I’m Karisa!
I Translate Performance Science into Real-World Systems for High School and Collegiate Athletes Ready for the Next Level.
I built this business after years of watching athletes (myself included) hit performance plateaus or unexplained declines. Often, they were left believing they simply needed to work harder, be mentally tougher, or accept that their bodies had “developed.” Many turned to doctors only to be told that their labs looked normal, even great. As a former Division I runner, and parent of kids with similar aspirations, I know how distressing and confusing that can feel - to both the athletes with big goals and the parents of driven kids, wanting to support their dreams.
That reality became personal with my daughter’s high school running career. She was committed. She trained hard. But her race results didn’t match the ability we knew she had. And this may sound familiar - it didn’t make sense.
As a functional nutritionist, I’m trained to look at the whole athlete. When I took a deeper look at her bloodwork and other physiological and lifestyle factors that could be limiting her, everything changed. There were nutrient deficiencies, energy gaps, dysfunctional breathing patterns, and recovery issues that weren’t initially obvious but were clearly affecting performance. We made small but impactful adjustments across the board - from her fueling to recovery practices - to match what her body actually needed, and things clicked. Within weeks, she dropped over a minute off of her 5k time, began hitting PRs consistently and eventually ranked among the top 10 high school girls in the nation.
That experience changed everything for me and became my mission - to help athletes go from good to truly great. The exciting part of this work is uncovering what’s fixable - and watching athletes transform once they realize how much power over their performance they actually have.
Growth comes when branding, strategy, mindset, offer creation, visibility all click together
The Pattern I Couldn’t Ignore
Through my work as a functional nutritionist, I began to see a consistent pattern. Talented, hardworking athletes were training at increasingly high levels, yet their bloodwork was clearly showing their fueling and daily habits weren’t keeping up. Eating “well” and having labs within normal ranges were considered enough, even when performance told a different story. There is a clear disconnect.
I watch young athletes, my children’s peers, live in a constant state of demand balancing training, academics, travel, social pressures, and family responsibilities. That environment can build resilience, but can also be draining and translate to real limiting outcomes like nutritional deficiencies and hormonal shifts.
What frustrated me most wasn’t a lack of effort. It was watching athletes work relentlessly while the final 1–5% - the small, fixable details that can truly elevate performance - went unaddressed. Not because they were doing anything wrong, but because the right education and guidance generally weren’t being offered.
At higher levels of competition, those margins are meaningful. Small, data-informed adjustments in fueling, recovery, and physiology can be the difference between plateauing and progressing.
That’s what inspired me to build Podium Project differently. I go beyond macros and meal plans with athletes. We aim for precision, but with realistic strategies that fit their lifestyle.
I believe in these athletes, and I am committed to empowering them with the tools to fuel their dreams.
Credentials, Competition, and Coaching
Experience You Can Trust at the Next Level
My approach is grounded in formal training, hands-on coaching, and years of personal experience in competitive sport, but it’s also deeply personal.
As a Certified Functional Nutritionist and Precision Nutrition-certified coach, with nearly 15 years as a certified personal trainer and additional studies in sports nutrition, performance breathing, and premedical sciences, I’m trained to interpret labs, physiology, and performance data beyond a general health lens. I look at how fueling, recovery, strength, and stress all work together, and where small shifts can create meaningful change.
I competed as a Division I runner at Brown University and later as an elite Ironman triathlete. I’ve coached high school cross country and track athletes, led the corporate strength program at Patagonia, and worked closely with driven competitors. I understand firsthand what high-level training demands, physically and mentally.
I’m also a mom of athletes. I know the balancing act families are navigating today. High school athletes are managing intense training loads alongside academics, travel, social pressures, and growth. That environment can build resilience, but it also requires thoughtful, informed support.
What sets my work apart is how I approach it. I bring curiosity, data, and heart to every athlete I work with. I don’t just look at numbers - I look at patterns, context, and the whole picture. I partner closely with families to create a personalized roadmap that supports energy, recovery, and mental focus, helping athletes feel strong, capable, and confident not just for one season, but for the years ahead.
I stay immersed in current performance research because this field evolves quickly - and the athletes I work with deserve guidance that evolves with it.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
Podium Project is built for serious high school and collegiate athletes who are training consistently and pursuing the next level of competition. That doesn’t mean you need to be the best on the team! The program works best for athletes who are committed, coachable, and ready to approach fueling and recovery with intention.
No. While I have extensive experience working with distance runners, the performance systems we build apply across endurance, field, court, and strength-based sports. The common denominator is serious training and a desire to compete at a higher level.
That said, I do not specialize in rapid weight gain or aggressive muscle-building protocols designed solely to increase size quickly.
Yes! While Podium Project focuses primarily on competitive youth athletes, I also work with highly active adults and parents who want to feel strong, energized, and capable in their own training. You don’t need to compete on a team to have meaningful performance goals. If you are an adult with questions about working together, please don't hesitate to reach out.
To begin, I need a completed application and an athlete who is actively training and open to the process. Once accepted, we move through onboarding, lab work (if applicable), and your initial strategy session. The program works best when communication is consistent and goals are clear.
Podium Project is a minimum three-month commitment. True performance shifts require time, data review, and adjustments across training cycles.
The goal during those three months is not just improvement, it’s education - and this is my passion! Athletes learn how to understand their physiology and how their body responds to training, fueling, and recovery so they “graduate” with greater confidence and independence. Many choose to continue as their goals evolve, and I’m always available for continued support.
I don’t provide generic meal plans or a list of recipes. Instead, I teach athletes how to fuel based on training demands, biomarker data, and competition schedules.
I provide a specific lab panel that allows for proper performance evaluation.
You can either:
- Request the panel through your child’s physician (which may be covered by insurance), or
- Use a direct-to-consumer lab service (I recommend Ulta Labs), typically around $250.
If using Ulta Labs, I provide step-by-step instructions to create accounts, place the order, and schedule the blood draw at a local Quest or Labcorp location.
Yes. Blood work is a foundational part of the Podium Project process.
While athletes can make improvements through general nutrition guidance, my approach is built on individualized, data-informed strategy. Without lab data, it’s difficult to identify the specific nutrient gaps, recovery markers, and physiological factors that may be influencing performance.
This is also part of the education. Athletes gain a baseline understanding of their biomarkers early in their careers - this is data they can reference and build upon as training intensifies through college and into adulthood. Learning how to interpret and act on that information is a powerful part of developing long-term independence.
Not always. That said, while food is always the foundation, high training loads and on-the-go lifestyles can make it challenging for the athletes to meet optimal nutrient needs through diet alone. When indicated by data or performance demands, targeted supplementation can be an extremely helpful tool.
Yes. The three-month commitment is divided into monthly payments to make the process manageable while maintaining consistency.
While I understand the appeal of a one-time consult, my approach is built around ongoing guidance and measurable progress. A structured three-month engagement allows us to move beyond general advice and create real change.
If you’re a provider or a coach working with an athlete who would benefit from specialized nutrition or biomarker interpretation, I’m happy to discuss a focused, short-term collaboration.
Podium Project is best suited for athletes who are training consistently, have clear goals, and are willing to engage in the process. Commitment and openness matter more than current ranking or results.
Podium Project is built for serious high school and collegiate athletes who are ready to fuel, recover, and compete with intention.
If you’re ready to step into greater ownership of your performance and take control of how you prepare, recover, and compete - apply to determine whether we’re the right fit. The next level is possible.
The Podium is Within Reach
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