Kathy Runge
After receiving a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and a physical education teaching certificate from the University of Colorado, Kathy skated professionally for Disney, Holiday on Ice and at Busch Gardens. She has been coaching since 1991 at the regional, sectional and junior national level in the United States and coached in Japan and South Africa. She teaches singles, ice dance, power skating and uses video analysis.
SKATING BACKGROUND: I remember the first day I went skating with my Brownie troop, I loved the speed. I still am in love with the speed and the moves that are unique to skating.
After training and growing up in the Boulder and Denver area,
I graduated college with a degree in kinesiology at the University of Colorado and received a physical education teachers certification (K-12) from the State of Colorado. At CU, I got my 2nd gold medal (in free skating) and captained the women’s ice hockey team. As well as figure skating and playing hockey, I started teaching lessons and even driving the Zamboni. From there, I traveled the world skating in ice shows.
When I came back home, I focused on coaching. I ended up working as a skating and ice show director while coaching in Montana for many years. This is when I met my husband, had 2 boys and fell in love with another winter sport. I spent many seasons learning to downhill and telemark ski in the morning, before rushing down the mountain to coach figure skating in the afternoons. I also spent some time coaching in Tokyo and in South Africa. Before my family moved to Fort Collins In 2007, I spent a couple of years teaching in Atlanta. While in Fort Collins, I have coached at the regional, sectional and junior national level.
Currently, I find today an exciting time to be a coach in figure skating. I am fascinated with the biomechanics of the sport and I often use video analysis to accelerate learning. I never run out of new things to learn about the sport.
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY: My philosophy is focused on the “joy” that comes from learning something new.
Figure skating is a fascinating sport that requires technical athleticism as well as artistry. It’s a constant thrill ride. Skating is beautifully complicated and requires a lot of determination and hard work. It is a pleasure to teach my students with the most efficient up to date techniques, while also guiding them to develop their own training methods and skills to become the skater and person they have always wanted to be.
I am so excited to go in every day and share my knowledge and to continue my own education in coaching. My hope is to inspire skaters and to pass on my never ending love for skating.
Credentials:
- USFS gold medalist in figures and free skating
- USFS pre- gold medalist in ice dance
- PSA Master rated coach in Moves, registered levels in free skating and ice dance
- senior level in group instruction
- Hockey power skating levels 1 and 2
Contact info:
Email Address: kathy_runge@hotmail.com
Phone Number: 970-377-4298
