Melissa Rodriguez

Melissa Rodriguez is a fitness trainer, industry analyst, and obstacle racing enthusiast. She has held a personal training certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine since 2003 and a certified strength and conditioning specialist designation from the National Strength and Conditioning Association since 2005. Although she trains clients with a range of fitness levels and athletic goals, she has a passion for coaching beginners. Rodriguez also has undergraduate degrees in English and biology as well as a master’s in business administration.

Since 2008, Rodriguez has served as a research analyst, report writer, and project manager for the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). As IHRSA’s senior manager of research, she regularly presents research findings and opportunities at national and international conferences and is a regular contributor to IHRSA’s Club Business International magazine.

In recognition of obstacle course racing’s potential, Rodriguez started following the sport in early 2011 when she trained and prepared a client for the Tough Mudder. Since then, she has maintained a blog on her website, MyExerciseCoach.net, which offers fitness and training guidance focused on obstacle course racing for beginners. She also maintains ObstacleRaceWorld.com, a website dedicated to tracking and analyzing the business of obstacle racing. Rodriguez is the author of the book "12 Weeks. 22 Workouts. Your First Obstacle Race" and "Obstacle Race World: The State of the Mud Run Business," the first-ever industry report on obstacle racing.