Sam Lloyd-Perks (Head Running Coach):
Sam is a self-proclaimed running nerd and is also the head running coach and founder of Team Homestretch. The British runner and coach has been competing at a high level since 2010 and in this period has competed in 16 national championships in his home country. He moved to the States in 2018 on a scholarship to run in the NCAA at Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee, upon graduating he has transitioned back into road racing and has recently won numerous races in multiple different States. Recent victories in 2021 also include winning the AAU National Cross Country Championships in Charlotte and taking the win at America’s toughest road 10k in Roanoke too. The Winston Salem based runners career has taken him all over the world and has enabled him to meet many incredible runners and coaches who he has learnt from over the years. His personal bests of 15:25 (5k), 32:13 (10k) and 74:13 (Half Marathon) are some of his proudest achievements in the sport, but his future aims are focused on helping other runners achieve their goals.
As a coach, Sam is a collegiate Head Cross Country Coach at Friends University which is a nationally competitive NAIA program based in Kansas. Sam has been helping other runners since 2015 but has started making it his main priority in the sport since 2020. This was through coaching at a local running store and offering advice on all things within the sport such as nutrition, injuries, training and even running shoes. It was in 2021 where Coach Perks founded Team Homestretch with the focus on building a positive online running community and helping develop runners to achieve their goals within the sport. Since the team has begun it has grown rapidly with members coming from all different age groups, locations, and ability levels. Recent achievements from group members range from completing their first ever 5k to qualifying for the Boston Marathon so Coach Perks has the experience to support runners from all different backgrounds.
In terms of an educational background, Sam graduated from Worcester Sixth Form College in 2015 with a Diploma in Sport & Exercise Science and a level 2 Fitness Instructor Certification. He then continued to Cardiff Metropolitan University where in 2018 he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport & Social Science. In 2020, Sam completed his two years at Lincoln Memorial University by graduating with a Master of Business Administration Degree. Jack Daniels is a coach which Sam admires a great deal which lead to him being a certified VDOT running coach in 2021, this is the coaching certification lead and regulated by the legendary coach.
Brad Coomer (Assistant Running Coach):
Brad is a running enthusiast based in Charlotte, NC. Originally from Louisville, KY, running (and endurance events in general) have always been a part of his sports resume since high school. His personal bests are currently 17:17 for the 5k and 79:32 for the half marathon. He has won and placed top 10 in a variety of both road and trail races from 5k to half marathon in Winston Salem and Charlotte, NC. His most recent PR at Charlotte RaceFest landed him 2nd place overall. Brad also has experience in ultra running distances two having competed in two 50k races over the past few years.
As a coach, Brad has been advising runners since the start of the 2022 season. After discussions with Coach Perks about training methods, workouts, and race strategy, the decision was made to have Brad sign on to Team Homestretch as a coach. As much as Brad enjoys besting his own PRs, he is absolutely thrilled at guiding others to achieve their own personal goals. Brad has helped several runners achieve their own personal bests in races anywhere from the 5k to the half marathon, and is looking forward to continuing to guide others in their running journey. He has recently become VDOT certified, a distance running certification led and regulated by coach Jack Daniels.
In regards to education, Brad received his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bellarmine University in 2014. He has worked in both the Neonatal Intensive Care unit and Adult Cardiac ICU units in Louisville, Kentucky before transitioning to his anesthesia training. In 2018, he graduated from Wake Forest School of Medicine receiving a Masters of Science in Nurse Anesthesia. Brad currently works as a CRNA in Charlotte, North Carolina at a level one trauma center providing anesthesia services to a variety of patient populations.
Ruby Wyles (Assistant Running Coach):
Ruby is another running nerd and endurance junkie who, like Coach Sam, originates from Great
Britain and now resides in America. Coming to the US in 2020 to pursue her elite running goals,
Ruby competed in cross country, indoor and outdoor track at the NCAA Division I level, boasting
impressive PR’s of 16:45 for 5km and 34:56 for 10km. The leading runner on her team, Ruby
racked up multiple accolades, including 6x All-Conference Honors and becoming the 2022 Ohio
Valley Conference 5,000m Champion. Unfortunately, the last few years have tested Ruby with
multiple injuries and setbacks, leading her to lean on cross training more heavily. Ruby recently
made the transition to triathlon full-time, pursuing it at the professional level with aspirations of
competing in the World Championships and Olympic Games.
Class of 2023, Ruby graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a degree in
Exercise Physiology and additional education in Psychology and Sports Nutrition. Ever the high
achiever, Ruby graduated with a perfect 4.0 GPA, summa cum laude honors, and was named to
the Honor Roll every semester. Recognizing her achievements on and off the track, the Ohio
Valley Conference awarded Ruby the Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2022, across all sports and
all conference institutions.
Ruby brings this educational excellence and high standards to her coaching, combining the
latest research and training science with the art of understanding individuals and the realities of
daily life. As a coach, Ruby has been helping athletes find joy in running for the last 4 years and
believes the majority of athletes are capable of much more than they imagine. From high school
and masters track athletes targeting a fast mile, experienced marathoners looking to qualify for
Boston, to beginner runners unsure if the sport is for them, Ruby has a diverse coaching
background centered around her philosophy of meeting athletes where they’re at and
personalized approach.