Running Club offers members a chance to receive training schedules and advice. Adam Justin and Amanda Bittmann are our club’s current distance captains and all members are welcome to use them as a resource for any aspect of running. Adam and Amanda provide the race team with a weekly training schedule that can be used as a method to prepare the team for competition. These schedules and workouts are included in the weekly email.
Feel free to contact Adam or Amanda with any questions!
Feel free to contact Adam or Amanda with any questions!
Sprints/Hurdle Coach Francis X. Shen
Check out this recent feature profile article on Coach Francis in the Twin Cities Pioneer Express.
Coach Francis is a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, and coaches Club runners in the sprints, hurdles, and field events. In his day job, Coach Francis is a law professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. He has been competing in the 110 and 400 hurdles for 25 consecutive years, currently ranking 1st in the nation and 10th in the world in the 400-meter hurdles for his age division. Previously he competed in the D-III NCAA National Championships, and ran on a winning team in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay at Penn Relays. He coordinated hurdlers training with the Greater Boston Track Club, and was a volunteer assistant coach at Loyola New Orleans.
Coach Francis is committed to providing our athletes with the structure and guidance of a collegiate level training experience. We encourage all of our members to take advantage of this great resource!
Feel free to contact Coach Francis by sending your questions to fxshen@umn.edu.
Coach Francis is a USATF Level 1 Certified Coach, and coaches Club runners in the sprints, hurdles, and field events. In his day job, Coach Francis is a law professor at the University of Minnesota Law School. He has been competing in the 110 and 400 hurdles for 25 consecutive years, currently ranking 1st in the nation and 10th in the world in the 400-meter hurdles for his age division. Previously he competed in the D-III NCAA National Championships, and ran on a winning team in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay at Penn Relays. He coordinated hurdlers training with the Greater Boston Track Club, and was a volunteer assistant coach at Loyola New Orleans.
Coach Francis is committed to providing our athletes with the structure and guidance of a collegiate level training experience. We encourage all of our members to take advantage of this great resource!
Feel free to contact Coach Francis by sending your questions to fxshen@umn.edu.
Sprints/Lifting Coach DJ Meagher
Coach DJ Meagher is one of the sprint coaches and oversees the strength training side of things at the Minnesota Running Club. DJ was a student-athlete at UW-Eau Claire from 2012-2017 where he specialized in the long sprints. A 3-time All WIAC place winner and competitor at the Drake Relays in 2017, he comes from experience which will help grow the club into one of the greatest running clubs for college student athletes! Coach DJ has been involved with TURC since 2020, and is looking forward to grow the club in the right direction and to give runners a great experience while on campus!
When DJ isn't with TURC, he is a rehabilitation specialist at West End Chiropractic and Wellness in St Louis Park and is also a certified Personal Trainer.
You can reach out to Coach DJ at: dj@westendchiromn.com
Coach DJ Meagher is one of the sprint coaches and oversees the strength training side of things at the Minnesota Running Club. DJ was a student-athlete at UW-Eau Claire from 2012-2017 where he specialized in the long sprints. A 3-time All WIAC place winner and competitor at the Drake Relays in 2017, he comes from experience which will help grow the club into one of the greatest running clubs for college student athletes! Coach DJ has been involved with TURC since 2020, and is looking forward to grow the club in the right direction and to give runners a great experience while on campus!
When DJ isn't with TURC, he is a rehabilitation specialist at West End Chiropractic and Wellness in St Louis Park and is also a certified Personal Trainer.
You can reach out to Coach DJ at: dj@westendchiromn.com
Sprints Coach Jordan "Juice" Lijewski
Coach Jordan Lijewski is one of our sprint coaches who specializes in the long sprints: specifically the 200m and 400m dash. Coach Jordan recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he was a captain of the men's track and field team. During his time there he was a six-time All-American and most recently placing 4th nationally in 2022 at NCAA DIII National Championships in the 400m dash. As a captain he helped lead the team to become the first back-to-back national champions in Eau Claire history. He looks to bring that sense of teamwork and community to the running club, making an engaging environment for all athletes. Coach Jordan has been a coach with the club since 2022 and wants to help athletes be the best athlete and teammate they can be while getting the most out of this fun experience!
Besides being a coach, Jordan works as a tax associate at Baker Tilly, US and is a site director for Midwest 3 on 3 basketball league.
Feel free to contact Coach Jordan at:
lijewskii14@gmail.com
Coach Jordan Lijewski is one of our sprint coaches who specializes in the long sprints: specifically the 200m and 400m dash. Coach Jordan recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where he was a captain of the men's track and field team. During his time there he was a six-time All-American and most recently placing 4th nationally in 2022 at NCAA DIII National Championships in the 400m dash. As a captain he helped lead the team to become the first back-to-back national champions in Eau Claire history. He looks to bring that sense of teamwork and community to the running club, making an engaging environment for all athletes. Coach Jordan has been a coach with the club since 2022 and wants to help athletes be the best athlete and teammate they can be while getting the most out of this fun experience!
Besides being a coach, Jordan works as a tax associate at Baker Tilly, US and is a site director for Midwest 3 on 3 basketball league.
Feel free to contact Coach Jordan at:
lijewskii14@gmail.com
Sprints Coach Connor Stine
Coach Connor Stine is one of our sprint/middle distance coaches who specialized in middle distance as a former athlete at Wichita State University. As a former captain of the distance team at Wichita State, Stine was a part of 3 men’s Missouri Valley Conference championship teams as well as a runner-up team in the American Conference. Stine specialized in the 800 meter, but has always been interested in learning about all the running events in track and field. After college, Stine returned to his hometown to help his father coach for a year before moving to Bloomington, Minnesota in 2020 where he attends Northwestern Health Sciences University and is currently in his third year of chiropractic school. Coach Connor has been with the club since summer of 2022 and looks forward to being around the team during the ‘22/’23 season. Outside of track and his schooling, Stine enjoys any outdoor activities with his family, friends, or dog.
Feel free to contact Coach Connor at:
Connor.stine13@gmail.com
Coach Connor Stine is one of our sprint/middle distance coaches who specialized in middle distance as a former athlete at Wichita State University. As a former captain of the distance team at Wichita State, Stine was a part of 3 men’s Missouri Valley Conference championship teams as well as a runner-up team in the American Conference. Stine specialized in the 800 meter, but has always been interested in learning about all the running events in track and field. After college, Stine returned to his hometown to help his father coach for a year before moving to Bloomington, Minnesota in 2020 where he attends Northwestern Health Sciences University and is currently in his third year of chiropractic school. Coach Connor has been with the club since summer of 2022 and looks forward to being around the team during the ‘22/’23 season. Outside of track and his schooling, Stine enjoys any outdoor activities with his family, friends, or dog.
Feel free to contact Coach Connor at:
Connor.stine13@gmail.com
Sprints Coach Eric Anderson
Coach Eric Anderson is one of our sprints/middle distance coaches. He has been competing in running events from the 110-meter hurdles to half marathons for as long as he can remember. While attending Gustavus Adolphus College, he was a member of the track and field team competing in the 400-meter hurdles. After college, he competed in triathlons from sprint to half iron distances across the country, including qualifying and competing at US Nationals in the Olympic distance.
Coach Eric joined TURC in 2022 and is looking forward to assisting club members become better runners this year, and aid in helping everyone find joy in the simple act of running and competing throughout their lives. In his day job, he is the Vice President of Finance and Accounting for Chase Companies, a multi-family developer and operator. When not running, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children doing anything active or outdoors.
Coach Eric Anderson is one of our sprints/middle distance coaches. He has been competing in running events from the 110-meter hurdles to half marathons for as long as he can remember. While attending Gustavus Adolphus College, he was a member of the track and field team competing in the 400-meter hurdles. After college, he competed in triathlons from sprint to half iron distances across the country, including qualifying and competing at US Nationals in the Olympic distance.
Coach Eric joined TURC in 2022 and is looking forward to assisting club members become better runners this year, and aid in helping everyone find joy in the simple act of running and competing throughout their lives. In his day job, he is the Vice President of Finance and Accounting for Chase Companies, a multi-family developer and operator. When not running, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children doing anything active or outdoors.