Melissa Kendter

Melissa Kendter 🧬 Strength + Run Coach | Founder of Commit
📱 Train inside Commit: lift · run · hybrid
🎙️ Performance Podcast
It’s a beautiful day to move our bodies ®

With over 12 years in the fitness industry working with athletes of varying levels and goals, I've seen firsthand the impact of coaching can have on someone. My passion is guiding people towards a healthier lifestyle with a no-nonsense, science-backed approach. There's no wrong way to train, it's about training according to your goals and phase of life, whether that be general health, a race, or a

specific skill. As a cPT, Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC), UESCA Running coach, my aim has always been to make fitness as accessible and empowering to as many people as possible, giving you the practical tools you need to improve your well-being, and reach your goal effectively at whatever phase of life you may be in. As a former collegiate athlete, multi-marathon finisher, Boston qualifier, and triathlete, I know firsthand the importance of strength, endurance, mobility, and mindset for both boosting performance and confidence. I'm a sucker for science, research, and movement variety. It’s not about training harder, it’s about training smarter toward your goals.​ I've coached novice runners, to experienced runners, from taking your first run, to running an ultra marathon. I host of the Performance Podcast, where we delve into fitness topics that can be somewhat messy, and the answer is often, it depends.​​​

After years of coaching 1:1 in-person, group session, classes, and training camps, I knew there was a broader reach. That is when in 2019 I created my first Commit Program, exclusively online. The word "Commit" has a deep meaning to me. My first online program was a PDF guide, then it snowballed to my Commit being in-apps and training women globally (from Commit home guides to gym guides, express guides to running programs, and more). However, my passion still lies with 1:1 coaching, because that is where you gain personalized guidance, accountability, and expert support, which can make a huge difference in your training and results, not to mention the mental support.

My coaching philosophy is simple: every athlete is unique and responds differently to various workouts and weekly mileage. The foundation of a successful coach-athlete relationship is understanding the individual athlete, which is essential for maintaining their health and happiness. I believe in incorporating a diverse range of workouts, including fartleks, track sessions, hill training, tempo runs, long runs, and easy runs, as well as strength work, for a comprehensive approach, while starting at your foundation. While I encourage fun, enjoyment and laughter along the way, we will also commit to working hard to reach your goals, as it's crucial to love what you do and have confidence in your abilities!

running a marathon is hard, BUT… (slide  # 8)getting to that starting line is harder. We talk a lot about how hard runni...
09/13/2026

running a marathon is hard, BUT… (slide # 8)

getting to that starting line is harder. We talk a lot about how hard running 26.2 miles is. And yes, it is HARD… but getting there takes:

Months of consistency. Hundreds of miles. Hours of training. Money spent on races, shoes, gear, travel and fuel. Sacrifices. Runs you have to squeeze into already busy days.

And then there’s the mental side of it. Continuing to show up when life isn’t always ideal. Getting up early when you would rather sleep. Practicing restraint early in a long run. Showing up when your motivation is nowhere to be found.

Giving your time, energy and a whole lot of mental bandwidth to something that matters deeply to you, when others may not get it.

So by the time you get to the starting line,
you’ve already proven something to yourself:

• You can stay committed.
• You can do hard things.
• You can keep showing up.
• You can sacrifice for something you believe in.
• You can keep going when things aren’t perfect.

So yes, the marathon IS going to be hard. But in some ways, the race itself becomes the “easy” part.

Because you already did the hard thing.

You got yourself there. 🖤

09/09/2026

upper body 🔥 simple, but effective. Strength that carries with you… just how we like it 😉

It’s all in the details, utilize mind-to-muscle connection - that moves the needle more than you realize! Push & pull from different angles, move slow, move fast… Be confident in your body. (Entire article on this on my website - I’ll link it in my stories!).

Swipe ✍🏽🎥:

1️⃣ push 3 sets: seated alternating shoulder press
2️⃣ pull 4 sets: single arm row
3️⃣ 3 sets incline chest press complex: 5 singles with an isometric hold - each side then right into 5 doubles (core component resist the urge to sway on the holds)
4️⃣ isolation pump 3 sets: skull crushers into chest supported bicep curls
5️⃣ conditioning core: bench hops (light and bouncy on the balls of your feet, core tight, arms anchored)

Training: Commit App — no muscles left untouched.

Progress does not come from one perfect workout. It comes from consistently showing up and stacking purposeful training over time.

Run. Lift. Life. Eat. Repeat 🙂‍↔️
📲 www.trainmk.com

Running is a sport, a personality, a hobby, a lifestyle… and a long list of quirks that make us delightfully ridiculous ...
09/06/2026

Running is a sport, a personality, a hobby, a lifestyle… and a long list of quirks that make us delightfully ridiculous (and proud of it 😉).

GUILTY… whenever my husband and I are on a road trip, I rate the roads based on how nice (or absolutely awful 😂) they would be to run on.

Who’s guilty of one, two, all of these… or a few more? 🏃‍♀️👋

www.trainmk.com

LOWER BODY • hitting it all below the belt. 🔥This isn’t just about doing a bunch of lower-body exercises and hoping for ...
09/02/2026

LOWER BODY • hitting it all below the belt. 🔥

This isn’t just about doing a bunch of lower-body exercises and hoping for the best. It’s about applying the right stimulus to build strength, power, and stability that transfers. 🏃🏽‍♀️

As a runner, I certainly do not want to be sore for my runs, and as a cPT and run coach… I know you do not have to demolish your legs to get the right adaptations.

Key: stop trying to “get more” out of your strength training by doing more… Start getting more out of the right dose. Your strength training should support your running. Not compete with it. Deal??

Programs for different running goals & to meet you where you are: Commit. ✨

Swipe 🎥:

⚡️ Forward Lunge Power Taps (each - start with a little pop)
🏋️‍♀️ RDLs (hip hinge - posterior chain)
🔥 Reverse Lunge to Curtsy Lunge (each - single leg, multidirectional)
🦵 Long-Stance Single-Leg Calf Raises (each - calf strength)
🍑 Single-Leg Hip Thrusts (each - hip / glutes)
💪 Side Plank Dips (each)

We’re building power through the legs, strength through the posterior chain, single-leg stability, calf capacity, hip strength, and the core control needed to tie it all together.

Training isn’t about seeing how exhausted you can make yourself. It’s about applying the right stimulus, at the right time, to create an adaptation.

Train with intention. Build a body that can perform.

My running hot takes. 🤧🥵🥲Hills pay the bills. Because in most races, they’re inevitable… and when they show up toward th...
08/28/2026

My running hot takes. 🤧🥵🥲

Hills pay the bills. Because in most races, they’re inevitable… and when they show up toward the END of the race? Whewwww. 🌶️

So don’t just survive the hills, train for them.

When racing:
→ Keep your eyes about 10 feet ahead of you
→ Shorten your stride and keep it light
→ Run by effort, not pace
→ Settle in and stay controlled, don’t try to “win” the hill
→ Conserve energy early so you can get back to pace when the course levels out
→ Stay ahead of your fueling + hydration
→ And lean on the crowds when it gets spicy. 😉

When training:
→ Take your long runs on hilly routes
→ Add hill strides to the end of easy runs
→ Sprinkle in hill workouts every couple of weeks
→ Build stronger, more resilient legs with strategic strength training

Because the goal isn’t to make the hills disappear. It’s to make them less intimidating, more manageable when they show up on race day.

And honestly… it’s a privilege to be so uncomfortable doing something you love. 🏃🏽‍♀️😋

Your race. Your pace. 🤘🏽

08/26/2026

athletic band drills • strong hips, explosive speed, stable core, stronger runs 🔥 resistance band drills like this are a great way to develop speed, control & hip strength with minimal space.

Bands = simple, sneaky-tough, and a game changer for power and stability that carry over to your running and performance. Constant tension challenges stabilizer muscles, improves control through every plane of motion, and strengthens weak links that protect against injury.

Swipe ✍🏽🎥:

1️⃣ Reverse Plank Alt Knee Drive → core + hip flexors strength & stability. Running mechanics + sneaky hamstring resilience
2️⃣ Reactive Lateral Hops → Stay light on your feet, quick ground contact, improves reactivity + lateral power for agility and speed
3️⃣ 3-Point Taps (per leg: lateral, diagonal, reverse) → Builds hip control + single-leg stability (key for runners!)
4️⃣ High Plank Alt Leg Lift → Core + glute activation to fight rotation and keep posture strong, lift leg slow against band - engage glute
5️⃣ Incline Single Leg Power Knee Drive → Builds sprint-specific drive and hip power for faster turnover. Forward lean drill
6️⃣ Band Triple Stick → Power, explosiveness, and deceleration skills, balance under fatigue

🗣️ control the band don’t let the band control you

Pick 1-2 to try, or add these into your strength or conditioning day 1–2x a week • start gradual, aim to be smooth and go at your own pace.

📲 Let’s train: Commit App

Worked the heart + legs yesterday 🔥 and it felt GOOD.Ready for some new goals after base-building and just having fun lo...
08/24/2026

Worked the heart + legs yesterday 🔥 and it felt GOOD.

Ready for some new goals after base-building and just having fun logging the miles this summer. 😤 12 x 400 fast reps, and happy with how well I recovered between reps and after.

Swipe for some crumbs. 🫶🏽

Fall goals locked in.
Commit keeping us in check.
Athlete wins.
The ones who make life feel full.
Soaking up the little moments in between.

[Enjoy being, while becoming.]
Xx, mk

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Dublin, PA

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