Founder & Head Coach
Coach & Executive Assistant
Coach
Coach
Coach & Community Outreach Coordinator
LaToya Felton is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) certified run coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Weight loss specialist. This mom of two (14 years apart) knows what it means to be a "busy mom" whether it was coaching cheerleading, working as a sales representative, being an active community volunteer or getting in her fitness.
In 2018, Latoya saw a need for helping those who were intimidated by running and organized local run/ walk sessions to expose the community to the joys of running. Coach LaToya enjoys helping runners make their running dreams a reality.
LaToya Felton is a Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) certified run coach, NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Weight loss specialist.
Coach
Emily Fox is a UESCA Certified Running Coach, ACSM Certified Personal Trainer, and yoga instructor with over five years of coaching experience and more than a decade of running. She works with runners from beginners to athletes chasing personal records and Boston Marathon qualifying times.
Emily has a special passion for supporting female runners, particularly those navigating the hormonal shifts of pre- and post-menopause. She believes women deserve training that reflects their physiology, not programs designed for male athletes. Her mission is to help women stay strong, injury-free, and confident while continuing to perform at a high level through every season of life.
Her coaching journey began in the fitness industry, where a desire to deepen her knowledge of running quickly grew into a true calling. Leading marathon and half marathon training groups and beginner programs solidified her love for building confidence, resilience, and community within the sport.
Emily lives in South Bend, Indiana near Notre Dame with her two daughters, Millie and Rory. As a mom and a marathoner, she understands the challenge of balancing family, career, and training goals. The marathon is her favorite distance for the grit and determination it demands and the unforgettable journey it represents.
Coach
Colleen Masse is an RRCA Certified Running Coach who discovered her strongest and happiest years in running after turning 50.
A former high school and collegiate runner, Colleen returned to the sport during a major life transition as her two sons headed to college. What began as a goal to run a destination half marathon at 50 quickly evolved into something much bigger. Since then, she has completed 22 marathons, including six World Marathon Majors — Berlin, London, Tokyo, Chicago, New York, and Boston.
Colleen knows firsthand that running does not have to end when life gets busy. As a full time attorney, board member of the Hartford Track Club, and mother of two adult sons, she understands the realities of balancing career, family, and training.
She became a coach to prove that normal, hardworking adults can make running a meaningful and joyful part of their lives. You do not need perfect circumstances to chase big goals. With structure, community, and belief, your strongest chapter may still be ahead of you.
Registered Dietitian for Runners
Brooke Czarnecki is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist specializing in nutrition for runners and endurance athletes. Brooke graduated with Bachelors of Science in Dietetics & Nutrition in 2019. Brooke has been a lifelong runner - one of the highlights of her running career was the opportunity to run as a Division III athlete in Upstate NY. Brooke currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska with her husband and golden retriever. Brooke’s passion is to help runners and athletes fuel their body for sport so they can achieve their highest potential all while feeling their best.
If you are a runner who is looking for an individualized nutrition plan and wants to prevent under fueling so you can run that half marathon or marathon without hitting the wall then learn how you can work with Coach Brooke within our 1:1 signature Healthy Runner Coaching program below!
Learn how Amanda learned the steps to heal her injury and feel strong and powerful. She improved her confidence to change her trajectory as a runner that not only can she run pain free but tolerate a higher training load!
Get the tools to get stronger and faster like Amanda did!
Learn how Lisa got guidance on the runner specific exercises her body needed to overcome her hamstring pain.
She was able to get to the start line healthy for the first time in 2 years and qualify for another Boston marathon!
Stephanie followed the downloaded plan off the internet for marathon training but started having IT band pain during her long runs. She thought she might have to cancel the race. Learn how she got clarity and focus on what she needed to do to not only get rid of her IT band pain but conquer the Dopey Challenge feeling strong!
Learn how Anna went from getting the run around on what was best for her foot pain whether it was recommendations for orthotics, injections, medications, and rehab for plantar fasciitis to getting clarity on what she really needed to get her body stronger for running without foot pain.
If you have had upper hamstring pain that has limited the one form of exercise that provides you stress relief from your busy family and work life, then you need to hear Mary’s story.
Mary details her journey in how she went from being depressed after she made the difficult decision to cancel running the Detroit Free Press marathon a day before the race because her pain was so bad that she could barely walk to finding the exact steps to safely get back to running and crushing her marathon debut in New York!
Have you been struggling with nagging injuries such as knee pain or plantar fasciitis and you thought you would never run pain free again? Do you feel so lethargic and tired because you are not getting in the proper amount of nutrition to fuel all your exercise and running? Those were the things Rachel was struggling with prior to getting guidance from Dr. Duane Scotti as her running Physical Therapist/coach and Brooke Czarnecki as her running Registered Dietitian. Once Rachel got clarity on where she needed to focus her efforts with her training, she not only felt better as an athlete but completed her first marathon, exceeding all expectations!
Sonya overcame her fears to finish her very first marathon in Disney by getting stronger physically and improving her mental toughness to with the guidance of coach LaToya.
You can get the accountability and motivation to get out of your own head and accomplish your dream running goal too!
Learn how Katja did it with guidance, support, and community!
Break the Injury Cycle and Run Your First 5K at Age 41 Like Courtney Did!
Learn how Lara overcome runner's knee and is more confident than ever!
When I first got plantar fasciitis, I received so much conflicting advice. I knew it was "just" running, but for me my injury meant the loss of an important wellness outlet and I was discouraged and frustrated. I found Duane Scotti and Spark Healthy Runner through a podcast, and have been working with Duane for the last 4 months. It has been a fabulous experience!
So much so that I know think of the injury as a gift. Without it, I would not have found Duane and Spark Healthy Running, and would not have gone through the program to become an overall stronger and healthier runner.
Duane was incredibly helpful and responsive, and would immediately contact me if I had any concerns or needed adjustments to our plan. It was such a relief to be able to turn to someone for answers on how to proceed. And such a joy to be able to keep running despite the injury.
This past weekend I did a 10 miler, and smiled the entire time! :-) I am so thankful for finding Dr. Scotti, and for all he has done to help me through this injury.
My experience with Spark Healthy Running was great! Through individual coaching, Coach Lu really helped provide structure to my half marathon training plan, and helped to provide encouragement and support, particularly when I experienced a few setbacks and minor injuries during my training.
The accountability that the coaching provided also assisted me throughout and kept me on track with my racing goals. The strength training supplemented my running by enabling me to gain and maintain both upper and lower body strength and agility, which I noticed made a significant impact with my running endurance later on in the racing cycle.
I would recommend this program to anyone who is looking to improve their running regimen and incorporate a good balance of runner-centric strength training along the way!
"For about 10 years I’ve been running/walking up to 4 miles as part of my weight loss and healthy lifestyle plan. One day, I started questioning how many more miles can I run?
I registered to run another Disney half marathon in 2023 (Nov). I started self-training again. I wasn’t able to run/walk more than 3 miles without stopping because of pain in my left hamstring and IT band. I felt stuck and I started to worry and doubting myself about finishing 13 miles.
That’s when I decided to call Dr. Duane Scotti. I explained my discomfort (pain), my concerns, and the goal of learning how to run nonstop for 13 miles. I decided to join the Spark Healthy Runner Coaching Program on the spot!. Dr. Duane was very pleasant and professional. He took the time to ask me questions, recognize my situation, and introduced one of his experienced coaches to work with me.
Coach Cat was not only professional, but she was funny, smart, always there for me when I needed her, answered all my questions, and very patient with me. She knows how to train on the Treadmill. She took me under her wings and guides me through the entire training program. Coach Cat brought back the fun in running; I was able to train on the treadmill and applied running outside on my long runs. It was challenging at times, but with Coach Cat, my training went amazing and 100% goal guaranteed.
My Disney Half Marathon was phenomenal! Not only I ran the 13 miles, RAN! (Did not walk) for the first time ever! (I also shaved 20 minutes from my first half marathon) I am forever thankful to Coach Cat and the Spark Healthy Runner Coaching Program. I have a smile on my face when I run and I will definitely call Coach Duane again for future training! Forever a happy client and runner."
I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude towards Duane Scotti and the Spark Healthy Runner program. When I started working with Duane, I had been dealing with chronic shin splints/posterior tibialis tendinitis for almost a year.
I had worked with multiple other coaches and physical therapists with little success and was at the point of almost giving up on my love for running. Duane is so kind, thoughtful and knowledgeable as both a physical therapist and running coach. Our first virtual meeting lasted two hours because he was so meticulous in his assessment. His strength and running program is progressive and created so that you can continue to build strength and mileage as you heal. His strength program is unique, effective, and fun.
Additionally, his warm-up routine is awesome and includes drills that over time have made me a more efficient runner. His training platform is easy to use, and he is always readily available to chat when problems or questions arise.
Over four months of working with Duane, I have built back to five days a week of running and am almost back up to my pre-injury weekly mileage and long run distance. Whenever I have flare ups or setbacks, Duane reassures me and makes necessary adjustments so that I can continue to progress in my running journey. I have had so much success with him so far that I have signed on for four more months so that he can help me to continue getting stronger as I train for the Dopey challenge in Disney World.
If you are struggling with a running injury and are feeling hopeless, you have to reach out to Duane Scotti. Of course, you will have to put in a lot of hard work, but with Duane by your side, you will be able to achieve your goals and more. Thank you Spark Healthy Runner for bringing the spark back to my running!
I can't say enough good things about Duane and the Healthy Running Coaching Team! Suffering from IT Band Syndrome heading into a shortened marathon training block found me desperate for help. Listening to the Spark Healthy Runner Podcast led me to reach out for 1:1 assistance.
Not only did the program get me to the start line prepared for the New York City Marathon (my first!), it got me through the race and over the finish line PAIN FREE!
I'm 100% certain this would not have happened had I not worked with Duane and had the support of the team. The videos and podcast material is extremely helpful and I look forward to continuing to enjoy my love for running with the wealth of knowledge I continue to gain from the episodes and guidance provided to me.
Have questions or need help? Reach out to me at duane@sparkhealthyrunner.com