About Us
We Run Kings was founded nearly 10 years ago to support a small group of runners preparing for the Brooklyn Half Marathon. Since then, We Run Kings has evolved into TeamWRK, a training team and organization that has served over 1,000 members and counting.
Led by Coaches Joe and Jenn Shayne, TeamWRK provides essential tools and training to equip novice runners and athletes alike with strategy and technique to conquer running events from the first mile to marathon distance.
We believe in a multi-faceted approach to running that is infused by the inclusive community we’ve cultivated. We are intent on meeting everyone where they are in their running journey and empowering them to reach their goals. We also provide our members with access to our partners – from merch to physical therapy to performance labs– all to ensure they’re getting what they need to meet their personal goals.
Ready to join the Team and be your best, most-empowered self?
Kickstart your running journey with us!
Coach Joe Shayne
Joe Shayne is a husband, father, runner, coach, cultural connector, and collaborator who has built a life rooted in the sport and culture of long-distance running. Born and raised in New York City, Joe’s journey into running began unexpectedly in 2014, after witnessing a close friend transform their lifestyle by training for the New York City Marathon. Inspired, Joe signed up for the 2015 Paris Marathon the very next day—and has been running ever since.
Now with 26 marathons, including completely the World Major Marathon Challenge, 9 consecutive NYC Marathons, 5 Boston Marathon completions and countless other race events under his belt, Joe has not only become a passionate runner, but also an accomplished Coach and Race Director. His athletic journey began long before running, as a two-sport high school varsity athlete in baseball and basketball. A graduate of SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Black Studies and Psychology, Joe honed his leadership skills as a student leader—Resident Assistant, Black Student Union President, and member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Joe’s running career is marked by extraordinary improvement and achievement. Within his first year, he went from a 3h59m marathoner to a Boston Marathon qualifier with a 2h58m finish at the 2016 Miami Marathon, further improving his personal best to 2h51m in 2022. Joe’s coaching journey started the same year—2016–when he created #NoSleepTilBKHalf to help friends and fraternity brothers prepare for the Brooklyn Half Marathon. This initiative evolved into TeamWRK, which officially launched into a business in 2017.
As the founder and head coach of TeamWRK, Joe has organized over 1,000 group runs, coached more than 750 athletes—many of whom completed their first marathons—and led the The Marathon Continues training team (TMC) to complete the 2024 LA Marathon raising funds for the Neighborhood Nip Foundation. At the 2024 NYC Marathon, Joe and his staff coached over 65 TeamWRK members cross the finish line.
In addition to run-coaching, Joe co-founded PACE Runs, a race events production organization, in 2017 alongside his wife, Jennifer, and fraternity brother, Mike Coates. PACE Runs has hosted over 25 race events across NYC, attracting 250-600 participants per race and partnering with brands like JP Morgan Chase Bank’s Advancing Black Pathways, Essilor Luxottica, and Louis Vuitton for UNICEF custom experiential race events while supporting charitable foundation to support homeless youth in NYC.
Joe’s impact extends beyond racing and coaching. As a former New Balance ambassador and current PUMA Running ambassador, he has collaborated with brands such as Under Armour, Bombas, Reebok, Strava, and The Brooklyn Circus.
Coach Jenn Shayne
Jennifer Shayne is a wife, mother, runner, coach and community the Co-founder and Performance Coach for We Run Kings, a performance running team located in Brooklyn, New York. She believes in creating positive community spaces that celebrate personal achievement, value giving back, and promote teamwork. Jennifer shares a passion for coaching and mentoring individuals to discover how to visualize their assets to maximize “the wins”.
Jenn has completed over 14 marathons and is a six star Abbott World Marathon Major finisher, the greatest achievement for a noncompetitive marathon runner. For her, running allows her to tap into her inner champion. In addition to running and coaching, Jennifer regularly moderates panels focused on wellness and personal achievement. For Women’s History Month each year, Jennifer hosts a panel event for women and their allies discussing the issues that impact the daily performance and mindset of female athletes. Jenn’s intent for every event she moderates is to hold space for people to be informed, share within community and have actionable engagement.
She is a PUMA Running Ambassador and has collaborated with The Brooklyn Circus, LemLem, The Trevor Project, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and many other organizations.
Currently, Joe and Jenn reside together in Brooklyn, NY with their 2 year old son.