Coaches
Mike McMillen
Founder and Coach
Coach Mike is a Road Runners of America Level 2 Certified Coach, a US Track and Field Level 1 Coach, a USATF Marathon Specialist, the run lead at OpenTap Run Club, and a certified Physical Educator with a Master’s in Education.
Mike has worked with a wide range of athletes from first time runners, to those at the sub-elite level. Mike has helped over 100 athletes achieve personal records in varying distances, with many going onto qualify for world majors for the first time, as well as guiding athletes to Top 100 finishes in World Majors. Additionally, Mike leads our Youth Program, blending his extensive knowledge of working with young athletes with his passion for building a love for movement in the next generation.
Mike has been running competitively for over 15 years, competing in a variety of distances from the mile to Ultra events on the road and trails. What started as a hobby and way to stay healthy has turned into a way of life for Mike and running is viewed as a way to find both adventure and challenge. From running Marathons on the Great Wall of China for fun, to competing for podium spots, Mike continues to lead by example, achieving PRs from the 1600m (4:35) to the Marathon (2:30) even as he approaches 40!
As a Father of 2 young children, a husband, and owner of a small business, he understands the challenges many athletes face when training for big goals, and uses his own experience and knowledge to guide others through this process. He can’t wait to work with you!
Drew Marshall
Coach
Drew is a certified UESCA Run Coach and has been coaching athletes for several years. From first time 5k runners to experienced marathoners and trail and ultra enthusiasts, Drew has worked with a wide range of athletes to help them achieve their goals and fit in their training with busy work and life schedules. Since joining us in 2024, Drew has helped many athletes achieve Personal records and also supported athletes to run distances from the 5k to 50ks for the first time, keeping his athletes healthy, happy, and motivated along the way!
“My specialty is in developing an endurance mindset that sees no finish line, training with life in mind & learning to love our bodies for what we’re capable of.”
Drew is a native of Fort Mill, SC and ran all state XC & track at Fort Mill High School. He took a break from running following attending Appalachian State but found his way back to running again in 2018. Since then Drew has gone on to set the course records in several trail races including Table Rock Ultra 50k and Mill Stone 50k and achieved a personal record of 2:22:49 at the Boston Marathon (2025)
Drew is versatile but has a particular love for the trails and has competed in many ultra trail races, winning at the 50k distance four times including 2 course records along the way and completing the challenging Grindstone 100k. Drew is a strong proponent of cross training and applied his vast knowledge of multiple disciplines to complete Ironman Florida 70.3.
Christine Turner
Coach
Christine brings a lifelong love of movement, a deep understanding of human motivation, and a community‑oriented spirit to her coaching. As an RRCA Level 1 run coach and ACSM‑certified personal trainer with several years of coaching experience, she has guided athletes from the 5K to the marathon with training plans that feel achievable and personalized. Her background in psychology (BA Nazareth College of Rochester) and Community Mental Health Counseling (Master’s from Syracuse University) shapes her athlete‑centered approach, allowing her to support the whole person while helping runners feel capable, understood, and motivated through a process that focuses on long-term progress.
Christine discovered running in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. She completed her first race at Syracuse’s iconic Mountain Goat Run in 2008 and has since finished five marathons (PR 3:45:45), fifteen half marathons (PR 1:45:00), and countless 10Ks and 5Ks. She’s especially proud of maintaining her own consistency through motherhood — including logging more than 1,500 miles while pushing her children in a jogging stroller — and she brings that same resilience and perspective to the athletes she coaches.
Originally from Syracuse, NY, Christine now lives in Pineville with her husband and three young children. She’s passionate about building community through movement and has organized her neighborhood’s annual Jingle Jog holiday fun run for the past seven years. Christine works best with athletes who are committed, communicative, and ready to collaborate, believing great coaching is built on trust, effort, and shared growth. Outside of running and coaching, she enjoys hiking with her family, reading historical fiction, tackling jigsaw puzzles, and catching the Avett Brothers in concert.
Matt Dsida
Coach
Coach Matt brings nearly a decade of coaching experience across collegiate and high school
cross country and track & field programs. Most recently, Matt served as an Assistant Coach at
Amherst College before relocating to Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife Taryn, a former
collegiate track and field athlete, and their two dogs, Cola and Luna.
During Matt’s time coaching collegiate athletics he served as a distance coach and recruiting
coordinator, helping his athletes accomplish: 60 All-Conference selections, 17 individual
conference titles, 28 All-Region honors, and 13 NCAA Championship qualifiers. His athletes
also set 10 school records and earned five All-American honors.
Matt has been running competitively since high school. He competed collegiately at Rhodes
College and Belmont University. At Rhodes, he was an individual conference champion in the
1500 meters, and holds two school records for the Lynx (Mile and Distance Medley Relay).
After graduating from Rhodes with a degree in Economics, he completed his Master’s degree at
Belmont University where he competed earned Ohio Valley Conference All-Conference honors
for the Bruins. His personal bests include 1:55 for 800 meters, 3:58 for 1500 meters, and 1:12:56
for the half marathon.
Matt holds a USA Track & Field Level 1 Coaching Certification and a USTFCCCA Middle
Distance Mastery Certificate. His coaching philosophy centers on helping athletes grow
holistically—supporting their development as competitors, students, and people. He has worked
with athletes at all levels and particularly enjoys helping prospective student-athletes navigate
the recruiting and college admissions process.
Matt is a HUUUGE Chicago Sports fan (Go Cubs and Bears!) and he is passionate about
building strong relationships with the athletes he works with and helping them pursue goals that
once felt out of reach.
Brad Hunt
Coach
Brad has a strong athletic background having ran various distances from 5k-Marathon (PR: 2:57), played on the NC State Club tennis team, competed in various Ironman’s and gravel bike races, and has a passion for soccer. Brad is a certified RRCA Run Coach and has coached athletes working towards various race goals across a range of distances and events. Additionally, Brad has experience coaching tennis and triathletes as an Ironman Certified Coach and a US Professional Tennis Association Certified Coach.
His extensive background in coaching and competing in different sports allows him to offer a holistic approach to your training and provide enhanced performance insights. He views your training through different lenses so that he can provide diverse training techniques that are personally suited to you, making your training more engaging and effective. In summary, Brad loves to build relationships with people and find a way to help them grow and develop.
Coach Brad, grew up in Wilmington, NC, but also spent time as a child living in Chester, England. Brad holds a degree from NC State where he majored in Psychology which has turned out very useful when it comes to coaching athletes! Outside of sports, Brad is a husband and is also the guardian of 2 very loveable dogs, one of which is currently in puppy training.
Aaron Linz
Coach
Aaron’s experience as both an athlete and a coach is vast. For over 10 years, Aaron has worked with a range of athletes from beginners to athletes pushing for Olympic Trials Qualifying times and leading dozens of athletes to Boston Qualifying times. Aaron has served as a high school assistant cross country and track coach for 4 years, leading the school to a men’s conference and regional championships. During that time, Aaron was recognized for his leadership by being named Conference Coach of the year, twice.
Aaron is originally from Washington DC but moved to Charlotte in 1997 and this has been his home since with his wife and 2 children. His impact on the Charlotte running community is priceless, having founded Charlotte Running Club back in 2009, helping propel Charlotte as a running city and bring members of the community together through their love of running for years to come. Talk with Aaron briefly and you’ll soon see that he’s a running nerd and can talk about all things running nonstop. He’s a true student of the sport. This made him the ideal candidate to be part of the 2020 and 2024 US Olympic Marathon Trials media team.
Aaron has completed over 25 marathons (along with a handful of ultras) and is still an active and competitive runner. Having run a best of 2:41 and 1:14:15 in the Marathon and Half Marathon, Aaron continues to train 50-60miles a week while also challenging for Masters podiums both on the road and trails. Aaron contributes his longevity in the sport to listening to his body and making sure he still finds joy in what he does. Coaching others serves as an additional motivation to keep pushing the boundaries with age and can’t wait to continue sharing his wisdom and experience with his Flow Motion Running athletes!
Sarah Watts
Coach
A native of Gallipolis, Ohio, Sarah recently graduated from Queens University, majoring in Exercise and Sports Science while also being a key member of their D1 Track and Cross Country team (she’s got wheels!).
Sarah is our youth athlete specialist, having spent time working in our youth sports program and coaching high school athletes who have ambitions to run in college/competitively after high school. Sarah has specialized in sports nutrition and mental health and applies her knowledge from these areas to help mentor and support young athletes. Having experienced the stress and pressures that come with being a young athlete with big ambitions, Sarah is able to guide athletes through that process, focusing on helping athletes stay healthy and providing them with the skill sets to be successful and confident in their running.