Hello!
Welcome to Soleful Running!
Founded to inspire health and happiness through running, Soleful launched at the beginning of 2022. With more than a decade of competitive running experience across various distances from 5K to marathon and also including a 200-mile team relay, Soleful’s founder Michelle Pais believes wholeheartedly in the positive benefits of running. Here at Soleful, we look forward to sharing the joy of running with others while helping them to achieve their running goals.
Soleful provides coaching for all levels as well as customized individual plans and training programs in person or online to help you select, prepare for and achieve your race goal of any distance from one mile to marathon with one-on-one support every step of the way from start to finish line.
Nice to Meet You!
Soleful’s Founder & CEO
Michelle Pais is an RRCA Certified Running Coach, a USATF Cross Country Specialist, the head varsity high school cross country coach at Highland School in Warrenton, Virginia with a certification from the NFHS in partnership with the USATF and is certified in Adult First Aid/CPR/AED. Michelle is also a fitness and well-being columnist. She has more than 20 years competitive running experience from mile to marathon to 200-mile-relay.
This is Porter!
Soleful’s Logo Dog
Porter is the inspiration behind Soleful’s logo because when we think our happy place we think of a run or a walk with this special dog. He lived an amazing and long life of 15 years, helping us to train for multiple marathons along the way. Whenever we laced up our running shoes, he was ready.
Porter passed away in July 2024 but his legacy and spirit live on in our logo and our mission to bring the joy of running to others.
Porter was a rescue who loved naps, sunbeams, snuggles, sweater weather, car rides, stuffed animals and peanut butter. You could set a watch to his knowledge of dinner time (fuel is important!) and he was quite convincing when it came to treats, because he believed running was rewarding and treats were, too!
In the last year and a half of Porter’s life, Cooper joined the team and those two formed an amazing bond and we will continue to see Porter’s energy and exuberance in Cooper.
And this is Cooper!
Soleful’s Chief Canine Officer in Training
Cooper joined the company in May of 2023 and originally applied to be the branch manager on account of he loves to pick up sticks. But, after careful consideration and consultation with Porter in the early days, Cooper camen on board as our Assistant to the Chief Canine Officer and is now our CCO in Training.
Cooper is a one and a half year old rescue who loves fetch (the tennis ball is his favorite!) along with long walks and he looks forward to a bright running future. He is sweet and lovable and incredibly kind-hearted, enjoying spending time with absolutely anyone. He can go from nap time to play time with lightning speed and he brings an abundance of joy and energy to Soleful.