Hi, I'm Ben McCombs, the face behind Fortified Strides.

My running journey started simply because my whole family ran. I had some success, but honestly? I never really enjoyed it.

The truth is, running always hurt. I was a magnet for common injuries like plantar fasciitis, shin splints, and IT band syndrome. Everyone told me that pain was just "part of the sport." Eventually, I quit.

The Turning Point: Years later, while in physical therapy school, I gave it another shot for a Spartan race. That’s when everything changed. Armed with a background in Biomedical Biology and my DPT training, I learned to train smarter, not harder. For the first time, I was running without pain—and I realized how much I truly loved the sport.

My Philosophy: Serious Science, Serious Fun. Today, as a Doctor of Physical Therapy and Board Certified Orthopedic Specialist, I combine clinical expertise with my experience as a competitive runner (from state track championships to the Utah Summer Games).

But here is my core belief: Running shouldn't hurt, and it should be fun.

As your coach, I’m not just here to analyze your gait or write a schedule; I’m here to provide the support and motivation you need to keep showing up. I want to help you find the same joy in movement that I did. No magic formulas, just personalized basics that maximize your performance and your happiness.

Off the Track When I'm not coaching, I’m spending time with my amazing wife and our three kids. I’m a huge fantasy nerd (talk to me about Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or Mistborn anytime), a die-hard Utah Jazz fan, and I'm always up for a good card or board game.

Ready to enjoy your run again? Let’s do this together.