Support Staff
Stephen Furst || Coach
Stephen Furst is a graduate of the renowned NC State Track/XC program, and in 2008 was All-American (5000 m) and ACC Champion (5000 m and 10000 m) for the Wolfpack. While in graduate school, Stephen was a Volunteer Assistant Coach for the Pack while racing post-collegiately. He qualified 5 times for the US Track and Field Championships including the 2012 Olympic Team Trials (5000 m) along with the 2016 Olympic Trials Marathon. Stephen also represented team USA 3 times – twice in Cross Country and once in the 5000 m at the 2011 Pan Am Games. His personal best in that event is 13:29.19 from 2011.
Stephen finished his PhD in Mechanical Engineering in 2012 and now works as the founder and CEO of Smart Material Solutions, Inc., and advanced manufacturing startup company in Raleigh.
Stephen is currently coaching Tristin, Sammy, Rita, and Andie to reach their running goals of qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Team Trials.
Fun Fact: Stephen loves backpacking, the 2017 solar eclipse, and Star Trek. He is haunted by a mile PR of 4:00.26, which is complimented by 6 other sub-4:02 misses.
Robert Swoap || Sports Psychologist
Dr. Robert Swoap is the official Sports Psychologist of RDP. Running is as much mental as it is physical making this relationship crucial to the success of RDP and its athletes! Robert Swoap, Ph.D., is a psychologist with specialties in sport and health psychology. A licensed clinical psychologist, Bob works primarily with athletes and teams to help them pursue and achieve excellence. He has worked with Olympic, professional, collegiate, and high school athletes. His specialty is working with distance runners and with endurance athletes across several sports. Bob writes about sport psychology and the pursuit of excellence on his website. He is excited and honored to be a part of the RDP team!
Abby Douek, PT, MPT || RunRaleigh PT || Physical Therapy & Performance Lab
RunRaleigh PT is a premiere physical therapy clinic specializing in a preventative care approach by alleviating pain and finding and addressing the source. They take a comprehensive approach to observe and correct movement patterns to improve efficiency, reduce pain and maximize performance. RunRaleigh uses a variety of methods including dry needling, manual therapy including soft tissue work, joint mobilization, spinal manipulation, and movement re-education, and instrument assisted soft tissue work. RunRaleigh also offers state of the art VO2 Max Testing & 3d Gait Analysis technology, plus REDCORD, Pilates Reformer and Core Align. RDP relies on the awesome staff at RunRaleigh PT to keep us injury free. Our work with each of the therapists in combination with performance specialist Angela Angeles, offers an unparalleled opportunity to become stronger, more efficient, and less prone to injury. We really don’t know what we would do without our dry needling sessions!
Dr. Matthew Arthur || Chiropractic Physician || 919 Spine
Dr. Matthew Arthur is originally from Upstate New York. He received his bachelor’s degree from State University of New York Oswego with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He received his postgraduate degree from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic in May of 2012, graduating Magna Cum laude. Upon completing his degree, Dr. Arthur moved to North Carolina and worked as an associate Doctor for 5 years prior to opening 919 Spine. Dr. Arthur combines the use of manipulation, numerous soft tissue techniques, rehabilitative exercises, and physio therapies to treat musculoskeletal conditions. He believes that maintaining function and integrity of the musculoskeletal system involves an evidenced based multisystem approach, which can help patients maintain a pain free and healthy lifestyle. Dr. Arthur has worked with many types of patients, from professional and amateur athletes to everyday individuals. Dr. Arthur enjoys helping anyone looking to improve their physical health in a proactive manner.
Dr. Arthur currently lives in Morrisville, NC with his wife Mary and dog Brie. He is a very active individual and comes from a competitive running background. After years of running he decided to switch gears and try Crossfit. He currently competes in local competitions, and has been very involved in the Crossfit community for the past 5 years. He likes to incorporate his knowledge of fitness and human movement into his practice.
Education:
State University of New York College at Oswego 2004 - 2008
University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic Doctorate of Chiropractic 2008 - 2012
Licensure:
North Carolina: 2012 - Present
Board of Directors
Michelle Ames
Michelle Ames is a pharmacist by day, an avid runner 24/7, and a relentless supporter of all things Raleigh-running related. Upon moving to the Oak City in 2009, running became more than a form of exercise, expanding into source of community involvement and a large social network. Michelle has been a long-time member of the nOg Run Club, Big Boss Run Club, and Runologie group runs. The Sir Walter Miler holds a special spot in her heart as her favorite Raleigh running event. Year over year, she has looked for opportunities to contribute to the event with a favorite role of host family to the guest elites.
While not uncommon to see Michelle’s name on the participant list of countless local races, it has been the large, world class marathons that stole her heart. Her running resume includes 19 completed marathons, a 4-time Boston Marathoner, and a recipient of the Abbott World Marathon Major Six Star Finisher award in 2018 at the Tokyo Marathon. The 2016 London Marathon stands as her marathon PR, though hopefully not for long! Chasing her next goal of completing a marathon on all 7 continents, only South America, Oceania, and Antarctica remain between Michelle and that finish line.
After earning her Doctor of Pharmacy from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh in 2001, Michelle spent the last 16 years her career with a focus on geriatric care. She currently holds the position of Area Vice President of Pharmacy Operations for PruittHealth Pharmacy Services overseeing the company’s long-term care pharmacy services for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
Outside of the pharmacy and running worlds, Michelle is mom to two retired racing greyhounds, Finley and Torch, who “run the show” around the Ames’ house.
Omer Idriss Abdulrahman
With a smile that is as contagious as his stories, Omer brings a genuine passion for others to our Board.
A Sudanese refugee, Omer chose to turn to running to ground himself and motivate his daily pursuits here in the United States. Omer has run countless local races in Raleigh, and is the elite race coordinator for the races put on by Raleigh’s local running store, Runologie. Omer travels up to Connecticut every year to race in some of the competitive 5ks there including the West Hartford 5k and the Newington Road Race.
Omer is a huge asset to the Raleigh community serving in so many local areas and always offering a helping hand for others.
Omer Idriss is also a skilled Disc Jockey, and in his spare time helps with music selections and stylings for various events.
Jessica Hofheimer
Jessica Hofheimer currently lives in Raleigh with her husband Robert, her three kids, and their dog.
As a running coach, Pilates teacher, and active member of the running community, Jess loves to share her passions to help others discover their own strengths and possibilities. She is also a RRCA certified running coach and owner of Pace of Me, coaching runners of a variety of abilities and experience levels for the last 9 years.
Jessica has been teaching Pilates for 8 years as a certified, comprehensive Peak Pilates teacher, and is currently teaching private lessons at Evolve Movement in Raleigh.
A passionate distance runner, Jessica has completed 20 marathons so far. She has qualified for Boston several times, and has run it 3 times, including her PR. At age 42 she believes that she still has her best running ahead of her.
Jessica has been a Coach for Saucony’s, “26 Strong” program, along with a few running clubs in the DC area. She currently holds several brand ambassadorships/partnerships, and over the years has written for or been featured/quoted in Runner’s World, Women’s Running Magazine and Competitor Running.
David Jones, MD
Dr. David T. Jones, originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, has been with The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic since 2006 after he and his family moved from New Orleans in the wake of hurricane Katrina.
Dr. Jones trained at LSU New Orleans in Orthopaedic Surgery and began private practice there in 1998. He moved briefly to Boston in 2002 to complete additional training in trauma and minimally invasive surgery at Harvard.
After returning to New Orleans, he served as the team physician for New Orleans’ only professional soccer team and helped care for professional hockey, baseball, as well as numerous sports teams from the middle school to college level.
Dr. Jones is currently one of the team physicians/advisors for the U.S. Olympic Sailing Team and is an active member and past Chairman of the Sports Medicine Committee for US Sailing. Dr. Jones understands many athletes on a personal level, as he played soccer in college, in Europe, and for a professional team in the USISL. He is also a national champion in sailing. His approach involves individual attention, conservative treatment if possible, and the latest techniques and skills if surgery is required.
Dr. Jones has served as Chairman of Orthopaedics and Chairman of Surgery at two hospitals in New Orleans and has served as Chairman of Orthopaedics at Rex Hospital.
He also serves as an ongoing educational consultant and instructor for other Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Pat Price
Pat Price is a lifelong runner and advocate for the sport. He is one of the Co-Founders of Sir Walter Running, which produces the Sir Walter Miler, the Pop Up Miles series, Pop Up Cross Country at Dix Park, the Rocket Mile, the Raleigh RunDown Downhill Mile, the Summer of Miles podcast, and the Postrun brand.
Sir Walter Running has been monumental for the growth of Raleigh’s running community. Since 2014, the Sir Walter Miler has brought in elite runners and olympians to compete in the one mile track race. Starting as an attempt for long-time friend Sandy Roberts to break 4 minutes in the mile in 2013, the race has since transformed into a pinnacle race for the professional running world and the Raleigh running community.
Pat graduated from UNC Chapel Hill. He is now a Senior Mortgage Banker with Movement Mortgage and is married with one daughter.
Elizabeth Pagano
Elizabeth Pagano, DC, is a local chiropractor and founder of the nOg Run Club. Dr. Pagano grew up in Summersville, WV and received her undergraduate degree from Penn State University.
After receiving her Doctorate in Chiropractic from Sherman College of Chiropractic and graduating valedictorian of her class, Dr. Pagano moved to Raleigh and co-founded the Chiropractic Café with her husband Rick Florez, DC. Dr. Pagano has her advance certification in the Graston Technique, an instrument-assisted soft tissue treatment that brings pain relief and improved function to patients who have been injured during their activities. She has been practicing in North Raleigh since 2008.
Dr. Pagano founded the nOg Run Club, a 501(C)3 nonprofit, in 2008. The organization has been running every Monday since inception and produces three annual races, the St. Paddy’s 4 Miler, the World’s Largest Flip Flop 1K, and the Oktoberfest 4 Miler. The nOg Run club has a strong charitable aspect, raising over $600,000 in the first 10-years in existence. Dr. Pagano was recognized as the Tar Heel of the Week in August 2018 in recognition of the significant contributions by the club.
In addition to running, Dr. Pagano has been Crossfitting since 2008, is an avid scuba diver, and is the proud parent of her dog, Chase.
Chris Seaton
Chris Seaton has been part of the NC State Track and Cross Country staff for the past 16 years, first as a graduate assistant for three years and then an assistant coach working with the men’s and women’s distance runners over the last 13 years. During his time on staff, Chris has helped guide the men and women to eight ACC Cross Country titles, 24 NCAA Championship appearances, of which 5 were top-10 finishes, and individually has worked with over 40 All-Americans.
In addition to his coaching and recruiting responsibilities with the Wolfpack Track and Cross Country program, Chris is the meet director for the Raleigh Relays, one of the east coast’s largest collegiate track meets. He also oversees three of the most prominent high school cross country events in the southeast each fall that are hosted at the WakeMed Park in Cary, NC.
A runner since he was 12, Chris competed in college first as a member of the Virginia Tech Track and Cross Country teams and then finished his eligibility at NC State, where he was cross country All-American. Chris competed post-collegiately and was a 2008 Marathon Olympic Trials qualifier.
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