Jason has been coaching several athletes to high levels, including Dean Karnazes for his Endurance 50, and Jason is an accomplished runner himself. Jason’s coaching journey started when he was a teenager. He joined Carmichael Training Systems in 2001 to coach athletes of all types and abilities. Jason works with some of the best ultramarathon runners in the world including Timothy Olson, Dakota Jones, Alex Varner, Dylan Bowman, Jen Benna, Kaci Lickteig and Larisa Dannis.
Ultramarathons are not just longer marathons, and you can’t train for them by simply doing more running. Ultrarunning presents unique training and nutrition challenges and requires a totally new approach to preparation. Jason has based his proven program and guidance on sound sports science, the most current research, and years of experience, and he has coached the sport’s star runners to podium performances.
In 2006 he traveled around the United States coaching and supporting Dean Karnazes as the “Ultramarathon Man” ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days. Karnazes again tapped Koop’s expertise in 2011 for “Regis and Kelly’s Run Across America with Dean Karnazes,” a nearly 3,000-mile cross-country run.
His training approach includes all aspects of life and for him coaching is a two-way street, where he gets inspired as much by his athletes as the other way around.
When he’s not coaching he’s running, cycling, camping or fishing somewhere.
Jason’s personal ultrarunning resume includes two top-10 finishes at the Leadville Trail 100 Run and finishes at some of ultrarunning’s most formidable events, including the Badwater 135, Hardrock 100, Leadville Trail 100, Tor des Géants, Wasatch 100, Bear 100 and Western States 100.
