Kenny Dirkson: Celerity Performance

Boost Profile

Kenny Dirkson is a lifelong coach dedicated to teaching kids how to run safely and efficiently. He is currently the Head Cross Country Coach at San Antonio Christian School and the Head Coach of Celerity Performance.

The Challenge

When Kenny and his coaching colleagues started Celerity Performance in 2011, their goal was simple: teach young athletes how to run properly. Over time, their program grew, but coaching a large group of high-performing runners came with challenges—injuries, recovery, and helping athletes safely increase mileage and intensity.

“We started Celerity because the kids just weren’t being taught how to run… But what happened is those kids started having more and more success and it’s just grown and grown.”

The Discovery

To address these challenges, Kenny introduced the Boost Treadmill to both his high school and club programs. The Boost would allow his athletes to train at high intensity while reducing the risk of injury and supporting recovery.

To fund the treadmill, Kenny approached parents of his athletes, explaining the benefits for both injury prevention and performance. Many parents contributed, and the club covered the remainder of the cost.

“It really wasn’t difficult at all. People will give once they know the value. And our results speak for themselves.”

The Boost Solution

The Boost Treadmill has become a central part of Kenny’s training program, offering versatile benefits across performance, recovery, and injury prevention:

• Injury Prevention: Athletes can gradually increase mileage and intensity without overstressing joints. For injury-prone runners, Kenny programs 15–20% of weekly mileage on the Boost to maintain fitness while avoiding setbacks.
• Recovery: After tough workouts or national meets, the Boost allows athletes to run at reduced weight, helping their legs recover more quickly while still completing required training. This enables quicker turnarounds between workouts and races.
• Overspeed Training: The Boost allows athletes to practice running faster than their normal pace. This builds both physiological capability and psychological confidence. Athletes can experience a faster pace safely, helping them believe in their ability to sustain speed during competition.
• Form Correction: The Boost enables Kenny to fine-tune foot strike, running mechanics, and posture without the risk of injury from high-impact track training. Athletes can adjust form while maintaining training volume.
• Race Preparation: Kenny uses the Boost to simulate race paces or long runs at reduced impact, so athletes can train intensely during the week without compromising performance on race day.

“The Boost has helped a lot in my training. I can work on race pace more often and I feel less strain on my body. My endurance is better for races since I've started using the Boost." -Harper Counts

The Results

• Over 60 athletes have gone on to run collegiately
• 3 All-Americans, 40 state championships, and multiple national championships, including Foot Locker, Adidas, Nike, and New Balance events
• Athletes achieve faster recovery, improved form, and safer high-level training
• Provides a training advantage that allows athletes to maintain volume and intensity without overuse injuries

“I always tell the kids that having a Boost is not fair—it’s like cheating, because when other kids have to miss, we’re still training. That advantage has contributed to our record-setting performances.”

For Kenny, the Boost is more than just a tool—it’s a way to maximize athlete performance while protecting their health, foster confidence, and maintain consistent, high-level training.

“It’s such an advantage. We’ve had so many state champions and record-setting performances recently because we’ve been able to utilize this. It really helps everyone reach their potential safely.”