About

Running and racing has been Eric’s passion for over 20 years.

Racing experience:
4 years of XC + T&F at William Tennent HS
4 years of XC + T&F at Messiah College
15+ years of self training since…

Marathon Resume:
2004 – Mayor’s Midnight Sun Marathon, Anchorage, AK – 8th place, 2:57:56
2008 – Philadelphia Marathon, PA – 63rd place, 2:45:44
2011 – Rehoboth Beach Seashore Marathon, DE – 1st place, 2:36.23
2012 – Mohawk-Hudson Marathon, Albany, NY – 5th place, 2:36:55
2013 – Boston Marathon, MA – 155th place, 2:36:22
2013 – Chicago Marathon, IL – 136th place – 2:38:10 (SWIFT Racing 1st Place mixed gender team competition)
2014 – Ocean Drive Marathon, Cape May, NJ – 1st place, 2:39.40
2015 – Loco Marathon, New Market, NH – 1st place, 2:39.13
2019 – Shamrock Marathon, Virginia Beach, VA – 17th place, 2:49.39
2021 – Boston Marathon, MA – 557th place, 2:47:13
2022 – New River Marathon, Todd, NC – 5th place, 2:55:22
2022 – Newport Marathon, Newport, RI – 2nd place, 2:49:32

Coaching Experience:
2008 – Assistant T&F Coach (mid/distance) William Tennent HS
2008-2016 – Head Cross Country Coach – Cairn University
2008-present – Certified Personal Trainer and fitness coach

Other Running Experience & PRs:
Penn Relays – 4×400 Relay 2004, 2007
Trail 10k – Looney Leprechaun, Tyler State Park
USATF Club XC Nationals – 10K – 2010, 2014
Broad Street Run 10 Miler – PR 54:43, 47th place
Philadelphia Half-Marathon – PR 1:13:34
PA Snowshoe State Championships – 5k at Spring Mountain, PA, 2015 – 3rd, 2016 -1st, 2018 – 3rd, 2023 – 2nd
USA National Snowshoe Championships – 2016 & 2018, 10k & Half-Marathon
Black Forest Trail – Grand Canyon of PA, 42 mile trail run – 9hr 59min – fastest known time
Canyonman 100, Ansonia, PA – 19 mile Kayak, 31 mile run, 50 mile gravel bike – 2021 – 2nd
Slate Run 25k – Slate Run, PA – 2022 – 3rd

Certifications:
Bachelors Degree in Sport and Exercise Science, Health and Fitness concentration
NSCA – Certified Strength and Conditioning Coach (CSCS)
USA Track & Field – Level 1

Allyssa

I had the privilege of being coached by Eric Bofinger for the four years of my collegiate running career. When I first started I was not a runner, but somehow found myself on the cross country team. Eric provided me with an individual training plan that was tailored to my skill level and goals, making sure that I was capable of the workouts, but also pushing me to go beyond what I thought I was capable of. A mix of carefully selected speed and endurance workouts made me improve rapidly, and by my second year under Eric I felt like a true competitor. I became competitive in the Conference and by the end of my collegiate career had a second team honor and a first team honor. More than that, Eric instilled in me a pure love for running which has translated into racing Marathons post-collegiately. I will always be grateful for the time that I was able to run under Eric’s leadership.

Larry

I’ve known Eric for nearly two decades. He’s been a teammate, a classmate, and an opposing coach. Never have I known someone to be a greater student of athletics and the science of fitness. Not only does he know protocols that work, but he knows how they work. He also understands the highly individualized nature of training response. I’ve spent many years as an athlete, years as a coach, and even wrote a book on running. Yet, I still seek Eric’s counsel, picking his brain, because I know his combination of knowledge, experience, passion, and accomplishment is practically unmatched.

James

Eric lives and breathes running. He is the most “excited about fitness” person I know and it is contagious. After running track in college I was a pretty casual runner but Eric helped motivate me to reach goals I never would have dreamed of, including running in the Boston Marathon and setting a 5K PR by training on my lunch breaks.

Will

Coach Bofinger is a great coach because he cares about the person and he loves running. He has been running nearly his whole life and his knowledge is amazing. One thing that definitely stands out about Coach Bofinger is he doesn’t care if you are the fastest or slowest, he is going to coach you the same. Before I met Coach he sent me a hand written training plan and after I couldn’t finish it due to some health problems, he created a new plan for me to help me recover. After I graduated I still continue to run because of Coach teaching me how running is like life, it’s difficult but fun and worth it.

Patrick

Eric’s knowledge, passion, and enthusiasm for running is unmatched. Not only does he care about your performance, but he cares about you as a person. He was there to talk race strategy with me from my first 800m race as a scared college sophomore to my last 800m race in the Olympic Trials. Using his experience as a collegiate athlete and coach, he knows how to help you achieve your personal goals and will go above and beyond to create a plan that will make it happen for you!

Pat

I’ve known Eric Bofinger for 13 years, now. Our relationship started and has continued through the catalyst of running. Since competing in college together, we have logged thousands upon thousands of miles, raced a vast array of races, and had countless conversations about training and coaching, over the years. Eric has definitely been an inspiration to me through my competitive and coaching career. We’ve had a healthy competition that has pushed us to excel as athletes, and coaches. His passion for the sport, and fitness, is second to none, and I’ve seen him build a college cross country team from the ground up and win the college’s first ever conference title. The great thing about coaching, that Eric does so well, is knowing people. He has a unique ability to sense what someone needs to improve, physically, and target it. Running isn’t a one size fits all sport, and Eric has demonstrated time and time again that he understands that well.

Laura

Sometimes the ingredients are already in the pot, but the pot is just waiting for someone to turn on the burner. This was the case as Eric, Katy, and I sat outside together on a calm Spring evening, enjoying a gluten free dinner. “100 miles/week,” I pondered out loud. “You think I could do that?” Eric’s reply was typical, “Might as well,” and he went on to describe the specifics of how that would fit logistically into my own current training plan and work schedule. We probably spent the majority of our remaining visit that evening discussing mileage, number of runs per day, races, and possible outcomes… all with that spark of joy that comes from imagining the border of impossible with the confidence and simplicity of Eric’s explanations squelching any doubts that may peer their heads into my stream of consciousness.

That very evening was one flip of the burner; it was a start of a process that would eventually land me at Olympic Marathon Trials 2016. As my mileage grew with the thought of reaching that 100 miles idea that Eric had planted, my race times improved, my numbers got closer and closer… until one day, it became clear that the ingredients in my running pot, now boiling on high, were ready to make a go at an Olympic Trials Marathon Qualifying time. A simple dinner on a calm Spring evening, was the the ignition for a 2:39:51 qualifying time, and 25th Place at LA Marathon Trials 2016. Thanks Eric, for your inspiration and planting the spark that prepared my pot for the adventure of a lifetime!

Steve

Eric is well-educated, experienced, and passionate about running and exercise. Most importantly, he cares deeply about seeing others reach their full athletic potential. After college, persistent knee pain started to bother me during runs and lifts. I came to Eric for help, and he quickly corrected my high-bar squatting form, which was putting significant stress on my knees. Since then, I have been able to lift and run pain free with greater strength than before.

If you are serious about running or just trying to become more fit and are considering getting a personal coach – look no further! Eric is the best out there!

Caleb

Eric Bofinger is an amazing coach. He helped me break times I never thought were possible. He knows training better than anyone I know. Recently he has helped me put together a training plan for the Boston Marathon that fits into my busy schedule as an accountant during tax season. I am seeing surprising results and have dropped from 21% to 11% body fat in 14 weeks.

Linda

For years Eric always believed I could run the Broad Street Run in a 7:30 min mile. I would always chuckle at his statement until one year, my 40th Birthday, he put me to the test. He came up with a structured, 12 week, running plan and pushed me to a point of no turning back. I accomplished our goal which I never believed would come true. I could have never of done it without him and will always be forever grateful.

Kim

When a friend challenged me to participate in a half marathon with her, I was a bit nervous considering I had never trained for a race before. However, I knew exactly where to start, ask Eric! As a personal training client of Eric’s for almost a decade, I was confident he could help me transition from my normal lifting workouts into a structured running routine on my own time. The workouts were attainable, progressive, and concise. Upon completion of the half marathon, I was happy because I achieved my goal of running under 2 hrs on a super hilly course (Tyler State Park- Newtown, PA).

Shannon

I had the privilege of being a runner on Coach Bofinger’s team for 3 years. These were the best 3 years of my life. He is a phenomenal Coach that will meet every athlete where they are at and refuse to let them stay there. He coaches with great patience and understanding. I’m proud to have been on his team and for how the experience has helped mold and shape me into who I am today.

Inna

I came to Eric looking for help training for my first marathon. He wrote a personalized plan that gave me clear goals and enabled me to have confidence in training and on race day. I ended up beating my goal of 3:25 by 16 minutes, I would not have been able to do this without Eric’s guidance.

Sabrina-Rose

Coach Bofinger helped me become the runner that I thought I could never be… He made sure that my individual training needs in long runs, workouts, and the weight room were met. His attention to detail is exceptional, making practices and race days orderly and harmonious. I could not have asked for a better coach…

Matt

Eric was my college cross country coach for three seasons… I have come to respect his attention to detail and continuous refining of his knowledge of athletics. He is very approachable and looks for potential in others to draw out. If you feel like running or any other sport is for you, make him the one to draw out your potential. I love how his family is in full support of his passion for sports and shares his enthusiasm.

Tim

A quick plug for Eric Bofinger and running coaches. Eric coached me over last 3 months, and last Saturday I ran Rehoboth Beach Marathon. I broke 3 hrs and BQ’ed for first time. Eric played a valuable role in that success. His running plan at times held me back more than I wished, and at other times pushed me harder than I would have had the confidence to do. It turned out to be a perfect balance. Also, as someone going into this a little skeptical of whether a coach would add value, I found it surprisingly helpful and reassuring to be able to share ideas, fears, stories, etc off someone who was closely tracking each of my runs. Eric also did a really good job talking me through mental self-doubt at times – especially the night before the race! Thanks Eric.