About Me and My Philosphy
Hi, I'm Cristina Piergentili, MSN, the founder and coach of Exploration Nutrition and Coaching. I am a competitive ultra runner, coach, and passionate advocate for sports nutrition. I received my Master's degree in Holistic Nutrition from the National University of Natural Medicine as well as completed a program through the University of Vermont in Health Coaching. I have my C4 Coaching Certification through the Coaches Collective.
I've been fortunate enough to turn my passions into a successful career helping others achieve their dreams. I recently coached a first time ultra runner to a 7th place finish at Ragged Mountain 50k and a 2nd place podium finish at Nipmuck Trail Marathon as well as a top 10 finish at the 50k Trail National Championships 2023. As a competitive runner myself, I understand the hard work and dedication it takes to achieve your goals. I have won the Ragged 50k and Pisgah Mountain 25k as well as came in 12th at the USATF Trail National Championships in the 50k distance.
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As a running coach and sports nutritionist, I believe that a personalized approach is key to helping my clients achieve their goals. That’s why I work closely with all of my athletes to understand what makes them tick and what their life is all about. I'm always one text/call/email away. My philosophy centers around getting to know what makes each athlete uniquely them, so that I can help them reach their full potential. I am passionate about running and believe that anyone can achieve great things with the right mindset, training, and support. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced athlete, I can help you take your performance to the next level.
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I strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where my runners feel safe and can thrive. My training plans are tailored to suit each athlete's unique needs, so you can be sure you’ll receive a plan that’s custom-tailored to help you reach your goals.
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As a Holistic Nutritionist with a focus on sports and women's nutrition, I am dedicated to helping my clients achieve their health and fitness goals. Through my experience working with athletes, I understand the importance of proper nutrition for peak performance. During graduate school I focused on sports nutrition and as a competitive ultra runner myself I am especially interested in optimizing nutrition for best athletic performance. My capstone project was centered on sports nutrition for women and the best way to work with your menstrual cycle to optimize performance.
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My nutrition philosophy is simple: I believe in everything in moderation and that food should be enjoyed. As such, I will never tell you that you can't eat something. I work with my clients to create personalized nutrition plans that are tailored to their unique needs, lifestyle, and goals. My number one philosophy is that you need to eat in order to train, not train in order to eat.
There are no good or bad foods, there is only food. Helping people to understand that and to learn to see food for what it is -- fuel for our body and minds, is my number one goal in working with clients. Understanding that everyone comes to food and nutrition with their own ideas and values, I enjoy meeting each individual where you are to help support you in your athletic journey. Whether you need help with cooking tips and tricks, advice for race nutrition and hydration, someone to come grocery shopping with you, meal planning help, or just generalized sports nutrition information I can help.
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Most days you can find me running trails, spending time with my husband Hayden and son Charlie, remembering my bestest boy Mason who passed away in August of 2023, or seeking out local bakeries for the best croissants in the area.
