If you’ve spent time in the East Cobb running community, the Roswell running community, or anywhere near the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon, there’s a good chance you’ve crossed paths with Betsy Magato.
And if you’ve trained for that race, you’ve almost certainly felt her impact. Betsy is the founder of Strong Run Coaching, a five-time Boston Marathon finisher, a longtime student of the sport, and one of the quiet engines behind the success and momentum of the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon. She is competitive, thoughtful, data-aware, community-driven, and deeply committed to helping runners discover something bigger than mileage.
But her story doesn’t start in Georgia.
From Soccer Fields in Ohio to the Track
Betsy grew up in Ohio, the youngest sibling tagging along to soccer fields with her older brothers. She quickly realized something: she was fast. Maybe not the most technical player on the field, but if someone sent a long ball ahead, she could chase it down. Her brothers took her to a track on a whim. She raced them. She won. That was the moment things shifted.
She began running track in sixth grade and fell in love with it. Not just the racing, but the rhythm, the connection, the feeling of running alongside others toward a shared goal. The community piece was there from the beginning.
Like many lifelong runners, she can trace inspiration back to watching Olympic track and field as a kid. Seeing Joan Benoit-Samuelson win the first Women’s Olympic Marathon planted a quiet belief: maybe she could be a runner too. Maybe she could just run and not stop. She hasn’t really stopped since.
High School, College, and the Cross-Country Decision
In high school, Betsy balanced high school and travel soccer with track before ultimately leaving the soccer field and choosing cross-country her senior year. It was a bold move and not universally celebrated at home, but it turned out to be one of the best decisions she ever made.
She ran in high school with success in the sprints, specializing in the 400m – still holding the schools 5th fastest time at 59.2. She attended Ohio University where she started running longer distances along the Hocking River for the joy of it. Those runs helped her discover the marathon shortly after college. Her first attempt was enthusiastic and under-informed, as many first marathons are. Cotton shirt. Soccer shorts. Limited hydration strategy. A 3:48 finish. She went back. Made a Boston qualifying time but missed the buffer by seconds the following year. The third time was a charm – she qualified.
Her first Boston Marathon came in 2001. Since then, she has run it five times across very different seasons of life, experiencing the full range of an April nor’easter and emotion that Boston can deliver, including pushing an athlete in a wheelchair. Boston didn’t create her love for the sport, but it deepened it. Over the years she whittled her marathon time down to 3:03, but confirms that the very best days on the roads are the ones spent helping others.
Learning from the Best
Along the way, Betsy sought knowledge. She earned her RRCA certification, VDOT, and, most notably, worked directly with Jeff Galloway. She co-coached classes, learned cadence drills, pacing strategies, speed development systems, and perhaps most importantly, absorbed Galloway’s philosophy of kindness and accessibility in running.Her approach blends science and instinct. She will talk about cadence and workouts, but she will also remind you that running is a long game. Patience matters. Consistency matters. Rest matters. That balance has become the foundation of Strong Run Coaching.
The Birth of Strong Run Coaching
Betsy officially launched Strong Run Coaching in 2017. She had young children and a vision: when life opened up a little more, she wanted to replace that time with something meaningful. Coaching felt like the natural extension of who she already was. The opportunity aligned perfectly with the launch of the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon.
A new race. A new coaching practice. A leap of faith on both sides.
She and a friend approached race organizers and proposed a training group. They said yes. Betsy figured it out from there. That first year included lessons. One athlete famously cried climbing the final hill late in the race. Betsy made a quiet promise: next year, we will be ready for that hill. Since then, her groups train on the course. They know every incline. They prepare intentionally. And no one has cried on that hill since.
Last year alone, roughly 30 Strong Run athletes participated in the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon. Many have trained for it year after year. Some now treat it as an annual tradition. When people think of the race, they think of Betsy. And when people think of Betsy, they think of that race.
What Makes the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon Special
The Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon has grown into a signature event in the North Fulton area. It draws first-time half marathoners, experienced racers, and everything in between.
Betsy’s role goes beyond coaching. She organizes pacers. She trains runners on the course. She stays until the final finisher crosses the line. The official sweeper pacer even wears a cape to ensure no one feels alone.
Her youngest daughter and close friends help her chalk the Greenway before race day, writing encouraging messages and often the names of athletes in her training group. It is thoughtful. It is personal. It is deeply community-driven. That is not accidental.
Rookie Mistakes and Real Confidence
After coaching runners across distances from 5K to marathon, Betsy sees the same patterns. The most common rookie mistake is not starting too fast on race day. It is impatience in training.
Runners want to rush fitness. They want the big goal immediately. They stack mileage too quickly. They skip rest. Then they wonder why it feels harder than it should.
Her message is steady: this is a long game. Eat enough. Wear proper shoes. Be consistent. Be patient. And yes, she will tell you to visit Big Peach Running Co. to get properly fit for shoes. She knows gear matters, but only after consistency and commitment.
When someone says, “There is no way I could run a half marathon,” her response is simple.
If you can run three to four days per week consistently, you can run a half marathon. It is not about talent. It is about commitment.
Strong Run Coaching Today
Today, Strong Run serves a wide range of athletes:
- First-time runners learning how to start
- Half marathoners and marathoners chasing personal bests
- Athletes approaching sub-three-hour marathons
- Even the occasional ultra runner
Most of her athletes are women, but the men who join her group are affectionately referred to as “the very smart men.”
She also partners with lululemon as an Ambassador, hosts group runs, and continues building relationships across the Atlanta running community.
And quietly, she is working on something new.
After the closure of the Charge Running app, she and a small team began developing a new digital group-run platform, Run With Zeal. The goal is to recreate the group run experience for people who cannot physically attend one. It is currently in beta and nearing launch. Community, but accessible. That is the throughline. Beta test Zeal here.
Fun and Dumb (In the Best Way)
Betsy also believes in doing “fun and dumb” things (that are safe and within her scope of ability, of course). She has climbed the Empire State Building in a stair race, she ran 10 miles a day for 10 days in a row every month for a year just to see if she could. She has paced marathons around the world. She threw herself into HYROX for the fun of it and placed 6th in her age group. She occasionally signs up for races, like the 2026 Publix Atlanta Marathon days before registration closed because she needed a good long training run and wanted to be present to watch one of her first time marathoners cross the finish line. That blend of seriousness and joy defines her.
Why This Matters to East Cobb, Roswell, Alpharetta and Beyond
At Big Peach Running Co. East Cobb, we believe running is more than miles. It is participation. It is connection. It is a reason to gather.
Betsy Magato embodies that.
Through Strong Run Coaching, through her leadership with the Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon, and through her daily investment in runners across East Cobb, Roswell, and Alpharetta, she has helped countless people move from “I can’t” to “I just did.” That is the real finish line.
FAQs: Betsy Magato and Strong Run Coaching
Betsy Magato is the founder of Strong Run Coaching, a five-time Boston Marathon finisher, and a key community leader in the East Cobb, Roswell, and Alpharetta running communities.
Strong Run Coaching (Strong Run Coaching / Instagram @strongruncoach) is a personalized running coaching service offering training for 5K, half marathon, marathon, and beyond, with a strong emphasis on community and long-term development.
The Strong Run Spring Training Group kicks off April 25th with a preview group run at BPRC Alpharetta on April 11. This will prepare runners for a summer 10K race (Peachtree Road Race or other races).
The Alpharetta Women’s Half Marathon is a premier North Fulton race event that attracts runners of all experience levels. Strong Run Coaching has been closely connected to the race since its early years. The Strong Run training group for Alpharetta Women’s Half begins in August.
Yes. With consistent training three to four days per week and proper guidance, most healthy adults can successfully train for a half marathon.
Start with a professional shoe fitting at Big Peach East Cobb and connect with local training groups like Strong Run Coaching to find community and structure.
If you see chalk messages along the Greenway before race day or a cluster of runners tackling hills with quiet determination, there is a good chance Betsy is nearby.
Encouraging. Adjusting. Believing.
And building something that lasts.